"Stop and Think"
Inequity Caused by Poverty

Have you considered...

• calling Friday "Jeans Day" instead of "Dress-Down Day"?
• making sure that all students attend class trips?
• praising and complimenting the students who often do not receive praise or care?

Things to Think About…

• Not all families participate in the same activities. After school, some students benefit from lessons, sports and family events. Some families focus more on surviving and paying the bills on time.
• Approximately 1 out of 6 students in your classroom may live in poverty.
• Some homework assignments may exclude students who do not have sufficient parental support and/or resources.
• Not all students eat breakfast. Some students who are malnourished may be lethargic and inattentive in class.

What Can You Do?

• Keep a supply of extra clothing in your classroom. A student may someday need a change of clothes.
• Know your students. What are their day-to-day needs? What is their “family culture”?
• Help send a student to Tim Horton’s Summer Camp.
• Be aware and care.