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Hi Meaghan,

Some school districts have a large percentage of their student body living in poverty, while others have so few that those particular students may go unnoticed and underserviced.  In my school district (in a northwestern suburb of Chicago) there were families living out of their cars whose children attended our schools.  Our school districts need to address the poverty of their students (and their families) at a number of different levels. First and foremost is the health issue: Health issues will impact students' abilities to learn and stay well enough to attend school (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs comes to mind). There is an article by Michael Bratsis in The Science Teacher that is a quick read and addresses this: Health Wise: Countering Poverty's Effects on Learning - Helping Students Make Healthy Choices (Summer 2016).

Once basic needs are satisfied, then teachers may need to get creative and generous in how they address and help their students who do not have access to the same materials and equipment because of lack of funds.  You may be the one who finds that company/corporation in the school district boundaries that will be willing to provide scholarships or grants to deserving students.  Or perhaps you will find generous support from PTOs or other organizations willing to donate or loan equipment for students lacking  financial resources. Fortunately, libraries now have computer stations and access to internet for families in the community, but that will mean students needing to leave their homes to get their work done if they have no internet access.  

It will be interesting to hear from teachers out there who have encountered or presently experience this very sad situation.  Please share with us ways you helped your students to be successful.

Poverty affects students in a myriad of ways. Yes, you're correct, it greatly affects their ability to gather materials needed and have access to information needed for research. I teach elementary, however we have similar issues. For students who do not have internet access or support from family at home, I print out the information they need and help them get started on projects. I also check with them daily, ask to see what they have, and may modify what they need compared to the others in class. I meet with students in small groups- they do not know that they are in those groups based on need, and we discuss what they must do. For those that need posters, I have them come to the classroom before school starts or at the end of the day so I can give them the materials. Some of my students have to care for younger siblings at home, I allow them to keep their materials at school and work on it during recess or at other times throughout the day. Rarely does anyone say anything negative about it but in those cases, I speak to the student in the hallway and explain how everyone is different and that if they ever need something the other students do not need, then I will make sure they get what they need to be successful. 

I am so thankful you are aware of the needs of your students. 

I'm always on the lookout for things I can recycle in the classroom. Smoothie King has white plastic tubs they rinse out then throw away. I ask for them so students can keep various tools inside or we can use them for science experiments. The local newspaper has end rols of newsprint that they will donate if asked. It's those little things that can add up and we just have to ask and find a place to keep those items.