Jensen’s “Teaching With Poverty In Mind”, is a
very worthwhile read. Immediately I
could relate to school situations and students, community atmosphere and
personal experiences. The theories and
research used in the book are shocking yet make sense when you put them all
together. I am very interested in the
brain study and how the brain is wired.
I feel being aware of poverty situations helps you grow as a teacher and
person.
Jensen
states the risk factors of poverty are “EACH”
Emotional and Social Challenges, Acute
and Chronic Stressors, Cognitive
Lags, Health and Safety Issues are
the most significant. 30 – 50 percent of
our behavior is DNA accounts for, so an estimated 50 – 70 percent explained by
environment. Wow! What we are born with and into is our behavior,
so how do we use that statistic to help our students? So when I look at that student and interpret
his behavior and few it as a lack of respect or manners, I need to step back an
analyze the situation more and ask myself “How is this student wired?” Is their environment affecting their behavior
or lack of support or strong secure relationships causing this situation?
“The Emotional
Keyboard” was an eye opener for me.
Children from poverty use fewer keys than well-off children. Visualizing the piano keyboard, there are six
keys we are hardwired in our DNA:
Sadness, joy, disgust, anger, surprise and fear. Emotions taught are: humility, forgiveness,
empathy, optimism, compassion, sympathy, patience, shame, cooperation,
gratitude. If my students environment
does not allow him to be taught these emotions, then school and myself are
responsible to provide him with some guidance.
As I look
back at my experiences in the class room with students and their behavior. I know most of my problems or outbursts with
students was because they were not taught how to work with that emotion. Did I recognize that, not always. As I became more experienced in my teaching I
can recognize these deficiencies and work with these students in poverty and
try to help them through. I feel I need
to expect those disruptive behaviors and
model how the behavior should be and help add to those emotions not taught.
Jensen’s
statistics and theories are continuous throughout the book. Most of the situations we have realized
before but looking at how they affect the students brain to trigger their
emotional reactions is truly amazing to me.
It just makes sense and opens my eyes to take in account the environment
question when I’m put into a disciplinary situation. I look forward to continuing the read and
learn more of how the brain is wired and what environmental affects contribute
to our Emotional Keyboard.
