I have learned over the many years that I have taught, children who come from challenging homes, do have the same potential and capabilities as those of my students who are blessed with parents that have the time to support their child’s education…
Yet…this value of working hard must be taught and appreciated… As a teacher, I would have hoped to have all my children ready to learn and work hard….
However, many of today’s children living in these challenging homes, I have found, have a difficult time accepting and achieving this value…I believe it is because they have learned early in life from their role models, to give up when challenged or not even to try…
This is where my role as their advocate, teacher is there to love and understand their lives….The difference is, I will not enable their “learned helplessness”….I provide a safe, strong, hardworking classroom… I will be a strong role model….that values who they are…We will always try… “Never Giving Up”!
Janis Sexton...Teacher...Advocate 
I can see you have a mountain of work to accomplish in motivating some of your young students Janice. And without extra resources, I suppose there is no easy answer.
Generally, a severe lack of resources results in two different behaviours, both in adults and children. Either we resign ourselves to apathy, or we cooperate towards finding a solution. I think most children are better at this than most adults.
Children love, or at least feel obligated, to help. I do not think they are competitive at an early age. They help disabled parents, as much as they can, siblings, friends and even strangers. In a classroom environment I dare say most of the ‘high fliers’ would love to help the slower students catch up. The resulting closer relationship would surely help motivate the slow learners and provide a role model for them.
Would the ‘high fliers’ be held back? Most of their parents would think so, I’m sure. But, no, I don’t think so. In many ways they would be more advanced as a result, perhaps leading to natural leaders, or even compassionate politicians!
Food for though? I’d love to know yours.
Lots of love, me.
LikeLike
Bless you, Andrew…Thank you so much, Andrew…That is how most of my day is spent…Motivating the children…I have to use my sense of “drama”..And they do love my approval and of course the extrinsic rewards of treats and stickers…
I also utilize values of working hard to get ahead in our “world”…We all, even the challenged, behavior and slower ones learn they must try…What does make this so difficult is finding support…I am creative…
LikeLike
Hi there friends, good post and pleasant arguments commented at this place,
I am actually enjoying by these.
LikeLike
Thank you…
LikeLike