Dealing with students from disadvanteged areas
We as instructors need to learn that not all students come from the same mind set as the average person does. When you have students that live by the "street code",you need to rethink your approach in how to instruct and deal with some of their inabilities. What works for the average will not and does not work for them.
I teach in an area where the students are disadvantaged and street smart. Yes, they can write the book on survival. They are a challenge to teach and a multi-disciplined curriculum seems to work the best. I teach medical classes and the hardest thing to teach them is the street behavior is not acceptable in the medical field. The medical field is a field of compassion, understanding, and, yes, tolerance of others and it doesn't matter what background you are from. I don't have different expectations from those coming from an upper class or lower class area when it comes to the basic behaviors and standards of care. All my students have the same expections of being the best medical care giver they can be.
Hi Paula,
Our students have a lot to deal with. Many of our students deal with things that we did not have to deal with, simply because we had/have a better life. Listening is key! We need to make every student feel that they are important because in essence they are. These type students do know one thing for sure and that is how to survive. They can write a book on survival.
Patricia
As an instructor in a disadvantaged area, I need to be aware and / or open to experiences that are not the norm. To do this it requires a lot of listening and the ability to tell the student "I am not familiar with that situation....tell me about it. Teach me." This has worked two fold...the student feels validated in their experience and I learn about situations that I am unfamiliar with. I listen and validate their concerns. This results in the learner being more open to my rules and class objectives since I respected where they were coming from. Depending on the topic....I have this conversation in private.
