Does achievement gap occur at school or at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But, unfortunately, some kids just have way too many challenges to overcome. And, you can see the changes as they kids get into upper elementary. The kids who get support at home do their homework, get their projects in on time, have involved parents, etc. just do better. I don't really think they're 'smarter'. They are just more ready/able to learn because of all the support their receive at home.

The kids who have no support at home just get further and further behind at this point. The gap widens as they go through school.

The gap also widens each summer as kids from my Title One school don't have the opportunities that wealthier kids have. School just started last week and the highlight of the summer for most kids was going to the pool once or going to the ocean (Sandy Point). My DD went with me to NYC, Philly and Asheville this summer. We did a variety of activities in each place (historic, cultural, etc) except for FL where we went to Universal Studios. We went to the library every other week, she went to sleepaway camp for 2 weeks where she went horseback riding, sailing, hiking, camping, did archery and riflery, etc. I had her practice her multiplication facts and do a math workbook since it isn't her strongest subject. My students have none of these opportunities. When I start testing them tomorrow, many if not most of them will have lost a year's worth of ground in reading. If they started on reading level J last year and make it to level O, they will most likely test back around level J. That's what happens when they don't read at home despite having an online reading program available to them to use for free over the summer. You can lead a horse to water... It is frustrating and to top it off, the teachers are often blamed for this.

[Anonymous]

The gap also widens each summer as kids from my Title One school don't have the opportunities that wealthier kids have. School just started last week and the highlight of the summer for most kids was going to the pool once or going to the ocean (Sandy Point). My DD went with me to NYC, Philly and Asheville this summer. We did a variety of activities in each place (historic, cultural, etc) except for FL where we went to Universal Studios. We went to the library every other week, she went to sleepaway camp for 2 weeks where she went horseback riding, sailing, hiking, camping, did archery and riflery, etc. I had her practice her multiplication facts and do a math workbook since it isn't her strongest subject. My students have none of these opportunities. When I start testing them tomorrow, many if not most of them will have lost a year's worth of ground in reading. If they started on reading level J last year and make it to level O, they will most likely test back around level J. That's what happens when they don't read at home despite having an online reading program available to them to use for free over the summer. You can lead a horse to water... It is frustrating and to top it off, the teachers are often blamed for this.

I understand what you are saying as I also taught Title I. However, my own kids did not have the type of summer you describe for your DD. They did, however, go to the pool and were read to every day. They were encouraged to read, etc. I never pushed the workbooks, though.
The kids don't require all those additional activities (although, it would be nice), but they do need to read and be talked with. That is frequently missing with Title I kids.

[Anonymous]

I think schools could do a better job communicating to their parents what is going on and how parents and caretakers should help with concrete examples. There are plenty of resources at Title 1 schools, but if the kids and parents aren't going to develop an interest in academics, it doesn't really matter what resources are available.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of resources at Title 1 schools, but if the kids and parents aren't going to develop an interest in academics, it doesn't really matter what resources are available.

Title I schools are doing well to get the kids to come to school. Communicating with the parents and getting them in to school is a whole other project. The parents frequently don't want to come to the school. And, frankly, most of the problems start well before the kids come.
The kids who do well in Title I are generally those whose parents do support them.

Listen to Dr. Ben Carson. His mother could not even read, he says. But, she understood its importance and insisted that her kids do well in school. That is what makes the difference.

[Anonymous]

Listen to Dr. Ben Carson. His mother could not even read, he says. But, she understood its importance and insisted that her kids do well in school. That is what makes the difference.

Read Carson's book, Gifted Hands. His mother was a truly amazing woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Listen to Dr. Ben Carson. His mother could not even read, he says. But, she understood its importance and insisted that her kids do well in school. That is what makes the difference.

Read Carson's book, Gifted Hands. His mother was a truly amazing woman.

I like Ben Carson. I with there were more blacks like him.

[Anonymous]

The achievement gap starts before K. Why do you think there is free preschool in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, unfortunately, some kids just have way too many challenges to overcome. And, you can see the changes as they kids get into upper elementary. The kids who get support at home do their homework, get their projects in on time, have involved parents, etc. just do better. I don't really think they're 'smarter'. They are just more ready/able to learn because of all the support their receive at home.

The kids who have no support at home just get further and further behind at this point. The gap widens as they go through school.

The gap also widens each summer as kids from my Title One school don't have the opportunities that wealthier kids have. School just started last week and the highlight of the summer for most kids was going to the pool once or going to the ocean (Sandy Point). My DD went with me to NYC, Philly and Asheville this summer. We did a variety of activities in each place (historic, cultural, etc) except for FL where we went to Universal Studios. We went to the library every other week, she went to sleepaway camp for 2 weeks where she went horseback riding, sailing, hiking, camping, did archery and riflery, etc. I had her practice her multiplication facts and do a math workbook since it isn't her strongest subject. My students have none of these opportunities. When I start testing them tomorrow, many if not most of them will have lost a year's worth of ground in reading. If they started on reading level J last year and make it to level O, they will most likely test back around level J. That's what happens when they don't read at home despite having an online reading program available to them to use for free over the summer. You can lead a horse to water... It is frustrating and to top it off, the teachers are often blamed for this.

Not having opportunities is NOT the case in DC. Absolutely NOT. DC has FREE world-class museums and art galleries and tons of FREE cultural events and educational resources that most other kids anywhere else in the country would never see the likes of, and which kids anywhere else would be lucky to have access to in terms of enrichment. But talk to the typical low-SES DCPS student and he/she has likely never even set foot in any of the museums. And why? Because at home, the kid's parents, relatives, neighbors, et cetera have no fucking clue or care, and even if a well-intentioned teacher tries to enlighten them about all the opportunities that are out there, the trust and interest isn't there, they just view it as stupid shit that only eggheads and white people care about. I say this from experience. Deep cultural problems exist. It's pretty sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Listen to Dr. Ben Carson. His mother could not even read, he says. But, she understood its importance and insisted that her kids do well in school. That is what makes the difference.

Read Carson's book, Gifted Hands. His mother was a truly amazing woman.

I like Ben Carson. I with there were more blacks like him.

Good news! There are more black people like Ben Carson! Ben Carson is not the only black physician. He is not even the only black neurosurgeon!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not having opportunities is NOT the case in DC. Absolutely NOT. DC has FREE world-class museums and art galleries and tons of FREE cultural events and educational resources that most other kids anywhere else in the country would never see the likes of, and which kids anywhere else would be lucky to have access to in terms of enrichment. But talk to the typical low-SES DCPS student and he/she has likely never even set foot in any of the museums. And why? Because at home, the kid's parents, relatives, neighbors, et cetera have no fucking clue or care, and even if a well-intentioned teacher tries to enlighten them about all the opportunities that are out there, the trust and interest isn't there, they just view it as stupid shit that only eggheads and white people care about. I say this from experience. Deep cultural problems exist. It's pretty sad.

Certainly there is a failure to communicate, here. Or, at minimum, a failure to listen. Approaches based on "Your culture is bad, you should change it to be more like mine" rarely get people to change their behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Listen to Dr. Ben Carson. His mother could not even read, he says. But, she understood its importance and insisted that her kids do well in school. That is what makes the difference.

Read Carson's book, Gifted Hands. His mother was a truly amazing woman.

I like Ben Carson. I with there were more blacks like him.

Good news! There are more black people like Ben Carson! Ben Carson is not the only black physician. He is not even the only black neurosurgeon!

I have not seen any. Care to name a few?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not having opportunities is NOT the case in DC. Absolutely NOT. DC has FREE world-class museums and art galleries and tons of FREE cultural events and educational resources that most other kids anywhere else in the country would never see the likes of, and which kids anywhere else would be lucky to have access to in terms of enrichment. But talk to the typical low-SES DCPS student and he/she has likely never even set foot in any of the museums. And why? Because at home, the kid's parents, relatives, neighbors, et cetera have no fucking clue or care, and even if a well-intentioned teacher tries to enlighten them about all the opportunities that are out there, the trust and interest isn't there, they just view it as stupid shit that only eggheads and white people care about. I say this from experience. Deep cultural problems exist. It's pretty sad.

Certainly there is a failure to communicate, here. Or, at minimum, a failure to listen. Approaches based on "Your culture is bad, you should change it to be more like mine" rarely get people to change their behaviors.

Well in this case, yes their culture is bad and yes, they should change it to be more in line with valuing education and having a strong work ethic. Complaining that one is poor and then being told "ok, here is how rich people got rich." and then saying "oh I can't do that - it's not my culture" absolutely dooms one to a lifetime of being poor and complaining about being poor.

[Anonymous]

Sad to say but it is true. Just one in point: National Engineering Festival at Nat'l Bldg Museum & DC Convention Center. Who is in attendance? Whites and Asians. I saw ONE Black family.

Who is attending the new N. Arlington elementary school? Whites and Asians.

Who goes to Glen Echo Park Discovery Creek? Whites and Asians.

[Anonymous]

According to the documentary, "Waiting for Superman", the achievement gap begins in the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But, unfortunately, some kids just have way too many challenges to overcome. And, you can see the changes as they kids get into upper elementary. The kids who get support at home do their homework, get their projects in on time, have involved parents, etc. just do better. I don't really think they're 'smarter'. They are just more ready/able to learn because of all the support their receive at home.

The kids who have no support at home just get further and further behind at this point. The gap widens as they go through school.

The gap also widens each summer as kids from my Title One school don't have the opportunities that wealthier kids have. School just started last week and the highlight of the summer for most kids was going to the pool once or going to the ocean (Sandy Point). My DD went with me to NYC, Philly and Asheville this summer. We did a variety of activities in each place (historic, cultural, etc) except for FL where we went to Universal Studios. We went to the library every other week, she went to sleepaway camp for 2 weeks where she went horseback riding, sailing, hiking, camping, did archery and riflery, etc. I had her practice her multiplication facts and do a math workbook since it isn't her strongest subject. My students have none of these opportunities. When I start testing them tomorrow, many if not most of them will have lost a year's worth of ground in reading. If they started on reading level J last year and make it to level O, they will most likely test back around level J. That's what happens when they don't read at home despite having an online reading program available to them to use for free over the summer. You can lead a horse to water... It is frustrating and to top it off, the teachers are often blamed for this.

Not having opportunities is NOT the case in DC. Absolutely NOT. DC has FREE world-class museums and art galleries and tons of FREE cultural events and educational resources that most other kids anywhere else in the country would never see the likes of, and which kids anywhere else would be lucky to have access to in terms of enrichment. But talk to the typical low-SES DCPS student and he/she has likely never even set foot in any of the museums. And why? Because at home, the kid's parents, relatives, neighbors, et cetera have no fucking clue or care, and even if a well-intentioned teacher tries to enlighten them about all the opportunities that are out there, the trust and interest isn't there, they just view it as stupid shit that only eggheads and white people care about. I say this from experience. Deep cultural problems exist. It's pretty sad.

+1. And in some cases and some homes, a child's interest or curiosity in anything academic or cultural is ridiculed.