Voices of poverty: Perspectives of one school's student, teachers. and parents

<p>This qualitative study examines the challenges of poverty through the stories of students and their families in one Michigan elementary school. The goal was to explore the needs, challenges, and obstacles confronting children in poverty in a small Michigan town by focusing on the perspectives and experiences of low-income students and their parents/guardians. Two families and one teacher were interviewed in depth, using open-ended, semi-structured interview techniques. Two case studies were constructed from the content of the interviews, and key thematic findings that emerged revealed ongoing stress, fear, sadness, and frustration with which the children lived, as well as strong resilience and determination. These key themes are analyzed in relation to the effects of poverty on school children and their caregivers. The study concludes with recommendations for educators that could help low-income children succeed in school.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Teacher Education

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Weatherwax, Kristen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Valerie Polakow, PhD, Chair
• Rebecca Martusewicz, EdD
• Patricia Pokay, PhD

• Children with social disabilities Education United States
• Poor children Education United States
• Home and school United States
• Parent-teacher relationships
• Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/185

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1184