Some students have tough lives. It could be because of the family they were born into, difficult life circumstances they’ve faced, or any number of factors that put unfortunate students in welfare situations. This isn’t their fault.
Regardless, these students often need an extra hand to pull them through and make something of themselves. So no matter what the reason, when these kids end up on welfare, they need help and support. And as a teacher, it’s important to notice this problem and manage it as quickly as possible.
Having said that, let’s look into the signs that a student is on welfare so you know what to pay attention to.
Signs Of Students In Welfare Situations
The Student Lacks Basic School Supplies
The first thing you should look for is how prepared they are for school. Do they have basic supplies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and paper every day? If they don’t, it could be because they can’t afford them.
Most of the time, you’ll be able to pick up on this because the student will generally ask for supplies from fellow students or yourself. Or they may just sit there silently at a loss of what to do. If this becomes a regular thing, then you’ll want to look a bit deeper into why this is occurring.
The Student’s Grades Are Significantly Lower Than Their Peers’ Grades
Low grades can have multiple reasons behind them. But it could also mean they don’t have the support at home required to nurture a successful student. Luckily, you don’t need to do anything special to notice this problem. Simply grading assignments like a regular teacher will bring this issue to light.
Once you’ve identified any low-grade students, begin to check for the other signs in this blog post and see if there’s any chance they’re a student on welfare.
They Don’t Have Enough Food In Their Lunchbox
One of the most obvious signs of a student on welfare is not eating much during lunch. When times are especially tough, then the food starts to become an issue. This is a MUST fix issue as hunger problems affect more than just grades.
Take note of any students skipping lunch regularly or asking other students for some of their food. If you can see a pattern here then it’s time to investigate further.
The Student’s Clothes Are The Wrong Size Or Tattered
Another visible clue of students in welfare situations is their clothing. Kids who can’t afford new clothes or have to share clothes with siblings often look different than other kids at school. You may see clothing that’s too big or too small, dirty, torn up, etc. This is an immediate red flag that should jump out to you. If you notice this, then start digging deeper right away.
There’s No Parental Involvement In Their Education Whatsoever
This sign won’t be obvious at first. But if you’re paying attention, you may start to see that the parents are not engaged in their child’s education. This could manifest itself in different ways. Maybe the student isn’t turning in homework or is unable to answer basic questions about the class material.
If you start to suspect the parents aren’t as involved as they should be, then reaching out to them may be a good idea. From there, you can learn more about their situation and see what you can do to help.
You Can Help Students In Welfare Situations
If you see enough of these signs in one of your students, it’s your duty as a teacher to help them. There are several different things you can do to help a child in this situation, but they all revolve around communication and support. Gently probe the student about their home life, and ask what’s going on.
From there, see if you can connect them with any resources that may be available to them, such as free food or clothing providers, or even tutors as well. And make sure they know you are there to help them no matter what.
Your class will be in a much better position once you’ve firmly helped any students on welfare. Afterward, you can focus on helping them with important life skills such as improving their typing skills. By using the easy-to-use programs found at KeyboardingOnline, you can get them on the right track to success with a valuable life skill most businesses need nowadays.