Today's teachers face the challenge of growing numbers of children of poverty in schools. Templeton provides suggestions to maximize the schooling experience of these students. Their success in school is largely dependent upon an informed, nurturing faculty armed with a realistic understanding of students, their instructional needs, and an array of practical teaching strategies. Because the life experience of these students differs drastically from that of their teachers and classmates, common misunderstandings abound. For example, fulfilling homework can become impossible for students who are homeless or who live in a crowded, multifamily setting. A teacher may suspect low mental capacity in a student unable to answer a question like "What's your shoe size?," unaware that the student has worn only shoes that were found or given to her. Teachers adapt everyday interactions, like giving directions, to help students develop sequential skills by dividing tasks into components and providing students with something concrete (e.g., a sticky note) delineating each part. They can provide cues so that students who live with uncertainty can learn to identify when a lesson actually begins. This book provides teachers a much-needed resource to address the increasing amount of child poverty in schools. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels. CHOICE This is a wonderful, much-needed book. Most educators will find the length and format appealing. The prose is passionate but objective and based on solid research without being overly theoretical. -- A. Scott Henderson, associate professor of education and coordinator of secondary education, Furman University It is an important book for educators and Beth Lindsay Templeton uses poignant examples to embed knowledge. The exercises and the conversational writing style are well-developed. -- Lesley Quast, assistant academic dean, Furman University America will live up to its aspirations for public education only if students in poverty excel to high expectations. Beth Lindsay Templeton has worked for years to understand, address, and explain the issues faced by families in poverty. Anyone interested in America's future and the future of America's communities will benefit from her wisdom and insights. -- Frank Holleman, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education
