Image created by Bassey, A. using wordclouds.com
Resources
Linehan, M. (2015). DBT skills training handouts and worksheets (Second). The Guilford Press.
Long, R. (director/ producer). (2012) Room To Breathe [film]. ZAP Zoetrope Aubry Productions.
Schwartz, K. (2019). Nine ways to ensure your mindfulness teaching is trauma informed. KQED Mindshift. Link
Why is Mindfulness Needed in Education. (n.d.). Mindful Schools. Link
| Data Points | Massapequa | Freeport |
| Number of Students * | 6477 | 6342 |
| Chronic Absenteeism | Grades 1-8: 12%
High School: 19.3% |
Grades 1-8: 23.8%
High School: 21.1% |
| English Language Proficiency | 0.4% ELL | 17.8% ELL |
| 4 Year Graduation Rate * | 98% | 82% |
| Standardized Test Scores * (ELA and Math, include % taking the tests) | %students who scored at a proficient level in ELA and Math, respectively
Grade 3- 46%, 68% Grade 4- 54%, 74% Grade 5- 44%, 70% Grade 6- 61%, 72% Grade 7- 73%, 81% Grade 8- 75%, 67% |
%students who scored at a proficient level in ELA and Math, respectively
Grade 3- 43%, 59% Grade 4- 42%, 63% Grade 5- 25%, 36% Grade 6- 46%, 43% Grade 7- 28%, 31% Grade 8- 45%, 17% |
| Accountability Status* | Local Support and Improvement | Local Support and Improvement |
| % Inexperienced Teachers | 13% | 17% |
| Ethnicity * | 86% White Students
9% Hispanic/Latino Students 3% Multiracial Students 2% Asian/Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander Students 1% African American Students 0% Naive American Students |
4% White Students
71% Hispanic/Latino Students 2% Multiracial Students 1% Asian/Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander Students 21% African American Students 0% Naive American Students |
| Median Household Income | $148,295 | $109,390 |
| Average Property/School Taxes | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Average Home Price | $740,000 | $510,000 |
I was not surprised to see the ethnic differences between Massapequa and Freeport’s school districts. However, what surprised me the most was the average test scores being significantly lower in Freeport. I tried to see why that is by comparing the amount of inexperienced teachers, but the statistics were fairly similar. I feel like I already knew houses cost less in Freeport, but I did not know how drastic the difference was.
Image created by Bassey, A. using wordclouds.com
One theme I identified from the documentary was the extreme loneliness homeless students can go through. I saw it in Roque. He said that he experiences extreme loneliness and that he doesn’t need to rely on anybody else, because he has himself (DeMare, Kelly, and Taber, 2014). This was seen with many other homeless students in the film, such as a lesbian student who was kicked out and mistreated by her family. This serious self-reliance can lead to anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide. According to the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, “more than half of people experiencing homelessness have had thoughts of suicide or have attempted suicide” (Suicide and Homelessness, 2018). A book for young children that may help broach this topic is called “When Sadness is at Your Door”. It is a book that personifies sadness and explains ways to tackle it in simple terms, like coloring, taking time for yourself, and engaging with people who care about you (Eland, 2019). This book can be helpful for homeless children who are experiencing loneliness and sadness.
Another theme I identified in the reading is that the definition for students who are homeless is those who do not have “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” (Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education, 2021). This includes such a wide group of students, including those who live with another family, in a shelter, in a vehicle, or on the streets. Additionally, a large majority of these students are disabled or are English Language Learners, making it even more difficult for students to learn. There is a song called “The A-Team” by Ed Sheeran. It was written about a girl in a homeless shelter struggling to make ends meet (Sheeran, 2010). It shows that there are so many different situations for homeless youth to be in, that we as teachers need to be aware and observant of.
Resources
De Mare, A., Kelly, K., & Taber, K. (Producers), & De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014). The homestretch [Streaming video]. United States: Bullfrog Films.
Eland, E. (2019). When sadness is at your door. Random House Children’s Books.
Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education. (2021). New York State Education Department. http://www.nysed.gov/essa/mckinney-vento-homeless-education
Sheeran, E. (2010, April 22). Ed Sheeran – the A team [official music video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWcs5H-qgQ
Suicide and homelessness. National Healthcare for the Homeless Council. (2018, May). https://nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/suicide-fact-sheet.pdf