h elping our teachers and schools support students experiencing homelessness
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Helping our Teachers and Schools Support
Students Experiencing Homelessness
Jani Koester Madison Metropolitan
School District Transition Education
Program (TEP)TEP Resource Teacher
I have not met a student that has chosen to become homeless – even youth that have left home have done it for good reasons
Homelessness is a trauma but usually another trauma has caused homelessness
Don’t lower your expectations, scaffold how to met them – don’t modify– don’t dumb them down.
I would never want a teacher to feel that they could not teach or support a homeless student
I firmly believe that our student voices are the thing that changes hearts and minds
My Beliefs…….
Should Teachers be told that their student is experiencing homelessness? Let Teachers know
that assignments may need adaptationto check into give an extra smile a little extra
attentionunderstand trauma has occurredthey may need support from colleaguestransportation may need attentiontutoring or after school activities may
need connections
Mobility and Homelessness Interventions Attitude is Everything! Make sure students feel welcome,
wanted and safe! Be Prepared all year for new students Build Community in school and
classroom Family Centered Enrollment Be Observant – you may be the first
to notice Keep expectations high - academic,
attendance, behavior
Mobility and Homelessness Interventions Homelessness is a Trauma – be trauma
informed Establish School wide practices Use Best Practices in Classrooms Develop Awareness in schools and
community Know the resources: in both school &
community Know your district policies
Working with Classroom Teachers Share what I do and Hear what they
do Help make connections to their
students and families Talk about trauma and being trauma
informed Explore and discuss their classroom Build awareness both with them and
for their classroom community Explore resources and supports Check Back in
Look together at the classroom
Cultural competence Welcoming How do they help with students feeling wanted Routines visible Support systems for new students’ homework
expectations Transportation School supports afterschool, tutoring, Parent engagement Schools involvement Community connections Local community services Support staff support and connections Explicit teaching opportunities
Professional Development McKinney Vento training for all staff Meet individually with staff Brainstorm about individual specific
students Understanding Mobility and Homelessness
Class –6 week course Phone consultation/technical support Train POC in each building Bi-monthly email newsletters to SW and
POC District wide leadership/conversations Community awareness and collaboration
TEP Program Specific Provide library with variety of materials
teachers can use to talk about mobility, change, homelessness
Facilitate classroom discussions on homelessness and mobility
Provide opportunities for homeless youth/parents to share their voices/stories
Service learning opportunities for TEP/ community sites
Family Engagement Families experiencing homelessness had
many challenges school engagement is not their priority – that doesn’t mean that they are not supportive or not wanting opportunities to be engaged
Meet them where they are – mentally, physically, emotionally
Ask more than once, in fact ask over and over and over, continually provide opportunities of all kinds.
Be a Welcoming School Provide Transportation & meals when
needed
Who We Are: Voices in Our community Day Away Opportunity for students that
have experienced homelessness to come together on UW campus
Spend time networking and writing
Create materials to use building community awareness and sell for donations for TEP Book – 2 volumes Tree of wishes Media of students reading their writing and of the
day
Activities I use Youth Activities
What Is Your Day Like? How Vulnerable Are You? Garbage Bag Activity WWA-sharing youth voices
Adult activities Mobility Shuffle Mobility Tic Tac Toe Unaccompanied Youth Quiz
Can be modified for either Switch Making Change Poverty simulations
SELF CARE Build it into your practice
Teachers must remember that they cannot possibly meet all the needs of a homeless child.
Contact Information
Jani Koester, Med, ME Madison Metropolitan School
District Transition Education Program 401 Maple Ave. Madison, Wi 53703
608-204-2063 jkoester@madison.k12.wi.us
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