1. Meeting Diverse Student Needs in Urban Schools:
Research-Based Recommendations for School Personnel
Presented by Gina Dimartino
Alan A. Arroyo, Randy Rhoad, and Priscilla Drew
Source: Preventing School Failure 43no Summ 1999

2. Key Influences on Student Underachievement
Teacher Behavior
Teacher Expectations
Curriculum Relevance
Class Size
Disengagement from School-Related Activities
Confidence in the Student’s Ability to Achieve
High Mobility in School Attendance
Parental Expectations and Involvement
Level of Parents’ Education
Poverty or Low Income

3. Teacher Classroom Behavior
Get to know student
Focus on the positive
Believing in student
Show respect ,support , & encouragement
Caring, experienced teachers

4. Teacher Expectations for Student Achievement of Realistic Standards
High expectations
Call on students regularly & frequently
Give time to answer
Communicate capability
Opportunity to achieve

5. Curriculum Relevance to Students Personal Lives and Circumstances
Instruction is uninteresting & unchallenging
Students view as dull, passive, and unimportant
Group activities
Relate to learner’s interests, experiences, and prior learning
Connect real life to curriculum

6. Class Size Smaller classes especially in early grades
20 students or less
Schools within schools
Cooperative learning

7. Student Disengagement Behavior
Students are less motivated in learning process
Positive effects of homework
Involvement in school and community activities
Community activities at school

8. Lack of Student Confidence in Ability to Achieve
Confidence is highly predictive of academic performance
Successful: hard work
Unsuccessful: uncontrollable circumstances
Teachers role

9. Family Mobility Less time to establish academic routine
Less opportunity to develop relationships with teachers and peers
Behind academically
Intervention: one-to-one tutoring
Isolation and disconnect from community
Engage in extracurricular school activities

10. Parental Expectations and Involvement
Parental support
Parents’ attitude
Parental expectation
Parental involvement: Different levels
School support of parent involvement

11. Level of Parent Education
Parental education is positively related to level of achievement in children
Schools: increase level of participation and raise expectations of students

12. Poverty-Low Income Low income status: High drop out rate
Stress can affect child’s ability to perform
Lack quiet, orderly places to study
Parents not monitoring study time
Malnourished, sleep deprived
Preoccupied with stress from home

13. Recommendations
Caring, skilled, experienced teachers with high expectations
Ongoing professional development to help teachers communicated with families of diverse cultures
Make curriculum & instruction more interesting and meaningful
Reorganize schools & classrooms into smaller units

14. More Recommendations Homework and extracurricular activities
Increase students’ confidence & expectations
Encourage positive connections for new students & parents
Provide tutoring for mobile students
Increase parental involvement: Training & development activities
Improve parent skills through trainings & classes