For various reasons, teaching reading in lower socioeconomic communities is often a big challenge for educators. Let’s examine some of those challenges and see what researchers have to say about the issue.

A report on literacy states that, before many poor children have even started school, they’ve gotten used to “doing without.” Poor kids, for instance, are only 50 percent as likely to be taken to the library, theaters or museums, says the report. They also have smaller and fewer play areas in the home, spend more time watching TV, and less time exercising than other kids. The report states that there is often generations of anti-education apathy in lower income homes as well. It’s for all of these reasons and more that many find reading difficult.

If these issues are not addressed, says the article “Teaching High Poverty Kids Using a High Impact Curriculum,” lower self-confidence, poor literacy grades, and the dropping out cycle will only continue. The article says, however, that with strong intervention by parents and teaching faculty, the quality of education for kids from the lower-income strata can be greatly improved.

Many poor children also have limited experiences to draw from, states the article “5 Ways to Help Students Affected by Generational Poverty.” As a result, it recommends that teachers take students on field trips, invite people in to talk to them about their experiences, and read bigger-than-life books in the classroom to help give them a more well-rounded, less limited perspective about life.

For Spanish-speaking children, many schools bring in The Latino Literacy Project and follow its proven strategies to help kids with literacy development. The Project assists educators in guiding parents on how to establish a successful, at-home, reading routine, where both parents and kids sit down and read bilingual books together.

Though it takes more effort, when the final result is a well-read, literate child, the rewards for families, schools, and society make it so worthwhile in the end. Teachers can attend a half-day program training at a workshop near them or take an online webinar.