The Achievement Gap: The Causes Of Achievement Diversity In Schools

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Growing up, many parents teach their children “nothing will happen, unless you put effort into it”. This statement is a great lesson for everyone working with education and children. In the United States, we are facing achievement gaps throughout all aspects of life. The causes of achievement gaps are constantly being researched with combinations such as minorities, low income, language, class status, and culture in general. All of these statuses are affecting not only the students outside of school, but inside of school as well. Who you are classified as follows you for your entire life. Some statuses can change such as what amount of income you have or what social class you belong to. However, the others won’t change unless a difference is …show more content…

Researcher Hani Morgan states; the failure to know how students learn and communicate can increase the achievement gap between the groups of students. If the teaching style doesn’t meet with how they learn or communicate, these students are more likely to look at school in a negative way as well as perform poorly (Morgan 70). Minorities need expectations that are also expected from their peers, communication and learning style that they can understand, and also a sense of belonging in the classroom. These ideas can keep a positive outlook on school for the students, and keep them engaged in achieving their …show more content…

The environment in which the student comes from is different from student to student. Students of a lower SES tend to stand out in the school and classroom setting. Schools that have a higher population of low income families have a greater chance of having lower teacher quality, poor curriculum, and lower expectations that lead to poor academic performance (Benders 2004). Low SES students can be going through many different situations at home that could motivate them to attend school. On the other hand, this could keep them from succeeding in school. Teachers need to know how to make the student feel safe and able to learn, even with various situations going on at their home. School is the one place they can be who they want to be and expand their

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