Chapter+1

English Language Learners (ELLs) are students that are learning English as a secondary language. Although it isn’t a new concept to me I was interested in the fact that so many ELL students live in poverty situations. I think back to my previous preschool students and how often I provided them breakfast, or the amount of snack that they ate. Sometimes I thought they were just big eaters, now I wonder when they might have had their last meal. I also think of a childhood friend of mine who was Hispanic. We lived in a rural community and she lived in a one room house that was probably 9’x9’ at the most. She had 10 siblings. I never thought of their living conditions at the time. She was just someone I could play with. I’ve wondered since how her family survived in such cramped conditions and what became of her when she moved away. Because of her and other students I’ve worked with my empathy has grown. I try to listen to and observe my students to see how they react when they first arrive at school. I often ask if they are hungry and I always have something on hand that they can eat that will at least get them through the first bit of school until we serve snack. I know this doesn’t cure the poverty issue but I hope in some small way I have helped a child.