Educate yourself on the barriers or obstacles to teaching the homeless child. Legal concerns, such as proof of residency or immunization record requirements, may be an issue for the homeless child attending school. Additionally, living under financial strain and psychological problems may be major problems.
Understand the individual child and the reasons behind his homelessness. There are a variety of reasons, ranging from job loss to parental drug use, that account for his predicament. Knowing this provides a better understanding of the child's emotional state and social abilities. It will also be useful to know the family situation and the parent's level of education. A parent who has not completed high school or has a negative school experience may not be supportive of the child in his academic endeavours.
Ensure that the child has the necessary school supplies to begin her education. A homeless student's family most likely will not be able to afford pens, pencils, crayons, scissors and other items that parents are often required to buy. Find out if your school has a budget to buy these items for the homeless student or check to see if a local charity can help with donations.
Provide a supportive environment. Be an open ear for listening and be ready to refer the child to a trained specialist for any problems above your knowledge level. For example, if the child tells you that she is being abused you will need to contact social services or a similar agency.
Provide a firm daily schedule. While this is something that would normally occur on a daily basis for any classroom, the homeless student may crave that added bit of structure to compensate for an unstable or unsure living situation.
Encourage the child, and his or her family, to participate in school activities. Create a caring community and help the child to feel like she is part of the class. Make sure that the child attends special events at school, such as talent shows, dances or fairs. If needed, arrange transportation for the child.
Set up a class buddy or mentor program. This will be especially helpful when the child first enters school. The buddy can help the student to acclimate to the school environment, provide a social support and even help with school assignments.