Effective Educational Strategies That 
Take Poverty into Consideration
Phuong Lien Palafox, M.S., CCC‐SLP
Region 15 Education Service Center
August 14, 2014
Disclosure Statement:  
Phuong Lien Palafox, CCC-SLP is employed
by Bilinguistics, Inc.
Disclosure:
Financial — Salaried by Bilinguistics, Inc.
Nonfinancial — None
Phuong Lien Palafox,
CCC-SLP
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Location Data 
Type
2011 2012 2013
United 
States
Number 16, 387,000 16, 397, 000 16, 087,000
Percent 23% 23% 22%
Children in Poverty
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http://datacenter.kidscount.org/
2000‐2010
+ 2 million
+ 1 million
“Officially Poor”Officially Poor
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm
1963‐1964 
Food was about 1/3 of a family’s budget
Federal Poverty Measure = Food Budget X 3
Modern Families’ Expenses
Today:
Food = 1/7th
Family 
Budget
But Poverty Measure Remains the 
SAME, only updated annually for 
inflation.
What does the 
poverty measure tell 
us?
21
12%
38%
9%
37%
Married Single‐Parent
Poverty Differs by Family Type
Texas US
KIDS Count Data Center 2012
2012 American Community Survey (Kids Count Data Center)                                                         
4x
Child poverty differs by race
34%
40%
15% 14%
Hispanic Black Asian White not‐Hispanic
2012 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Poverty differs by age
21.8%
13.7%
9.1%
Kids
Working
‐age 65+
2012 U.S. Census Bureau
30% Lack Secure Employment
Trends in 
Education
Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, National KIDS COUNT Report F. Deviney, 2012
Below 
Proficient 
Reading 
Level
83%
52%
91% of 4th Graders who are 
English Language Learners scored 
below proficient reading status
Toddlers from middle and high income families speak 
MORE than parents from low SES environments when 
speaking to their own children.              ‐ Bracy, 2006
Dropouts only make 36 cents for every 
dollar earned by college graduates
ERIC
Jensen
TOUR 2014
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Language Working Memory Cognitive Control Reward Processing Memory Spatial Cognition
Effect Sizes
Noble et. Al 2005
Cognitive Functions & Low SES
Emotional 
& Social 
Challenges
Acute & 
Chronic 
Stressors
Cognitive 
Lags
Health & 
Safety 
Issues
Four Primary Risk Factors Affecting Families Living in Poverty
Jensen, Eric.  (2009).  Teaching with Poverty 
in the Mind.  Alexandra, Virginia:  ASCD.
Neurogenesis
Merriam‐Webster’s 
Definition
development of nerves, 
nervous tissue, or the 
nervous system
SLP Definition
The brain is GROWING
and getting SMARTER.
Build Vocabulary.
Every.  Single.  Day.
By 3rd grade, children add about 
3000 vocabulary words per year.
An average reading program teaches 
about 400 words per year.
Type I Words:  Basic Words 
(girl, happy, fast)
Montgomery, 2007
Type II Words:  High Frequency Words, 
Across Multiple Domains,  Multiple 
Meanings (measure, sympathy, 
estimate)
Montgomery, 2007
Type III Words:  Low 
frequency, Subject Specific 
(Isotope, chasm, warp)
Montgomery, 2007
Relationships 
Matter
Student 
Expectations
1.44
Effect Size
.00 or less:  Negative Effect
.00 ‐.20: Negligible, Unclear Effect
.20 ‐.40:  Small‐moderate Effects
.40 ‐.60:  Very Strong Effects
.60 ‐ 2.00:  Extreme Effects
Teacher 
Expectations of 
Student Success
1.03
I work (clap, clap)
I work (clap, clap)
I work on telling a story!
I work (clap, clap)
I work (clap, clap)
I work on
opposites.
I work (clap, clap)
I work (clap, clap)
I work on Thinking
About Others!
Through These Doors Walk
Erudite
Students
Picture Source:  Washing ton Post
3X Better with Gestures
90% vs 33%
After 3 Weeks
Hi Five
Low Five
Working 
Memory
Let’s ALL 
tell a 
story!
OUR
Social 
Autopsy
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Difference or Disorder? Understanding 
Speech and Language Patterns in 
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse 
Students
Rapidly identify speech‐language 
patterns related to second language 
acquisition to 
distinguish difference from disorder.

Effective Educational Strategies That Take Poverty into Consideration