New research is revealing that poverty and stress not only affect the cognitive skills of young children but actually result in significant differences in brain maturation - especially in areas important for language and reading. Because of this, many students often experience a double or even triple jeopardy of poverty, learning and second language issues. Add chronic absenteeism to the mix and the problems escalate. Educators need to understand the impact of these issues on the brain as well as the foundational skills essential for helping students process and retain what is taught in the classroom.
