This is my fifth year teaching at a Title 1 school in one of the 50 biggest school districts in the U.S. All students are receive free breakfast and lunch. All classroom school supplies are provided if needed, and clothing and additional food are also available for any student that needs it.
Of my 20 third grade students, two are classified as homeless, eight receive food bags each Friday before the weekend because they don't always have enough food, four have IEPs for learning disabilities (exceptional education students), and 8 are English Language Learners.
3 of my students are on or above grade level, 7 are on a second grade level, 5 are on a first grade, and 5 are on a Kindergarten level.
5 parents showed up for parent teacher conferences.
There is a lot of variability and a ton of different living, social, and learning needs each year. Sometimes learning content is put on the backburner. Sometimes school is sinply a refuge, a place to get a meal and not be cold and not have people screaming or shooting all around you.
I'm a teacher, but content teaching is only a small fraction of what I do, and content learning is only one aspect of education that my students receive.
It's a very good job for me, but it's also the most physically, mentally, and emotionally draining thing I've ever done.