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Culturally inclusive picture books for students

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Culturally inclusive picture books for students

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Serving Multilingual Learners of All Ages

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culturally inclusive picture books for students

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Culturally inclusive picture books for students

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Culturally inclusive picture books for students

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#111. Using PWIM to support SIFE learners - TanKHuynh

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Teachers can use the PWIM (aka Picture Talk) to teach content and reading English to newcomers, beginners, and students with formal interrupted education.

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Tweets by NJTESOL_Shore

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Continue the conversation! #NJASCDWholeChild23               

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Continue the conversation #NJASCDWholeChild23 

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Continue the conversation #NJASCDWholeChild23 

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Continue the conversation! #wcc2023              

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English Learner Leaders and Advocates to follow on Twitter

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English Learner Leaders and Advocates to follow on Twitter

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https://twitter.com/i/lists/1519424760760918016?s=20

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Home Language Survey Follow up and/or Additional Questions (in magenta) to Consider... 

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Home Language Survey Follow up and/or Additional Questions (in magenta) to Consider... 

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https://twitter.com/LeadingELLs/status/1422238341584535559?s=20&t=v4f72KAbdyXlmNgaQvAZSw

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Wrote staff an email and then decided I should have made it a graphic. Names matter. Share away.

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Wrote staff an email and then decided I should have made it a graphic. Names matter. Share away. https://t.co/OymJZTJo9V

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Wrote staff an email and then decided I should have made it a graphic. Names matter. Share away. pic.twitter.com/OymJZTJo9V
— Pamela Broussard (@LeadingELLs) August 2, 2021

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Wrote staff an email and then decided I should have made it a graphic. Names matter. Share away. https://t.co/OymJZTJo9V

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Wrote staff an email and then decided I should have made it a graphic. Names matter. Share away. https://t.co/OymJZTJo9V

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Wrote staff an email and then decided I should have made it a graphic. Names matter. Share away.

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Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors

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Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AAu58SNSyc

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Find your state to see its definition of SLIFE. Data Map - InLier

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Find your state to see its definition of SLIFE. Data Map - InLier

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https://www.inlierlearning.com/data-map

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An umbrella term for a diverse subgroup of students traditionally known as English Language Learners, Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) are multilingual immigrant students who have had limited access to formal education in their home countries. This interruption can occur…

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Online collection of books in different languages!

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Online collection of books in different languages!

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https://www.leslla.org/online-collections

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Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults

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Online Collections - Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults

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These are online collections of books in many languages. Some are large hubs in themselves, with links to other collections. Some focus on specific languages or on languages in particular countries or regions. There is some overlap, so you may find the same books in multiple locations.

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Introducing Dr Denise Furlong and her supportive ideas for those who have needed to relocate to the UK.

In many countries around the world right now, schools are experiencing an influx of students who are leaving their homelands for reasons we cannot fathom or understand. These students may have experienced trauma, loss, extreme poverty, lack of education, violence, threats, or so many other horrors that may have caused them to leave or flee. Other students may enter our countries as UMs (Unaccompanied Minors) or may have reluctantly left loved ones (even immediate family) behind. When we even consider the journeys that some of these families undertake to reach their destinations, there is extreme amounts of stress involved!

When these students enter our classes, many teachers may only see their academic or linguistic needs. However, support for the loss or trauma that many of these students have experienced may be of more crucial importance. Although teachers are certainly not all certified SEMH experts, there are many ways we can support these students who are entering our classrooms.

What do these students' teachers need to know?

● These students may have interrupted education (either through time that they missed or from stress) and may not have solid academic skills in their native language. This can definitely have an impact on one's SEMH, as stress associated with perceptions of academic and linguistic "inadequacy" can be overwhelming. To be clear, these students have a wealth of life experiences AND potential to bring to their learning, but they may need help realizing that.

● These students may not have well-developed conflict resolution or interpersonal skills and may need assistance when interacting with peers. There may be verbal outbursts or physical manifestations of stress and they need support in learning coping skills.

● These students may have difficulties with safety drills and assemblies that may bring up memories of their past (or present?) fears. Explicit instructions in their dominant languages to ensure they understand that they are not in danger is critical, as well as discussing these drills before they happen. During these first drills, a peer buddy can be a resource to help these students know what to do, as well as helping them keep calm.

● If counseling services are available in the school (in their native language?), these students would benefit. If not, there may be community resources that the school can help their families secure SEMH assistance.

● Educators must watch for possible gang involvement or aggressive language or actions and help form a plan to support them. Mentoring programs at school can help provide students with an outlet for asking questions and fostering positive connections with peers and adults.

● Some students want to talk about their past experiences and others do not. Respect either way. They do not owe anyone their story.

● These students' families may or may not be together and he may have worries about their family left behind. Be sensitive when doing projects that involve information about families (family trees, investigations into one's family roots).

● Educators are not here to "save" students like these; rather we are just here to help and support them as much as we can through this part of his life.

● As these students learn English, they will be multilingual or bilingual young adults. With this in mind, a growth mindset with an asset-based perspective is key to fostering success for them. We must not focus on what they cannot do at this point, but rather what their goals are and how we will help them achieve those goals and beyond.

● These students have great love and loyalty for their families and they have people who love them as well. We are not to judge any decisions that ANY family makes, but support their children to the best of our abilities.

● These students want to feel wanted and accepted. We must make it a point to provide them with opportunities to make connections with other students and adults. It is through those connections that they will feel a sense of belonging. (For more on belonging, see the work of Dr. Ilene Winokur AlZaid @IleneWinokur)

● There is more to any student than we see in the classroom- acknowledging the "life" that children have outside the school is key to validating their journey.

● These students have the potential to make amazing contributions during their lives... and they will!

Teachers are in the position to support the SEMH of students within the scope of their "natural environment" (school-haha!) rather than a clinical setting. The better our teachers are prepared to provide that supportive environment for our students, the more healthy everyone will be (including the teachers!).

For further ideas and support in this area please see:
https://www.naldic.org.uk/eal-teaching-and-learning/outline-guidance/ealrefugee/ https://neu.org.uk/media/1936/view
About the author:

Dr. Denise Furlong is a teacher/coach for Multilingual learners and their teachers in New Jersey in the United States. She has taught all levels from kindergarten up to preservice and veteran teachers at the university level. She holds her doctorate from Rutgers University and considers herself to be a lifelong learner. She has written a book on Newcomers that will be published next year through EduMatch Publishing. You can find her on Twitter @denise_furlong. Let's connect!

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SEMH in schools for students from overseas by Dr Denise Furlong

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When students from overseas enter our classes, many teachers may only see their academic or linguistic needs. However, support for the loss or trauma that many of these students have experienced may be of more crucial importance.

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Es cuando estoy leyendo (It's when I'm reading) the book and soñando (dreaming) of other places. Question for our multilingual friends: Have you ever felt that there is a word in one of your languages that just has the right "feel" to what you are trying to express-even if you are communicating in a different language?

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http://lelibros.online/libro/descargar-libro-la-leccion-de-august-en-pdf-epub-mobi-o-leer-online/

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Le Libros - Descargar Libros en PDF, ePUB y MOBI - Leer Libros Online - Libros para iPad, iPhone, Android, Kobo y Kindle

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Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads

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Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads

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http://www.loyalbooks.com/

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Free Audio Books! Books Should be Free. Best Online Audiobook Downloads for Android, iPhone & mp3. Listen to Audible & Talking Books on Tape. eBooks in English, French, Spanish, Tamil, Portuguese, German & more.

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 Readers with native language & audio support!

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 Readers with native language & audio support!

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https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/
Use leveled readers with native language & audio support (free international digital libraries)

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Unite for Literacy provides free digital access to picture books, narrated in many languages. Literacy is at the core of a healthy community, so we unite with partners to enable all families to read with their young children.

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Forty theme-based readers, along with an instructor guide, that will support ESL literacy instructors to create comprehensive, theme-based lessons for adult ESL literacy learners.

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Responsive Reads

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https://globalaccess.bowvalleycollege.ca/our-resources/publications-resources/esl-literacy-readers

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Forty theme-based readers, along with an instructor guide, that will support ESL literacy instructors to create comprehensive, theme-based lessons for adult ESL literacy learners.

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http://rewordify.com/

Type or paste in a complex text and this tool will automatically simplify for your students.

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From frustration...

...to understanding

Don't let an abstruse lexicon heighten your trepidation. Rewordify.com can assuage your anxiety.

Don't let a difficult and confusing word list increase your fear and nervousness. Rewordify.com can calm your fear and stress.

Rewordify.com simplifies difficult English. Enter hard sentences (or whole chapters) into the yellow box at the top of the page. (You can also enter a web site URL.) Click Rewordify text and you'll instantly see an easier version, for fast understanding. The reworded words are highlighted- click them to hear and learn the original harder word. You can change how the highlighting works to match the way you learn!

Do you dislike dictionaries because they're confusing and unhelpful? You'll love Rewordify.com's clear, easy-to-understand definitions-they change to match the original word or phrase's part of speech, verb tense, and singular/plural form, so they make sense. Our amazing Rewordifying Engine is what makes it all possible, and no other web site has it.

Want to see something now? Click Classic Literature at the top and start reading-easier.

Learn more words faster. Our exclusive Learning Sessions actively teach you words so you learn them. Any time you paste in a block of text, our software finds all the hard words, lets you pick which ones you want to learn, and then teaches them to you in a Learning Session.

A Learning Session isn't an online quiz: it's an effective, step by step process where you hear words and phrases, type them, and read them. The software re-teaches you exactly what you need when you need it, and moves ahead when you're ready. When you've learned a word, the site stops "rewording" it, so the site grows with you as you learn! Learn more about Learning Sessions.

Learn the way you want-from what you want to read. You can change the way the site works to fit your learning style as you read and learn from almost any text passage or web page. See the different highlighting styles in the box? You can pick any of them, and lots more options. Click the Settings link (at the bottom of the page now, or at the top of any page) to see all the choices you have. (The demo text in the box here never changes.)

Chart your progress and have fun. You can keep track of your learning with lots of detailed charts that show how you're doing. Plus, as you use the site, you earn points and get Learning Stars -a fun reward for reading and learning!

Now you can easily get your students involved in their learning: let them select the text that interests them. Let them print and complete the activities with which they're most comfortable. Imagine each student learning vocabulary customized to his or her interests, while you have time to teach instead of typing. Could differentiation by interest or readiness be any easier? You can start doing it today, for free.

You never have to type another vocabulary list or quiz again.

Type (or copy-paste) in any block of text in the yellow box at the top of this page, click Rewordify text, and click the Print/Learning activities button. Here's how. You (or your students!) can select from a rich variety of quizzes and learning activities, with or without answer keys.

Do you need to teach (or not teach) particular vocabulary words and phrases? Rewordify.com gives you the exact control you need for specialized vocabulary instruction. You can make customized word lists so the site rewords and teaches any word or phrase exactly the way you want.

Learn the way you want-from what you want to read. You can change the way the site works to fit your learning style as you read and learn from almost any text passage or web page. See the different highlighting styles in the box? You can pick any of them, and lots more options. Click the Settings link (at the bottom of the page now, or at the top of any page) to see all the choices you have. (The demo text in the box here never changes.)

Chart your progress and have fun. You can keep track of your learning with lots of detailed charts that show how you're doing. Plus, as you use the site, you earn points and get Learning Stars -a fun reward for reading and learning!

Now you can easily get your students involved in their learning: let them select the text that interests them. Let them print and complete the activities with which they're most comfortable. Imagine each student learning vocabulary customized to his or her interests, while you have time to teach instead of typing. Could differentiation by interest or readiness be any easier? You can start doing it today, for free.

Save all your documents online so anyone can read them and learn from them at any time.

Just log in, rewordify something, and click the Share button.

Select how public or private you want the document, enter the title, author, etc., and you're done!

You get a link that you can put in your online lesson plans, teacher web pages, or blog. No more rewordifying the same thing over and over again!

You can view, manage and edit all your documents from any computer. Just log in (or create a free, safe account) and start building your learning library. Here's how to do it.

At Educator Central, you can create and manage student accounts, monitor your students' learning, and get detailed reading and learning analytics that help you make smart classroom decisions. For free. Now.
(In a hurry? Log in. Click Educator Central at the top.)

In a few minutes, you can create student accounts on Rewordify.com, and easily monitor your students' reading and learning progress. Get actionable learning and error analytics as your students read and learn from any document you post, or from any document or web page they want to read.

Imagine each student learning different words based on his or her interest or ability level. It's easy to do: Rewordify.com designs and teaches individualized vocabulary lessons with our highly effective Learning Sessions, so you have the time to teach students the important stuff: how to learn, how to break through obstacles, how to believe the words "I can do it."

As your students read and learn, get detailed charts and reports that tell you what you need to know-by student, by class, or for all your classes.

Effectively match interventions with students, based on detailed error breakdowns that let you see what you need to see in a few clicks.

Student accounts are anonymous, and they keep your students safe and focused on learning.

Start using it now: Log in and click on Educator Central at the top. Read more about Educator Central.

Rewordify.com is free online software. You're using it now. There's nothing to buy or install. It works on any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just point your browser to Rewordify.com and start reading and learning. Yes, it's tablet-friendly-no mouse needed. Yes, your whole school district can create teacher and student accounts, without entering any personal information. When? Now.

It's fast. Wasting your (and your students' time) is bad. That's why Rewordify.com was designed from the ground up to be lightning-fast and use very little data. The site doesn't have a hundred images of puppies and kittens and a hundred links to a hundred lists. What it does have is speed and ease of use, which are very nice when you have to teach a room full of teenagers. Or adults.

It's an app. Want the app? You're using it. Wasn't that easy? The site is a web app, which is great for you, because you get almost-daily site updates automatically -so you can read and learn, not download and install app updates.

We keep kids safe online. Rewordify.com requires no personal information. Student accounts are completely anonymous and cannot post or share anything. Read more about how we protect children's privacy.

Rewordify.com can display simplified versions of web pages. Our state-of-the-art web filtering technology blocks millions of inappropriate sites and questionable language, to protect kids online and keep them reading only what they should be reading. Read more about how we protect children from inappropriate material.

Difficult English is intelligently simplified with our exclusive Rewordifying Engine

Saves time when reading hard text, improves comprehension and self-confidence, and increases total reading time

Copy-paste entire text passages into the yellow box and press Rewordify text. You'll see a simplified version. Read more.

Definitions are easy to understand, context-aware, and match verb tense and part of speech

Reduces frustration and improves comprehension by maximizing time spent reading versus dictionary research

Copy-paste any text passage into the yellow box and "rewordify" it. Click the highlighted words. Read more.

Learning Sessions actively teach individualized vocabulary lessons with research-proven multimodal techniques

Improves vocabulary and word retention

After you "rewordify" text, you'll see a purple bar at the top. Click the buttons to pick hard words and learn them in an effective Learning Session. Read more.

Site carefully monitors student reading time, learning progress, and learning errors, and gives educators full-color, real-time charts and reports

Gives actionable learning data that helps improve student learning outcomes

Create an account. Click on Educator Central. Create free student accounts. Post assignments online. Get learning data. Make smart classroom decisions based on valid data. Read more.

Site identifies and extracts over 58,000 difficult words and phrases from any text and creates a rich variety of learning activities with answer keys

Saves time when teaching and gives students individualized learning activities

Copy-paste any text passage into the yellow box and "rewordify" it. Click Print/Learning Activities. Pick the quizzes, activities, vocab lists, cloze activities you want, with keys. Print them. Read more.

Software allows users to change the difficulty level and presentation style of the output text

Improves engagement by allowing easy differentiation by learning style and readiness

Copy-paste any text passage and "rewordify" it. Click Settings. Change the text presentation style, "rewordifying level" (difficulty level), even the highlighting style. Read more.

Site works as an app on any device, using a minimum of data

Allows for easy district rollout on nearly any existing device while conserving Internet bandwith

Point any device's browser to Rewordify.com and it works like an app. Here's how to make an app icon on your home screen or desktop.

Site calculates accurate text complexity measures, including our exclusive READ score

Improves engagement and learning through the selection of appropriate reading materials

Rewordify any text passage. Click the Stats button. Read more.

Site's browser app (bookmarklet) extracts most web pages to Rewordify.com for learning in one click

Improves engagement and total reading time through independent selection of high-interest materials

Install our free browser app. Browse the web. At any page, click the "Rewordify text" button. Read the extracted text on Rewordify.com.

You can post any document and share it publicly, privately, or with a password

Increases reading time and organization of learning materials

Log in. Paste in a document and "rewordify" it. Click the Share button, share it, and get a link. Post the link to your teacher page. Or, add it as a Rewordify.com assignment. Here's how to post documents. Here's how to create assignments.

Site calculates points and displays Learning Stars based on total minutes read and words learned

Increases reading time and engagement by making the site more fun

Log in and start reading and clicking on the purple bar to do Learning Sessions. Points and Learning Stars will display. Click My Learning/My Documents to see charts of your progress. Read more.

Over 300 pieces of classic literature are available

Improves comprehension of the classics-from Shakespeare to Douglass to Austen

Click Classic literature at the top. Or, type a word like Frankenstein into the search box at the top.

Here's what to do next:

First, do the demo. You'll be an expert in five minutes: Click here for the demo.

Learn the site, step by step. Our First-Time User Guide clearly shows you how to get started.

Teachers: Learn about Educator Central and all it can do to help improve student learning outcomes. Also, you can print lots of free, full-color literature to help you get started in the classroom.

Have some fun. Are you up for a vocabulary challenge? Play Rewordo. Be aware: it's not easy.

Browse some classics. Want to be more sure of Shakespeare, or brush up on Bronte? Scroll to the top, and click the Classic Literature link. It's a fast way to get started using the site. Or, use the Search bar at the top. Try entering the word raven to understand the deal with Poe, that black bird, and the "Nevermore" thing.

Check out the goodies. You can install our One-Click Learning browser applet that lets you rewordify most web pages in one click. Our cool (and free, of course) School Clock tells you the current time and date, what class period you're currently in, countdowns to the next period, and more. You can customize it for any school's schedule, and make as many different School Clocks as you have different day schedules. Use it now.

Show the love! Please tell us about mistakes the site makes when "rewording" and defining words. That feedback is the single most valuable thing you can do to help the site (and learners around the world). Click here to contact us. Do you want to help defray the site's operating costs, and read a great thriller at the same time? You can! Get your copy of Electric Dawn.

Contact us. We want to help you! Please use the Contact page with any questions or comments.

Site summary: Rewordify.com helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary development by simplifying English to a lower reading level. It lets you reword a sentence or reword a paragraph. It will simplify English by reducing text complexity. It's a dictionary alternative that will improve comprehension and teach vocabulary. It's an important part of reading instruction and vocabulary instruction for ESL students, people with reading disabilities, people with a learning disability, or anyone who wants to improve reading skill.

35650 / 9.0

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Rewordify.com | Understand what you read

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Rewordify.com helps you read more, understand better, learn new words, and teach more effectively.

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http://visualdictionaryonline.com/

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QA International launched , a new valuable resource to learn Spanish. Includes 17 all-around themes to explore, including the human body, sciences and food. MORE

From the image to the word and its definition, the Visual Dictionary Online is an all-in-one reference. Search the themes to quickly locate words, or find the meaning of a word by viewing the image it represents. What's more, the Visual Dictionary Online helps you learn English in a visual and accessible way. The Visual Dictionary Online is ideal for teachers, parents, translators and students of all skill levels. Explore the Visual Dictionary Online and enrich your mind. Perfect for home, school or work. Discover a visual world of information!

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QA International launched , a new valuable resource to learn Spanish. Includes 17 all-around themes to explore, including the human body, sciences and food. MORE From the image to the word and its definition, the Visual Dictionary Online is an all-in-one reference.

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https://thenounproject.com/

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Noun Project: Free Icons & Stock Photos for Everything

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Noun Project has the most diverse collection of free icons and stock photos. Download SVG and PNG. Over 5 million art-quality icons and free photos.

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Basic vocabulary clip art for ELs!
https://hcmc.uvic.ca/clipart/

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UVic’s Language Teaching Clipart Library

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Clip art organized by units of study for beginning level ESL.
http://www.esolhelp.com/online-picture-dictionary.html

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Online Picture Dictionary

This online picture dictionary is free to use for eductional, noncommercial purposes. The pictures used on this website were created by Jupiter Images.

Return from the Online Picture Dictionary page to the English Language Learning Software main page.

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Free online picture dictionary with sound.

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https://www.smore.com/xq1bt-ell-gazette?ref=email

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ELL Gazette - Get the latest news on FLC's ESL/Bilingual department! by Jillian Lazaro | This newsletter was created with Smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for individual educators, schools and districts

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Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff

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Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff

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This guide was created for educators, school support staff and service providers who teach, mentor and help open the doors of opportunity for undocumented youth and unaccompanied and refugee children currently living in the United States. Educators, school support staff and service providers are often the first individuals a student and/or family comes out to as undocumented.

Moreover, they are often the first ones to witness the impact of increased enforcement measures on students and their families.

Schools should be safe havens that embrace all students and families, regardless of citizenship and national origin, and that includes unaccompanied and refugee children. The 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe ruled that undocumented children have a constitutional right to receive a free public K-12 education, which provides the means to becoming a "self-reliant and self-sufficient participant in society," the court wrote, and instills the "fundamental values necessary to the maintenance of a democratic political system." However, today's increased enforcement measures by the Department of Homeland Security and campaign promises made by the incoming administration threaten that right for thousands of undocumented youth and the 4.1 million U.S.-born children who live in mixed-status households with at least one parent or family member who is undocumented.

Facts About Undocumented Students

An undocumented student is an aspiring citizen who came to the United States without legal documentation or who has overstayed his or her visa. These students:

Often don't know they are undocumented until they begin the college application process;

Don't qualify for federal grants or loans, even if they are in financial need and their parents pay taxes;

Are racially and ethnically diverse, from all corners of the world, and are part of the 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Educator's FAQ About Immigration Raids

What impact do raids have on children and youth?

Research consistently shows that immigration enforcement actions have a harmful impact on the health, safety, academic performance and overall well-being of children, including U.S. citizen children living in mixed-status families. According to a 2010 report by the Urban Institute, children who witnessed parents or family members apprehended in a home raid were much more likely to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder than children whose parents were arrested in other settings, including greater changes in sleeping and eating patterns and much higher degrees of fear and anxiety. Several teachers in North Carolina also reported significant behavioral changes and increased absenteeism among students following a local community raid, including among U.S. citizen students.

Are there places where raids are prohibited?

Yes, with exceptions. According to a policy memorandum released by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in 2011, commonly referred to as the "sensitive locations memo," ICE officers and agents are to refrain from enforcement actions at least at the following locations and events:

schools (including preschools, primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities, and other institutions of learning, such as vocational and trade schools);

hospitals;

churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions of worship, such as buildings rented for the purpose of religious services;

funerals, weddings and other public religious ceremonies; and

public demonstrations, such as a march, rally or parade.

Note: The sensitive locations policy memorandum may be reversed. School leaders should stay informed about possible changes.
Is there a federal law that prevents schools from sharing student information?

Yes. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), schools are prohibited, without parental consent, from providing information from a student's file to federal immigration agents if the information would potentially expose a student's immigration status. If ICE agents present a school with a removal warrant (deportation order), the school is still permitted to refrain from providing student information, as the warrant is administrative, not judicial. Under FERPA, schools may disclose directory information without consent, but they are required to allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Some schools [and the Southern Poverty Law Center] have also interpreted the Plyler decision as prohibiting them from requiring students to provide Social Security cards or birth certificates as a condition of enrollment, test taking or participation in school activities. For more on FERPA, see familypolicy.ed.gov.

What Educators, School Support Staff and Communities Can Do

Issue a statement-in English and in other languages spoken at the school-articulating that the school supports immigrant students/parents and affirming publically that it is a welcoming site.

Stress the importance of taking proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of children and entire communities.

Distribute "know your rights" materials to students, families and communities about what to do if a raid occurs or an individual is detained.

Identify a bilingual person at your school who can serve as the immigration resource advocate in your building or on your campus.

Work with parents to develop a family immigration raid emergency plan.

Provide a safe place for students to wait if a parent or sibling has been detained.

Provide counseling for students who have had a family member detained by ICE.

Work with your school board to pass a resolution affirming schools as welcoming places of learning for all students, distancing the schools from enforcement actions that separate families.

Strengthen relationships with local institutions of higher education and community-based organizations that can support the needs of unaccompanied children and students with interrupted formal education.

Maintain-in English and in other languages spoken at the school-a list of resources, such as the names of mental health providers, social workers, pro bono attorneys and local immigration advocates and organizations that can be shared with your students and their families.

Partner with a pro bono attorney, legal aid organization or immigrant rights organization to schedule a "know your rights" workshop on campus to inform students and families about their rights.

Find out if there is a local immigration raid rapid response team. These teams usually consist of attorneys, media personnel and community leaders who may be able to provide support.

Participate in National Educators Coming Out Day, held annually on November 12, and "come out" in support of undocumented students.

Participate in National Institutions Coming Out Day, held annually on April 7.

For additional tools and model resolutions to create safe, welcoming environments for all students, visit aft.org and see the toolkit for this story.

Taking Action Beyond The Classroom

Advocate to stop raids and halt deportation proceedings.

Unaccompanied children and youth should be in school, not in detention centers awaiting deportation. Educators can play an important role in protesting raids and halting deportation proceedings. For example, if a student has been detained by ICE, you can send a letter of inquiry to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, asking for prosecutorial discretion to be exercised or considered, or you can file a formal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

You can also distribute the United We Dream deportation defense guide, which was published to inform members of Congress and other elected officials about the role they can play in stopping the deportation of their constituents and other community members.

Elected officials have successfully advocated for individuals in removal proceedings for years and continue to employ this process to help immigrant communities even today. The guide is also a useful resource for community advocates and people in deportation proceedings seeking support from their elected officials. Download the guide here.

Adopt resolutions.

School districts are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of all their students while they are in school. One way to create a welcoming school environment and protect undocumented students while in class and on school grounds is to pass a resolution that restricts ICE agents' access to school property, similar to the one the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) passed in February 2016. The LAUSD resolution:

Forbids immigration enforcement agents from going on campus without approval from the superintendent and the LAUSD law office.

Forbids school staff from asking about a student's immigration status or that of family members.

Provides teachers, administrators and other staff with training on how to deal with immigration issues and how to notify families in multiple languages of issues.

Asks all schools to treat students equitably, including those receiving free and reduced price meals, transportation and other services.

Requires the superintendent to come up with a plan to provide assistance and information for students and families "if faced with fear and anxiety related to immigration enforcement efforts."

Such resolutions can also improve protections for students by affirming that the schoolhouse doors are open to all students, no matter their prior academic attainment or their language proficiency. For additional information about what actions cities and counties can take to protect immigrants and make communities welcoming places for all, visit Cities for Action.

Make public statements.

Educators, administrators, students and community allies can make public statements denouncing immigration enforcement raids to reassure students and families that their local school remains a safe haven.

Create an online petition to prevent a student's deportation.

Online petitions are powerful tools for building public awareness and community support. See the NotOneMoreDeportation.com petition for 19-year-old Kimberly Pineda Chavez, who was detained in the United States after escaping violence in Honduras.

Organize a rally or walkout opposing ICE raids and deportations.

In February 2016, educators and community allies in Durham, North Carolina, organized a rally in support of a high school student detained by ICE. Actions like this help to support individuals fighting their deportation cases. The student's teachers even mailed school assignments to his detention facility to help him stay on top of his work. "There is nothing that will hold me back from giving a kid his classwork and finish their education and graduate," teacher Ellen Holmes told a local news station.
Editor's note This content was originally published by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and its partners: United We Dream's Dream Educational Empowerment Program, the National Immigration Law Center and First Focus. This excerpt was adapted and reprinted with generous permission from the AFT.

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Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff

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This guide was created for educators, school support staff and service providers who teach, mentor and help open the doors of opportunity for undocumented youth and unaccompanied and refugee children currently living in the United States. Educators, school support staff and service providers are often the first individuals a student and/or family comes out to as undocumented.

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Addressing Student Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression

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It really helps to understand post-traumatic stress disorder. Things that we might not notice could be very upsetting to a child, keeping them in that part of their brain where it's 'fight or flight.' So it's a reminder every now and then that we just need to check ourselves and think, "What are some things that we can control that could be helpful to a child in distress?" - Susan Stanley, Principal, Salina Elementary School, Dearborn, MI
Overview

Many immigrant students are currently living with high levels of fear, anxiety, stress, and depression. To better understand the reasons why, take a look at our section on how immigration issues impact students.

Building relationships with students and families can provide opportunities to identify students' needs, while providing professional development on a variety of topics in a respectful setting can help increase awareness across the staff. Here is some information to get started.

Immigrant students' social-emotional distress

In a UCLA survey studying the impact of immigration enforcement on schools, almost 90% of administrators surveyed "indicated that they have observed behavioral or emotional problems in immigrant students," and 25% indicated that it was a significant problem (Gándara & Ee, 2018b, p. 2). One administrator notes,
"Several students have arrived at school crying, withdrawn and refusing to eat lunch because they have witnessed deportation of a family member. Some students show anxiety symptoms...All of this impacts their ability to focus and complete work, which further affects them academically." (p.9)
Pediatricians serving immigrant families are noticing the same thing, according to a December 2017 Kaiser Family Foundation report, as well as negative effects on health such as problems sleeping, headaches, stomachaches, and mental health issues.

Loss of motivation

In addition, students' loss of motivation is another challenge. In this Education Week article, Principal Nedda de Castro of the International School at Prospect Heights in Brooklyn observed that, "Some of the students are assuming that they're just going to be deported anyway and starting to talk about how there's really no point in coming to school anymore. It's a lot of lost potential."

According to the UCLA research, administrators and educators across the country also reported that high-achieving students are giving up on their plans for college. After a nearby raid, a teacher in the Midwest observed the following:

"I noticed those students behaving so differently. They don't sit or stand tall. They do not want to participate in presentations. They do not want to be called. They seem disconnected or uninterested now...I serve in an academically advanced setting where students are selected and good performers" (p. 10).

Another teacher from Oregon observed,

"I have students who were college-bound now questioning if it's worth it, because they don't believe that they could get a job in their field after graduating" (p. 12).

And in our own travels to Dearborn, MI, we met teachers and community members who spoke about the toll of lengthy separations on students and families from countries such as Yemen and Syria.

Identify resources for addressing student anxiety and depression

Why this matters

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has publicly stated their expectation that the current climate will likely increase students' toxic stress level, particularly if students experience trauma. (The AAP also released a statement on the impact of family separations at the border.)

Researchers at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) documented the impact of this anxiety on children as young as three, including an increase in finger biting and toilet accidents (Cervantes, Ullrich, & Matthews, 2018, p. 9), while teachers of older students report an increase in severe depression and a decrease in motivation and engagement. See more on the impacts of this anxiety on young children in our section on supporting young children in immigrant families.

Tips for getting started

Learn about the impacto of anxiety on students in your age group, such as impacts on behavior, as well as strategies for strategies for supporting students' social-emotional health.

Consider pulling together a team of educators, cultural liaisons, mental health professionals, administrators, parents, students (as appropriate), and community partners to identify (a) the types of challenges students are facing and (b) culturally appropriate approaches to social-emotional health for your families.

Determine which supports are currently in place and what else might be needed, such as more professional development, community outreach and family engagement; extra time for discussion in peer groups; or creating new community partnerships that can address specific issues.

As a group, determine your priorities and next steps to implement those priorities.

Continue to revisit these topics, particularly if new immigration policy changes are announced.

Keep in mind that students may be keeping these concerns quiet out of fear for their safety.

Remember that any training or discussion should always respect student/staff privacy; nothing personal should be shared without explicit permission.

Recommended resources

Recommended videos

When immigration status impacts young children: Lori Dodson, ESOL Specialist, MD

Trauma-informed instruction for immigrant students

Why this matters

More and more educators across the country are learning about the impacts of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on students. Researchers estimate that half of the U.S. student population has experienced or is still experiencing some type of trauma, violence, or chronic stress (Zacarian, Haynes, and Alvarez-Ortiz, 2017). One teacher wrote in our 2017 survey on how schools are supporting immigrant students, "Staff need training in trauma-informed education and supporting students who've experienced many kinds of trauma. We brought in the Center for Victims of Torture to train our staff to support our specific refugee populations."

For immigrant students, the sources of trauma may be complex and may be related to:
Immigration experiences

the reasons the family left their home country (such as war or wide-spread violence)

difficult conditions, violence, sexual assault, or casualties during the journey to this country

forced separation from a parent or sibling on the journey

Experiences related to immigration enforcement

witnessing a loved one's arrest

being separated from a parent during interrogation

a forced separation for an extended period of time

detention in an immigration detention center

coming into contact with immigration enforcement officers

a lengthy separation from families or siblings

Current stresses

stressful situations such as economic stress and homelessness

other challenges at home, including domestic abuse.

Note: See the resources on addressing trauma in our resource section about family separations at the border.

Related news headlines

Take a look at our section on how trauma and anxiety can impact students' behavior and the importance of getting a complete picture of the source of the issue before taking steps that can have long-term consequences for the student.

Tips for getting started

Learn more about the impacts of trauma and signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for students the age group you work with.

If possible, look for clues and try to learn a little bit more about your students' backgrounds, keeping in mind that every individual's situation is unique, even within a family, and protecting student privacy. Start with a trusted colleague, parent liaison or community partner. If appropriate, give students opportunities to share their stories privately, or, if they wish, with classmates.

Discuss ideas for addressing students' needs with colleagues and identify next steps to implement those ideas.

Learn more about trauma-informed instruction in the following resources.

Recommended resources

Trauma-informed instruction

Strategies and toolkits

In the news

Recommended videos

Video playlist: What educators need to know about trauma

Video: When loud noises cause post-traumatic stress in schools

Video: A superintendent recalls a distressing journal entry from his teaching days

Video: Why not all changes in behavior require a special education referral

References

See our complete reference list for works cited in this article.

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Addressing Student Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression

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It really helps to understand post-traumatic stress disorder. Things that we might not notice could be very upsetting to a child, keeping them in that part of their brain where it's 'fight or flight.'

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Resources_ First Steps to Welcoming our Newcomers (Zimmer_Furlong)

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This is a tool that allows teachers to quickly make, customize, and print typical notes in English and/or Spanish that are sent home to parents or given to the students.  This is done by using templates and allowing the teachers to customize some of the content, choose a color scheme and add a graphic.

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Quickly make and customize notes to send home to parents or students