Week 4 by Jen Koerner https://padlet.com/jenkoerner/yhbbzsig0m7l Military Service en-us 2017-07-27 15:34:06 UTC 2025-12-13 23:58:51 UTC hello@padlet.com Immigrant and Refugee Children jenkoerner https://padlet.com/jenkoerner/yhbbzsig0m7l/wish/179587094 At this particular time, the important information found in the Immigrant and Refugee Children guide applies to my students only in the abstract – which is not to say that it doesn’t apply to them.  I teach in a majority white, middle- to upper-middle class school.  There are a handful of students who are not white each year, but generally they are second or third generation Americans and immigration concerns are not a direct, legitimate threat.  However, as I teach in a middle school, sixth grade to be exact, that doesn’t mean that the threat of deportation or raids doesn’t still strike fear into the hearts of my students.  When they see children their age with whom they identify removed from their homes or a parent taken from them, it’s bound to create anxiety in a child who doesn’t necessarily understand the process and that he or she is safe from these activities.  There also is the very real possibility that these students have been given a narrative to tell about their background that isn’t exactly accurate so as to protect them from the threat that ICE presents.  For these children, it’s imperative that they understand that while they’re in my classroom, they are safe. They don’t have to worry while they’re within the walls of our school.  That means teaching them to advocate for themselves, identify what feelings they’re having and how to appropriately and constructively manage those feelings, and who safe adults are that they can speak with should something terrible occur.  
 
 
]]> 2017-07-27 15:34:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jenkoerner/yhbbzsig0m7l/wish/179587094 Supporting Students from Immigrant Families jenkoerner https://padlet.com/jenkoerner/yhbbzsig0m7l/wish/179587129 This information would apply to my students in that, as while middle- to upper-middle class Americans, they are in a position of power and influence.  Though they may not be directly influenced by things such as deportation or ICE raids, they can certainly be on the side of kindness and understanding by understanding what steps they can legally take to help support their fellow human beings in need.  Giving students a strong understanding – without salaciousness – of what Sanctuary Cities are and how they assist those in need while also not setting the other residents of the city up to be murdered in their beds.  Giving facts to students based on the information found in this article is useful, and teaching them how to read it critically to come to a thorough understanding is extremely important.  It’s also important to expose them to what laws are actually on the books.  Students should understand that immigrant students are entitled to an education in our country regardless of their legal status.  They should also understand the reasoning behind that law and that education for all benefits all.  Information is power, and in this case it can be a powerful means by which understanding and tolerance can be created.  ]]> 2017-07-27 15:35:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jenkoerner/yhbbzsig0m7l/wish/179587129 Embracing Diversity jenkoerner https://padlet.com/jenkoerner/yhbbzsig0m7l/wish/179587144 How diverse is my school?  In short, not very.  This is changing, however.  Shawnee Mission used to be an extremely white school district and over the past twenty years or so that has made a quick change.  So, why learn about diversity if my school is a predominantly white school, in a predominantly white district, in a predominantly white state?  Well, because none of this is representative of the majority of the world around them.  It doesn’t take a very long drive in any direction to be in an area that is more diverse than Johnson County, Kansas.  It’s important that our children know, understand, and embrace that there are other cultures, religions, ethnicities and lifestyles that are no less American than we are.  In order to do this, exposure to books written by people different from us and guest speakers who represent a life that is different than ours can be extremely powerful and meaningful. The world is changing.  Our country is becoming more and more diverse. This is a strength.  It’s important that students are taught to see this as children so that they can grow up embracing change rather than fighting a losing battle.  
 
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