NEW AMERICANS IN THE CLASSROOM:
A Workshop for Educators
In this interactive workshop, participants get a glimpse inside the refugee youth experience and build skills for teaching new Americans. What is it like to be forced to leave your homeland? How does it feel to enter a classroom in a strange language, in a strange land? How does trauma interfere with learning? And how do we, as teachers and staff, help immigrant students feel welcome and learn?
Note: We customize the content to the needs and strengths of your organization.
Objectives:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
· Feel compassion and empathy for students with a refugee background or who are learning English.
· Describe the difference between “survival brain” and “learning brain.”
· Name at least three ways in which trauma affects students’ ability to learn.
· Incorporate at least one trauma-informed teaching method into their work.
· Model how to respond to a student who has been “triggered.”
· Describe how trauma and culture contribute to disruptive behavior.
· Share three tips for engaging with refugee parents.
· Feel acknowledged in the importance of their role as educators.
Time: The full workshop is four hours, but we can shorten the workshop to as little as one hour.
Facilitators:
Presented by the Neighbors United Education Taskforce, a coalition of organizations working to support Idahoans with a refugee background in their education and learning.
· George Safari, former refugee from Congo/Uganda and a Certified Peer Support Specialist.
· Chantale Niyonkuru, a former refugee from Burundi/Congo/Tanzania and a Youth Support Specialist with the Idaho Office for Refugees.
· Laura and Nick Armstrong, Co-Directors, Glocal Community Partners.
· Sara Skinner, Facilitator and Training Consultant, Sara Skinner Associates.
· Deb Ryman, Trauma Counselor, Gates of Hope.
“Best presentation I’ve attended in 10 years.”
Staff Member, Boise High School
“Inspirational. Moving. Incredible.”
Staff member, Whittier Elementary