New Americans in the Classroom (BSD)

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NEW AMERICANS IN THE CLASSROOM:

A Workshop for Educators

January 13, 8:30-3:00

Boise Schools DTEC Training Center

Workshop is free to all educators; Priority registration for BSD staff

Credit costs $60 and requires 9.5 additional hours "on your own"

In this interactive workshop, participants get a glimpse inside the immigrant 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? What do immigrant parents expect of schools, and how can we communicate better? And how do we, as teachers and staff, help immigrant students feel welcome and learn? We will identify practices that you already do that you can "lean into" to help your newcomer students, and will share additional strategies for working with multilingual learners.

Note: While the workshop is relevant for preK - 12th grade educators,

we will focus on elementary case studies and examples.

“The training . . . was exceptional and thoughtful and meaningful in every single way!"

Jenny Hirst, Taft Elementary

“Inspirational. Moving. Incredible.”

Staff member, Whittier Elementary

Objectives:

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

· Identify at least 4 things they already do, but can "lean into" to support their newcomer students.

· Implement at least 4 new techniques for working with multilingual learners.

· 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 three trauma- and resiliency-informed teaching methods into their work.

· Describe how trauma and culture contribute to disruptive behavior.

· Choose family engagement strategies that have maximum impact on learning.

Facilitators:

Presented by Sara Skinner Associates and the Neighbors United Education Committee, a coalition of organizations working to support Idahoans with a refugee background. Workshops always include a personal story from someone with an immigrant background.

For More Information, Email Us

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"This is our school's first year with an English Learner program, and we were not prepared for the reality of being an 'EL school'. The New Americans in the Classroom workshop came at just the right time, helping us understand the background of as well as the challenges and barriers our EL students encounter. In all my years as an educator and administrator, this is the most engaging and meaningful workshop I have attended, and I know I speak for the others in attendance as well. We hope we can have Neighbors United return for more professional development soon!"

Anne Spittle, Principal - Silver Sage Elementary