Newcomer Needs
October/Novermber 2021
Welcoming New Immigrant and Refugee Students
The beginning of the school year is exciting, confusing, joyous, and sometimes scary for many students. All students experience some kind of emotions as they begin their new school year and a new grade level of learning. Imagine all of those feelings added to the experience of being a new resident in a new country, and entering a school where everyone speaks a language you have yet to master?
In this edition, we offer information that may help schools who have not had newcomer students before, or may have welcomed students from different countries or different native languages than they have welcomed in the past. Please feel free to reach out to your ESL/Diversity consultant at Heartland AEA if your school is in need of support to welcome our newest Iowa residents.
Janet Hiatt, ESL/Diversity Consultant Public Schools in Regions 5, 6, 7, 8: All except Saydel Non-public Schools in Regions 5, 6, 7, 8: All except Grand View Christian, Sacred Heart Boone, Trinity Lutheran, and Sully Christian Email: jhiatt@heartlandaea.org Cindra Porter, ESL/Diversity Consultant Region 1, 2, 3: All public and non-public Region 6: Saydel & Grand View Christian Region 7: Sacred Heart, Boone and Trinity Lutheran, Boone Region 8: Sully Christian Email: cporter@heartlandaea.org
My Name My Identity: Educator Toolkit
The My Name, My Identity Tool Kit was organized by Santa Clara County Office of Education, in San Jose, CA, with objectives to:
- Bring awareness to the importance of respecting one's name and identity
- Build a respectful and inclusive culture in school communities
The resources within this Tool Kit are appropriate for districts who wish to invest in deeper learning around the needs to increase more inclusive and respectful school communities.
SCCOE EdTech. (20121, August 6). My name my identity educator Toolkit Walkthrough [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/aiWmCMm88Vg
Newcomer Instructional Supports
5 Ways Phonics is Different For English Language Learners
Books about Newcomers in our Heartland AEA Library
The Newcomer Student by Loyise H. Kreuzer
The Newcomer Fieldbook by Louise El Yaafouri
Students with Interrupted Formal Education by Brenda Custudio
Example of a Newcomer Center for Secondary Students
Spokane Public Schools (2018, January 4). SPS Newcomer Centers welcome students new to
U.S. [Video] Retrieved from https://youtu.be/DFBiX74svy8
Previous Newsletters
2020-2021 School Year