A parent guide addressing a new student experience in U.S. Schools
Imagine having to migrate to another country at an early age, with the pressure of learning a new school and language. When newcomer students learn that they will soon migrate to a new school in the U.S., they most likely feel uncertain and nervous about their future experiences.
When my mother first told me that I would soon be moving to the US, I remember thinking about my new surroundings. Specifically, what school would be like?
I was lucky to be the second child in my family to join my father in the United States. My older brother had left about 1 year earlier. In conversations with him, I had an idea of how different things were. For me, this was the first time I was leaving my community and my mother behind to come to live with my father. The plan was that I would join my dad, a stepmother, and my older brother.
Who is a newcomer?
In American schools, a newcomer student is a child or teenager student who has recently arrived in a place or joined a group. Newcomers come from around the world to join family members or friends. Kids speak hundreds of different languages, with Spanish representing the most spoken language among newcomers. Some speak various languages and learn English as an additional language.
The first time a new student arrives in the US, they are impressed by the new surroundings. Everything may look very different depending on the country the student comes from. One difference often noticed by newcomers is how big and elaborate schools in America are. Once in their new school, newcomers have to figure out how to make new friends and learn new rules, procedures, and routines that tend to be very different from what they are used to. Services for newcomers begin when students start school. Identification as an ESL student is done by administering a language proficiency test.
Making Friends
Making new friends can be challenging because it depends on the time of the school year a student arrives, considering the beginning and middle of the school year. At the beginning of the school year, he/she might have a more positive experience in making new friends. At this point, everyone is new in the school and starting from fresh.
Meanwhile, when a student arrives at a new school in the middle of the school year, making friends might be challenging. At that point, all attention is on the newcomer, and making connections can become challenging. It is often difficult to figure out who to be friendly with; however, teachers are a great resource to connect students with other kids.
Rules
One consistent pattern across schools in the US is the various school rules and policies that exist. Students must follow such rules for safety reasons and to help maintain orderly conduct. Some rules may relate to arriving on time, asking permission to use the bathroom, forming a line, or not talking during class. Rules might change depending on the classroom, but, for the most part, they are very similar.
Rules are usually part of the school code of conduct booklet. The code of conduct provides a list of rules and consequences administrators follow when a student breaks the rule. Consequences vary for students in elementary and middle school. Attendance is what is addressed and covered under a school’s code of conduct.
Procedures
Students experience various daily procedures in a school. Arrival and dismissal times follow specific procedures and guidelines. Parents and students should learn to navigate these procedures to ensure they go well each day. Breakfast and lunch also have their own set of procedures that students will learn during the first days of school.
The cafeteria is one of the most important new routines a student will need to learn. Each school runs its cafeteria a bit differently, depending on available resources.
Homework Policy
In schools, homework policy may vary from class to class. A student should inquire about homework policy to know how often homework will be assigned. It might also help to inquire about any resources the student can use to complete homework. Some helpful resources include Google Translate or other online resources.
Routines
The first few days of school expose new students to a daily routine. There are routines to navigate the school and routines within the classroom. Students may want to take notes about a school and classroom routine. This includes understanding how the schedule rotation works. A schedule indicates when classes begin and when to switch to other classes, lunch, or dismissal. A daily schedule is usually posted on a school website and given with an agenda.
A daily schedule also includes when the bell rings. A bell ring indicates a student should switch classes or go to lunch unless told differently. Although a bell schedule initially seems complicated, most students learn it within a week or so.
How are students taught English?
Newcomers are taught English in different ways. In the United States, schools implement different types of English language instruction programs to teach English. Schools with more newcomer students offer newcomer English learner programs to help accelerate English language proficiency. Some newcomer programs are only available in specific schools and vary in instructional practices. Stand-alone English learner programs allow schools to serve more students, maximizing resources.
Language Acquisition Instruction in Elementary School
Schools may implement various instructional strategies and language instruction programs in elementary grades. In these programs, students are clustered with native English speakers or spread out in multiple classrooms to receive language instruction. Teachers’ instructional strategies to teach English include total physical response, use of the student’s primary language, and incorporating multiple modalities such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Some newcomer students are pulled out of class to receive English language instruction in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Others might provide one-on-one or small group instruction in class during specific times. Small group instruction allows students to engage and practice the language, contributing to literacy development.
Language Acquisition Instruction in Secondary School
Most newcomer programs in secondary schools are stand-alone programs. These programs focus on English language development and content area instruction. Some content areas sometimes offer support using a student’s native language. A newcomer program aims to accelerate literacy and content-area learning simultaneously.
In secondary schools, English learner programs are sometimes offered as ESL level 1 classes for newcomer children. During ESL 1 class, English learners receive basic social English language skills. The language taught in an ESL level 1 class begins by teaching colors, numbers, and basic social language.
How are students taught Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies?
Learning academic content as a newcomer can be challenging but not impossible. Schools may take a different approach to teaching content courses, depending on their resources. Some school districts provide translated materials as much as possible, while others might provide modified materials without sacrificing content.
In some schools, ESL teachers support content areas by re-teaching the content area curriculum using simpler language that students can understand. Co-teaching among ESL and mainstream teachers is an instructional technique that schools are using. During co-teaching, an ESL teacher provides content and language instruction simultaneously.
What can parents do to support
Family engagement is an important factor in literacy and language development. Encourage your child to stay calm and ask for help when necessary. Learning a language takes time, so it won’t happen overnight. In the beginning, students should dedicate longer periods to homework and learning. Completing homework may mean using a bilingual dictionary or electronic translator to figure out what to do for each assignment. Do not worry about perfection; instead, focus on what you can do.
Most teachers are aware that homework is very difficult for new students. A student’s attempt to complete homework will show a student’s effort. Discuss with your child’s ESL teacher to ask about the services that are available in the school. Newcomer families can help by providing a designated learning area in the home. If the school uses an online English learning application or website, be sure to make this part of the daily homework routine.
Another way parents can help is by staying in touch with the classroom teacher. Some teachers send weekly or monthly updates that parents can sign up for via email or communication apps. Be ready to provide an email address to your child’s teacher to sign up for updates.
How can teachers help newcomer students in the classroom?
Classroom and ESOL teachers of newcomer students should never forget how difficult it is for new students to manage a new school environment. Teachers can help make students safe and comfortable in a new environment. Begin by pronouncing the student’s name correctly and introducing the student to a good role model in each class. These are two essential steps to help ease stress levels experienced by new students in school.
Use an interpreter to communicate immediate information about school routines and daily activities. If an in-person interpreter is not feasible, consider using the language line to communicate with the student. A highly recommended application is the talking-points app . The talkingpoints app allows teachers to communicate freely with parents and students in any language. The application is available as an app or on the website. The app translates text instantaneously between teachers and students.
Teachers can implement strategies that support language growth. For example, they can allow the students to listen to stories during story time, track text during silent reading time, and facilitate hands-on activities as much as possible.
Newcomer Student Resources
There are several resources that students can use to overcome challenges in a new school.
Bilingual dictionary: A paper bilingual dictionary is one resource students can use. A bilingual dictionary can help to translate basic words. An upgrade from the bilingual dictionary is an electronic bilingual dictionary. Students sometimes use this digital resource to communicate with teachers and others.
Mainstream teachers often use an online translation tool like Google Translate to communicate with students. Google Translate online allows anyone to type a text in any language and instantly translate the message into other languages. Additionally, Google Translate offers another feature that allows an individual to translate a document into other languages while they pretend to take a picture.
Another helpful online tool is Microsoft Word. I find Microsoft Translate to provide a more accurate translation for Spanish. The translation tool in Microsoft is available for the latest models. One advantage of Microsoft is that it works offline without the internet.
Interpreting Apps
Various applications facilitate interpretation. These apps allow individuals to speak to the app; in return, the app translates what’s spoken. Lastly, there’s also the talking-points application. The talkingpoint app is an application that teachers, social workers, administrators, and others can use to exchange information. Educators use talking points to communicate different types of information, such as deadlines, grades, field trips, reminders, or announcements.
I hope this post gives you an idea of how to best support your newcomer in a U.S. school. Please share any other ideas that can help newcomers on their journey.