Teaching Refugee, Unaccompanied Minor and SLIFE Students
Teaching Refugee, Unaccompanied Minor and SLIFE Students
Refugees, unaccompanied minors and students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE) bring their own challenges and strengths to the classroom. The ILC Public Education Institute has compiled these resources to help you support these students. Search below or use the “Browse” tab to explore a list of all available options.
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Supporting Unaccompanied Minors in the Classroom
Blog post on welcoming unaccompanied minors into your classroom, using a model that identifies four "core stressors" these migrants face
Sociology of Immigration, Part 1
Classic sociological frameworks and theories for understanding what happens when people come to a new society
Sociology of Immigration, Part 2
Sociological frameworks for immigration and research about Latino school experiences
Understanding the Refugee Experience: Welcome to the New World
Video of a teen refugee talking about his experiences in Syria, as a high school student in Connecticut, and more
Welcome to the New World Curriculum and Learning Guide
Curriculum about refugees, the migrant experience, the Syrian Civil War and other topical issues
Fostering Resilience Among Immigrant and Refugee Youth, with Dr. Jeffrey Winer
A guide to addressing immigrant trauma and increasing resilience in young immigrants and refugees
Migration of Unaccompanied Children to the U.S.: Factors in Successful Integration
Article that describes six themes that promote and hinder the successful integration of unaccompanied minors in their communities
Families Belong Together Parent Resource Hub
Lessons, resources and coloring pages to help children develop compassion and self-understanding, and to become agents of change
Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff
Guide for helping to open the doors of opportunity for undocumented, unaccompanied and refugee children living in the United States
Promoting a Culture of Welcome for Refugees in Schools
One-hour webinar recording that shows how schools can promote a culture of welcome and models that work
Immigrant and Refugee Children
Compilation of resources intended to guide schools in preparing for newly enrolled unaccompanied minor and immigrant students
Professional Development Module: Refugees and Immigrants in Schools
Learn about refugees, engage families, identify and assist students needing support from traumatic experiences, storytelling and more
Professional Development Module: Key Immigration Issues
Professional development module helping educators understand contemporary immigration policies and issues
Welcoming Refugees – Education
Stories and case studies of welcoming practices in education throughout the U.S.
Immigrant Connections Online Professional Development
Webinars and self-paced courses about family engagement, cultivating leadership among immigrant parents, supporting unaccompanied minors and more
How to Support ELL Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFEs)
Report describing strategies for addressing the strengths and challenges of immigrants who are receiving formal education for the first time
Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) bulletin
Article for K-12 teachers working with immigrant English learner students with irregular educational backgrounds
Books That Explore the Refugee Experience
List of books for all grade levels on the experiences of refugees around the world
Supporting Latino Students with Interrupted Formal Education: A Guide for Teachers
Guide for K-12 teachers to approach their incoming students from other countries who stopped attending school in their home country
Supporting Students With Interrupted Educations
Article highlighting four key strategies for welcoming SLIFE students
Leaving Family Behind: Understanding the Irregular Migration of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Minors
Article focusing on why unaccompanied minors chose to leave their families and their experiences
| Title | Description | Tags | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting Unaccompanied Minors in the Classroom | Blog post on welcoming unaccompanied minors into your classroom, using a model that identifies four “core stressors” these migrants face | article/report, elementary school, high school, middle school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Welcome to the New World Curriculum and Learning Guide | Curriculum about refugees, the migrant experience, the Syrian Civil War and other topical issues | lesson plan, middle school, high school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Understanding the Refugee Experience: Welcome to the New World | Video of a teen refugee talking about his experiences in Syria, as a high school student in Connecticut, and more | video, middle school, high school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Sociology of Immigration, Part 1 | Classic sociological frameworks and theories for understanding what happens when people come to a new society | video, elementary school, middle school, high school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Sociology of Immigration, Part 2 | Sociological frameworks for immigration and research about Latino school experiences | video, elementary school, middle school, high school | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Fostering Resilience Among Immigrant and Refugee Youth, with Dr. Jeffrey Winer | A guide to addressing immigrant trauma and increasing resilience in young immigrants and refugees | video, elementary school, middle school, high school, adult and higher education | The Immigrant Learning Center |
| Supporting Immigrants in Schools Video Series | A four-part video series on key immigration issues, refugees and immigrants in schools, elementary schools, and secondary schools | video, elementary school, middle school, high school | CUNY Initiative on Immigration and Education |
| Professional Development Module: Refugees and Immigrants in Schools | Learn about refugees, engage families, identify and assist students needing support from traumatic experiences, storytelling and more | website, on-demand learning, elementary school, middle school, high school | CUNY Initiative on Immigration and Education |
| Immigrant Connections Online Professional Development | Webinars and self-paced courses about family engagement, cultivating leadership among immigrant parents, supporting unaccompanied minors and more | website, on-demand learning, early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school | Immigrant Connections |
| Promoting a Culture of Welcome for Refugees in Schools | One-hour webinar recording that shows how schools can promote a culture of welcome and models that work | video, elementary school, middle school, high school | Welcoming America |
| Welcoming Refugees – Education | Stories and case studies of welcoming practices in education throughout the U.S. | website, elementary school, middle school, high school, adult and higher education, community organization | Welcoming America |
| Books that Explore the Refugee Experience | List of books for all grade levels on the experiences of refugees around the world | booklist, elementary school, middle school, high school | Edutopia |
| Professional Development Module: Key Immigration Issues | Professional development module helping educators understand contemporary immigration policies and issues | article/report, elementary school, high school, middle school, on-demand learning | CUNY Initiative on Immigration & Education |
| Leaving Family Behind: Understanding the Irregular Migration of Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Minors | Article focusing on why unaccompanied minors chose to leave their families and their experiences | article/report, elementary school, middle school, high school | Ignacio Correa-Velez, Mariana Nardoneand Katharine Knoetze |
| Immigrant and Refugee Children: A Guide for Educators and School Support Staff | Guide for helping to open the doors of opportunity for undocumented, unaccompanied and refugee children living in the United States | article/report, elementary school, middle school, high school | Learning for Justice |
| Supporting Students With Interrupted Educations | Article highlighting four key strategies for welcoming SLIFE students | article/report, elementary school, high school, middle school | Edutopia |
| Families Belong Together Parent Resource Hub | Lessons, resources and coloring pages to help children develop compassion and self-understanding, and to become agents of change | website, elementary school, middle school, high school | Families Belong Together |
| Immigrant and Refugee Children | Compilation of resources is intended to guide schools in preparing for newly enrolled unaccompanied minor and immigrant students | website, elementary school, middle school, high school | The Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools |
| Supporting Latino Students with Interrupted Formal Education: A Guide for Teachers | Guide for K-12 teachers to approach their incoming students from other countries who stopped attending school in their home country | article/report, elementary school, middle school, high school | Sarah Digby |
| Migration of Unaccompanied Children to the U.S.: Factors in Successful Integration | Article that describes six themes that promote and hinder the successful integration of unaccompanied minors in their communities | article/report, elementary school, middle school, high school | United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |
| How to Support ELL Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFEs) | Report describing strategies for addressing the strengths and challenges of immigrants who are receiving formal education for the first time | article/report, elementary school, high school, middle school | Colorín Colorado |
| Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) bulletin | Article for K-12 teachers working with immigrant English learner students with irregular educational backgrounds | article/report, elementary school, high school, middle school | WIDA |