Scenario Response 3
Different Backgrounds
- What differences do you think these students will encounter?
- Student who studies extensively: will be familiar with routines, classroom structure, & study habits. I speculating that the importance of school has been emphasized and that he/she has parental support and had a stable life.
- Student uprooted from school: I can speculate that this student experienced instability to some degree that the parents felt that they were not safe where they were living. Perhaps this student did not have the "privilege" to go to school and had to help sustain the family. We do not know if this student has even stepped foot in a classroom prior to being uprooted.
- Name some steps you will take to address their separate needs and issues they may come to school with.
- Student who studies extensively: compare/contrast routines and study habits from the student's experience in their homeland compared to that in the U.S. Learn about the student's culture/background, help student feel supported in order to make smooth transition. Help student define a clear pathway to educational goals.
- Student uprooted from school: Ensure that the student feels safe at school and explain the right of the Constitution that protect the student to support the feelings of being "safe". Go over school protocol and safety issues. Explain to the student and parent about support services that are available to them at the school as well as in the community (example 211 United Way helpline). Learn about the student's cultural and educational background, help student feel supported in order to make smooth transition. Help student define a clear pathway to educational goals and inform what educational supports are available to the student.
- What are some of the linguistic challenges you will need to prepare for, and how will you know to prepare for them?
- For both students, I would need to assess how much progress they made in their native language with reading, writing, and speaking the language. Create picture dictionaries for both students to assist with basic school and educational terms that are used on a regular basis. Make connections with language structure with the student that has more experience in their native language and pair up both students with buddies to help them in the transitional process.