Strategies for Transformational Learning & & Academic - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Positioning Acculturation Strategies for Transformational Learning & & Academic Success

• Dr. Adeola Fayemi, Director

International Cultural Center

2019 International Colloquium on Languages, Cultures and Identity in School and Society, Soria, Spain July 3-5, 2019

Acculturation Challenges Structural Challenges Outside School Structural Challenges Within School Challenges Facing Teacher Education Programs Native Born hostility; pressure to assimilate culturally/racially; stereotyping; isolation; intergenerational; mental health ; post traumatic stress Access to healthcare; Absenteeism; poverty; undocumented status; familial separation; resource-deprived schools; homelessness; immigration apathy High stakes testing environment; harmful educational policies; isolated low resource schools; overcrowded classrooms;

• verrepresentation in special education;

underrepresentation in gifted/talented programs Limited preparation for facing newcomer & immigrant; focus only on formal curriculum; subtraction vs. additive teaching approaches; lack of training on implicit bias; resistant teachers

ACCULTURATION

• Acculturation. Acculturation can be defined as the 'process of

learning and incorporating the values, beliefs, language, customs and mannerisms of the new country immigrants and their families are living in, including behaviors that affect health such as dietary habits, activity levels and substance use

Family, Work, School, socio- political climate Family : Parents and Children - Acculturation Discrepancies Institutional Level: The School and workplace Societal Level: - Attitudes, policies and prejudices

Advancing Acculturation Theory and Research: the acculturation process in its ecological context

Coleen Ward & Nicolas Geeraert, Current Opinion in Psychology Volume 8, April 2016, Pages 98-104

Florida’s Population Boom

The state has added 1.2 million people over the past five years, more than any other state except California and Texas, and at a higher rate of increase than those two larger states.

Current FL Immigration: Is the Sky Falling?

Public Education for Im Immigrant Students Plyler v. . Doe

In June 1982, the Supreme Court issued Plyler v. Doe, a landmark decision holding that states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education on account of their immigration status.

Florida’s 67 Counties and School Districts

1-Orientation to the new land; 2-Educational efforts oriented toward parents; 3-Educational efforts oriented towards children and youth; 4-After-school activities for children & youth; 5-Improving the host societies’ perceptions of immigrants.

White paper by Carola Suarez-Orozco, Marcelo Suarez- Orozco & Robert Teranishi, Institute for Iimmigration, Globalization and Education, 2016

Pathways to Opportunities: Promising practices for Immigrant Children, Youth & Their Families

Orientation to the New Land

Information on Educational Pathways Pre- Migration Information, Welcome Centers Citizenship Information Support for Parenting in the New Land Access to Affordable Housing and Health Services Vocational Training Adult Mentoring Employment Information

2-Educational efforts

• riented toward parents

Educational Efforts Oriented Toward Parents

New Language Development Literacy Development Family Literacy Program - Library Accessing Employment in the Market Place Discover Your way: Parent Workshops; Academies Community Connections & Liaisons Parent Leadership Councils Parent Needs Assessment & Focus Groups

2-Educational efforts

• riented toward parents

Educational Efforts Directed to Children & Youth

Language Development; Bi lingual counselors, Paraprofessionals Summer Enrichment Professional Development – School Staff & Faculty Heritage Language Development Advisory Groups, Academic Supports, Mentoring & Health Services New Comer Programs Services for SIFEs College Pathway Knowledge & Post Secondary Practices

After-School Activities for Youth

Youth Mentoring Extra- Curricular Activities Risk- Behavior Prevention Cultural Identity College Readiness Programs Youth Academic Supports Post Secondary Tutors & Role Modeling Community Educational Field Trips

Improving Host Society’s Perception of Immigrants

Combating Negative Stereotypes – Adults/Children Sponsored trips to Immigrants Country

• f Origin

Improve Front Office Services Citizen Mentoring Programs Facilitating contact Between Native Residents & Newcomers Municipal Policy Review to Accommodate Immigrants Education Local Service providers Community Story Telling Programs

Closing the Gaps

• Holistic strategies- evidence based, data driven
• Utilize background and resources of the immigrant families into

programing to increase a sense of community

• Do not conflate non-linguistic strategies for ELLS and newly immigrant

students

• Incorporate US history, immigrant stories and accomplishments into the

curriculum

• More individualistic approached, caring, empathy, etc….avoid over

reliance on technology

Closing the Gaps

• Focused Teacher Professional development not just large

conferences –feedback/teaching of takeaways to colleagues

• Focused Teacher Professional development not just large

conferences –feedback/teaching of takeaways to colleagues

• Encourage teachers to think outside the box of formal

curriculum to culturally relevant classroom methods

• Constant monitoring of use of classroom strategies and

certification of teachers and paraprofessionals

• Create reward & recognition system based on holistic criteria

Closing the Gaps

• Encourage more buddy programs connecting immigrant student

and U.S. students

• Train all teachers, staff and paraprofessionals, districtwide

Family, Work, School, socio- political climate Family : Parents and Children - Acculturation Discrepancies Institutional Level: The School and workplace Societal Level: - Attitudes, policies and prejudices

Advancing Acculturation Theory and Research: the acculturation process in its ecological context

Coleen Ward & Nicolas Geeraert, Current Opinion in Psychology Volume 8, April 2016, Pages 98-104