School Counselors Mul0dimensional Role in Suppor0ng
ELL Refugee Students Michelle Hayward University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A Growing Popula0on Things to Consider
u Represen;ng countries including Bhutan, Burma, u Do not assume students are familiar with any Iraq, Somalia, Central American countries, Syria, aspect we would consider normal rou;nes and and the Democra;c Republic of Congo procedures (e.g. bathrooms, noise level, etc.) u Nearly 20,000 refugees have entered NC in the last u Understand the eect of trauma on school
decade func;oning
Direct Service Teacher Collabora0on
u Focus on building a rela;onship with the student u Consult with teacher to create a culturally- through meaningful, safe interac;ons responsive classroom u Incorporate trauma-relief interven;ons and u Provide teachers with student behavioral support adjus;ng to transi;ons interven;ons u Encourage teachers to focus on emo;onal needs
u Build on the students strength of resilience u Work with teachers to stop any type of u Use classroom lessons to build student acceptance harassment or bullying immediately
Parent & Community Partnership Systemic Changes & Advocacy
u Use school district translators to facilitate dialogue u Advocate for tes;ng support and tutoring with the students family u Find and promote refugee professional u Help student with acquiring addi;onal clothing development opportuni;es at your school u Refer student to further mental health counseling u Encourage partnership between school and
or therapy based on students needs refugee reseSlement agencies
Helpful Resources Interven0ons
Books for School Counselors: Books for Refugee Students: u Play & Expressive Arts Therapy u Narra;ve Therapy u Leading the student to draw and write a book about their journey, with themselves as the main character Addi;onal Books for Refugee Children: u Giving students a cogni;ve break in u www.colorincolorado.org/booklist/refugee-experience-books-children your oce Free Books Available For Students in 37 Languages: u CBT Counseling to acquire coping skills u www.uniteforliteracy.com/ for transi;on, anger, depression, etc. Informa;on For Educators on Suppor;ng Refugee Students: u Use music from the students home www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publica;ons/resources/school- u country to decrease anxiety safety-and-crisis/war-and-terrorism/suppor;ng-refugee-student u U;lize drawing, gurines, or a doll For Introducing Refugee Students to School Systems: u Welcome to Our Schools Curriculum via New York State house as a communica;on means u Welcoming and Orien;ng Newcomers via New York State References Classroom Lessons to Increase Tolerance in the School: Federa;on For American Immigra;on Reform. (2013). North Carolina Immigra;on Facts. Forest View Elementary School, Durham, NC. (2016). English Learner Support at Forest View Elementary. Na;onal Associa;on of School Psychologists. (2015). Suppor;ng Refugee Children & Youth: Tips for Educators. u www.tolerance.org/ Retrieved from hSps://www.nasponline.org