Why This Matters for Schools
One of the most important steps schools can take is to get to know students and families in a personal relationship that establishes trust and rapport. It is much easier to address a difficult situation when you already have a solid relationship.
Tips for Getting Started
- Learn more about family backgrounds and strengths by talking with families, cultural liaisons, and ELL/bilingual colleagues.
- Invite members of the community or local organizations to share their insights.
- Look for ways to increase the amount of interaction among staff and families.
- Get into families’ neighborhoods by:
◦ planning events in neighborhood venues or around families’ schedule
◦ conducting home visits.
Recommended Resources
Strategies and Tips
- A Guide for Engaging ELL Families
- Resource Section: Getting to Know ELLs and Their Families
- Getting to Know Your ELLs: Six Steps for Success
- Ideas for Getting to Know ELL Families
- Making Your First ELL Home Visit: A Guide for Classroom Teachers
Student Populations
- How Immigration Status Affects Students, Families, & Schools
- Children in Mixed-Status Families
- DACA and Dreamers: What Schools Need to Know
- Special Populations: Refugees, Unaccompanied Minors, and Newcomer Immigrants
- Immigrant Youth: Some Implications for Schools (UCLA)
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