Like in previous years, each meeting will feature new guest presenters and networking activities pertaining to support for Newcomer Emergent Bilinguals in secondary schools. For former participants, this new format may be best viewed as a recurring meeting each semester. However, there are no prerequisites, the meetings are not sequential, and all campus stakeholders are welcome.
A Canvas course will provide a place for the Secondary Newcomer Network (SNN) to share and collaborate, as well as archive presentations from our meetings.
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Newcomer Emergent Bilinguals face many challenges in their first years of education in US schools.
Maybe none have a greater challenge than those arriving after the age of 15. Unlike younger newcomers who can develop language and content knowledge over time, those aged 15-18 don't have a moment to lose. In just a few years, these students are expected to learn to listen, speak, read and write in English, acquire at least 22 high school credits AND pass the 5 necessary STAAR EOCs.
If we want our Newcomer Emergent Bilinguals to feel safe, supported and successful, it requires the shared vision of the school and community. As administrators, counselors, registrars and teachers, it is our responsibility to support and guide them along this challenging path to graduation. Our ability to support effectively requires a complete knowledge of our school and community resources, and state and district regulation. Perhaps most importantly, we need to know our students and their needs.
In this training we will attempt to address some of these items, including but not limited to:
- Navigating credit acquisition
- Course scheduling
- Development of cultural proficiency
- Family/community supports