Supporting Self-Regulation in Your Young Newcomer Students
Welcoming your youngest newcomer children to school … children who are new to the United States and adjusting to a new language, a new culture, and new way of ‘doing school’… requires so much more than just academic support. One of the most significant but most often overlooked challenges that brand-new newcomer children face is learning to self-regulate in this very new, very different looking learning environment. As teachers and administrators, supporting the cultivation of self-regulation skills in newcomer students not only supports their academic success, but their emotional well-being and sense of belonging, too.
Understanding the Challenge
Many newcomer students arrive with limited or interrupted schooling and likely have experienced some sort of trauma, migration stress, and culture shock. These factors can make self-regulation … managing emotions, behavior, and attention … especially difficult. Unfamiliar expectations around classroom behavior, routines, and interactions with classmates can contribute to feelings of confusion or frustration. So what can you do?
Practical Strategies for Educators:
1. Build Predictable Routines:
Clear, consistent daily routines help reduce anxiety and give students a sense of safety. Pictorial schedules and transition cues can be especially helpful for English language learner students.
2. Teach Vocabulary dealing with Emotions: Young newcomers may struggle to express emotions in a new language. Using facial expression cards and simple language to build a shared emotional vocabulary that supports communicating feelings will make a huge impact on building the sense of community needed in your school and classrooms.
3. Model and Practice Self-Regulation:
Use modeling and role-playing to demonstrate strategies like taking deep, slow breaths, counting, or just taking a break can make a powerful impact. Also, consider creating a calm-down corner in your school or classroom where students can go to ‘reset’.
4. Establish Culturally Responsive Relationships:
Learn about students’ cultural backgrounds and show curiosity and respect. Trusting relationships provide the foundation for students to feel safe enough to practice self-regulation.
5. Partner with Families and Specialists: Collaborate with other multilingual learner teachers, counselors, and families to ensure a unified approach. Remember that while they could be struggling to acclimate a bit themselves, parents and families can offer insight into what comforts and motivates their children.
Supporting self-regulation is a journey, not a quick fix. With empathy, structure, and cultural sensitivity, we all can help newcomer students develop the emotional tools they need to flourish, both in and out of the classroom.
At GrapeSEED, our curriculum is built on a foundation that encourages a calm, joy filled environment. Our daily lesson plans incorporates a low affective filter for students at every turn as they acquire English. Ready to learn more? Click here!
Supporting Neurodivergent Learners Through Language
Ready or not... the new school year is here!
The first few weeks of school have always mattered, but this year they may be more important than ever!
The first few weeks of school have always mattered, but this year they may be more important than ever!
