The B.I.A.S. Project
Ideas That Work: Making ESL Students Feel at Home

The B.I.A.S. Project (Building Immigrant Awareness and Support) of Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights is looking for examples of things teachers have done to help immigrant and refugee students integrate into the school and local community. We would like to compile a list of ideas to have available for others to view. If you are interested in receiving additional mailings on this topic, please be sure to send us your name and address. Here are a few we have learned about, but we are hoping to find out more specific details on implementing them. We are looking forward to hearing more "ideas that work" from you!

How have immigrant and refugee students been included in your school?

• How are new students welcomed in your school?
• Does your school do anything special to ease the acclimation of immigrant and refugee students?
• Are there bilingual advocates available to assist new students?

What clubs or activities are available to celebrate the diversity of the students in your school?

• Does your school provide any tutoring programs or peer networks?
• Have you hosted any events to build awareness of other cultures or the situations in the home countries of the students?

What events or activities does your school sponsor to create links with parents and the greater community?

• Have you hosted parent nights to welcome the parents of your students?
• Have you found any creative ways to work with local immigrant- or refugee-based organizations in your community?

Please send, call, fax or e-mail your ideas to us, and include details about how it worked in your school. Please also include your contact information (name, school, address and phone), as well as the demographic breakdown of the immigrant communities represented in your school. We look forward to your feedback!

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