The U.S. Department of Education defines newcomers as any foreign-born students and their families who have recently arrived in the U.S. Additionally, newcomer students are defined as English Learners (EL) who have received less than two years of instruction in U.S. schools.
Asylum seekers
Immigrants
Migrant children
Refugees
Unaccompanied youth minors
Language barrier
Cultural differences
Socioeconomic status
Depression/Anxiety/Trauma experienced from the journey to the United States
Ethnic or Racial Tensions
Bullying
When creating lessons and activities for students, it is important to consider their abilities and how they will be able to show you what they have learned. Teachers can use the WIDA Can Do Descriptors to consider MLs' abilities based on their language level in the four language domains. Check out your Grade Level Cluster below!