Humanizing Education for Immigrant & Refugee Youth

Abstract

In 2023, 184 million immigrants lived outside their country of nationality, including 1.3 million immigrants living in Brazil. Immigrant and refugee children have the right to attend school, yet too often public schooling does not foster success of immigrant students. This article highlights four key principles and related research-based strategies that educators can use to foster achievement, agency, and engagement in school for immigrant and refugee students: situate students’ histories, families, languages, and knowledges as assets, not as deficits; recognize that immigrant students lead transnational lives; develop a culture of belonging and strong relationships with teachers and fellow students; and provide specific supports to immigrant students.