“As many of our cases indicate, SIFE often have intensive social and emotional needs as well as academic ones. These needs stem from their lack of experience in a formal school setting, their academic difficulties in New York schools, and for some, the traumatic experiences and unstable living conditions they had in their native countries and in the United States. Many of our clients required counseling or other supports, but few received them. When they did not receive these supports, they became disengaged with school and had behavioral issues in and outside of the classroom. A number left school as a result.” (from Advocates for Children reading)
This so, so important. Oftentimes it is not a focus, but if anything the social and emotional needs of ELLs are even more important than academic needs at the the beginning! This is an issue that gets at my sense of empathy. Especially since working with a little girl who speaks only Arabic in a class of English speakers and a teacher who does not seem to like her.