The CUNY-Initiative on Immigration and Education (CUNY-IIE) partnered with public schools across New York State over three years. These collaborations led to the creation of school-wide projects that center immigration and education in elementary schools. This series features the projects from three CUNY-IIE partner schools. These collaborations showed that teaching about immigration needs to happen as early in students’ schooling as possible.
My Story, Our Story
PS 340X
Bronx, New York
PS 340X developed a project that consisted of a Community Fair and My Story, Our Story project. The school held a community fair in where community organizations learned about the areas of need and strength of the school families, while the families learned about various organizations and their services. In the My Story, Our Story project, educators invited all the students in the school to work with their families to identify and showcase an artifact that connects to their immigrant and/or cultural background and explain its story and significance. Students, families, and educators were invited to tour the gallery that featured over 150 artifacts during and after the school day.
Family Literacy Program
Children’s School of Rochester
Rochester, New York
The Children’s School of Rochester project consisted of an enhancement of the school’s Family Literacy Program. Families shared their experiences of education in their home countries and compared them to the education system in Rochester. One of the interesting topics discussed was bilingual education. Some family members who come from countries where bilingual education is the norm wondered why it is not offered at more schools in Rochester. Beyond their own learning, family members also spend time in the classroom of their student, to better understand the US education system.
Welcoming New Students: A Guide for Teachers, Created by Students
PS212Q
Queens, New York
The PS 212Q Immigration and Education Leadership Team (IELT) met regularly to collaboratively learn about ways to include immigration-related issues in their classroom. Teachers implemented the lessons and shared the materials they used and students’ work. One of those outcomes was a guide titled “How to Welcome a New Student,” developed by third-grade students for teachers. This guide illustrates important and practical tips on how to embrace and integrate a new immigrant student into the classroom and school community. This project quintessentially showcases that children are not too young to learn about immigration.
Additional Resources:
HOW TO WELCOME A NEW STUDENT:
A GUIDE FOR TEACHERS, CREATED BY STUDENTS
This guide was written and illustrated by the third-grade dual language bilingual students in class 3-312 in June 2023 in PS 212Q. It was supported by their teacher, Marina Velasquez, and Danielle Mahoney-Kertes, UFT Teacher Center Literacy Coach.