English Learners Report Roundup

Research Report: Immigrant Students

By Corey Mitchell — March 21, 2017 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Elementary school students are often acutely aware of their immigration status—and it affects how and when they participate in school activities, finds a study in the American Educational Research Journal.

In the small-scale study, Rutgers University researcher Ariana Mangual Figueroa analyzed transcripts of classroom interactions and reviews of writing samples by 5th grade students at a New York City school where more than 90 percent of students are Latino and nearly half are classified as English-language learners. She also observed students from January through June 2014 in classrooms where social studies and social-emotional learning were taught.

Figueroa found immigrant students who had received their green cards were more likely to discuss their immigration experiences in class, even to the extent of telling the story of a border crossing. Students who remained—or whose family remained—undocumented were reluctant to discuss immigration in class, even if they were generally outspoken.

A version of this article appeared in the March 22, 2017 edition of Education Week as Immigrant Students

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

English Learners How Schools Build Dual-Language Programs for Less Commonly Taught Languages
Researchers highlight some of the unique solutions to challenges faced when teaching in less commonly taught languages.
5 min read
Third grade teacher Ambreen Bhatti leads a lesson at Allen Jay Elementary School in High Point, N.C., on Jan. 28, 2025.
Third grade teacher Ambreen Bhatti leads a lesson at Allen Jay Elementary School in High Point, N.C., on Jan. 28, 2025.
Rachel Jessen for Education Week
English Learners Spotlight Spotlight on Supporting Emergent Bilinguals
This Spotlight will explore strategies to best support English learners in their language acquisition and academic success.
English Learners Video How Translanguaging Works in a Dual Language Program
Students in a N.C. dual-language program learn core subjects in both English and Urdu, preserving heritage and boosting bilingual skills.
1 min read
English Learners Who Will Support English Learners? Experts Warn of Crisis
The U.S. Department of Education's reduced staff and eliminated the office of English language acquisition as a standalone agency.
8 min read
Photograph of a classroom of English learners at their desks with paper and digital tablets.
iStock/Getty