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A Teacher’s Guide to Support Immigrant and Refugee Students’ Socio-Emotional Experiences

This interactive Resource Guide for Teachers is part of a special project led by Californians Together, in collaboration with the Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) at Loyola Marymount University. Developed through a grant-funded initiative, the guide is designed to strengthen educators’ ability to support immigrant and refugee students—particularly when navigating sensitive, emotionally charged classroom topics.

Purpose & Approach

The guide serves as a practical companion to classroom instruction, introducing teachers to key concepts and strategies drawn from the field of counseling. It is built on a trusted, research-based framework: the three-stage helping model (Exploration–Insight–Action) by Hill (2014), widely used in counselor education.

What’s Inside

  • Four scaffolded lessons, designed for independent, self-paced learning
  • 10 real-world case scenarios that help teachers apply strategies in context
  • An emphasis on in-the-moment response skills for emotionally complex situations
  • A grand summary and vocabulary list for reflection and continued growth

Whether you’re addressing student anxiety, facilitating difficult conversations, or simply looking to create a more inclusive classroom, this guide offers practical tools and a strong foundation to help educators meet the needs of immigrant and refugee students with empathy and confidence.

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