dark hallways/institutional ‘feel’ of the school facility

- law enforcement or military personnel in uniform coming to or being in the school facility
- sound of boot-like footsteps
- harsh language
- bells/alarms
- fire and earthquake drills or any evacuation procedures/routines (e.g., lock down)
- groups of children talking loudly/excitedly
- situations that may seem out of control, like children ‘horsing around’
- other children staring at them
- not understanding English, or some of the other languages children speak outside the classroom
- body language that may be misinterpreted
- unfamiliar festivals and celebrations, such as Halloween with masks or firecrackers
- airplanes flying overhead (whether heard from indoor or outdoor locations)
- establishing and following a set schedule and classroom routines/opportunity to
practice
- providing advance knowledge about school start and dismissal bells ringing at the
same times every day … and reminders in advance, when bells are about to ring
- familiarizing children with the neighbourhood sounds (e.g., airplanes passing
overhead)
- providing a sense of community within the classroom and in the wider school
environment
- minimizing number of moves from one class to another throughout, and changing
teachers
- utilizing cooperative learning, facilitating peer connections/buddy system
- learning through games/play
 Provide a welcome to student and family at the school before the rest of
students have arrived. To reduce overwhelming feeling.
-Provide a tour, with a member from the community who speaks the families
language. You can contact the Immigrant Services in your community.
-If the above isn’t possible google translate could be an option
-Where possible have pictures along with words in the classroom. For
example a visual schedule along with English words.
-Introduce slowly the adults in the building to family and student- Secretary,
custodians, etc.
-Try and have some books in students language for comfort (from Immigrant
Services or local library.
-Encourage family to be a part of the classroom community, stress
speaking English is not needed.
-Allow student to share their culture with students in whatever way
they feel comfortable.
-allow students to connect with their siblings in the school or other
students they are familiar with.
-Have open dialogue with parents to check in how things are going.