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  • « Snow Day: Fun for Everyone? | Home | At least one answer to the question, What Should I Do Now? »

    NP, a student in the online course is seeking help and resources for a Somali child. She has asked me to post this request for help.“I would like to be better able to communicate with student who I am currently observing in Kindergarten class right now. He is from Somalia. He doesn’t speak or understand much English, and his parents speak very little too. As a newcomer, he doesn’t understand the rules or culture of his new community. I notice that it is hard for the teacher and students to communicate to him, and I can imagine how frustrated he must be inside. I also notice that he is slowly picking up little things here and there, and he does respond to the signals from the teacher.I would like to find ways to help this boy communicate and become more comfortable in his classroom and new culture. I have generated a list of ideas in this course, but I need help finding resources, suggestions and people who can help me help him. Histeacher is working hard to get a translator in the class so this student and parents can begin to understand what is going on. I know this will help, but so far no translator has arrived.

    He enjoys playing basketball at recess, and is learning the rules of by watching the kids and participating in the game. So, I think it would be great to see him get involved in a basketball league. I know he is just in Kindergarten but I think this can really help socializing him with the other kids.

    Another great resource he could benefit by (hypothetically, because I don’t know if there is such a thing) would be to send him to an after school program where they speak Somali.

    In the perfect world, there would be a place where he could go after school to learn the basics, a center where he could go and relate to other students and mentors in his community. It would be wonderful to have a place where the language and culture are familiar, and where he could meet other kids who are struggling in the same situations. Is there such a place?

    Another idea would be to a have a buddy system (again in the perfect world) where someone older than him, someone also from

    Somalia could help him in his studies and socialization. It would be wonderful if hehad someone he could relate to and ask questions.

    Please, Please, Please any suggestions or comments are welcome…this is something I have been struggling with because I want so badly to have endless ways to help him (and other kids too of course) …but I don’t know where to go for help and resources. Please post ANY ideas and suggestions below. Thanks in advance.

    Topics: Culturally Competent, Help Wanted, Questions |

    One Response to “Please Help: A Student’s Plan and What She Needs to make it Happen”

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