Refugee Teens as Successful Agents: Leveraging Refugees' Agentive Choices to Improve Academic Support in After-School Programs

• In Event: 29.015 - Pro Bono Education Research Service Projects (ERSPs): AERA's ERSP Initiative

Abstract

Goals of this project were to (1) investigate recently resettled refugee teens’ strategies for academic success and their perceptions of learning experiences in and out of school, and (2) design a workshop responsive to their interests. Findings reveal that teens perceived the after-school program as beneficial, because they were able to draw from personalized knowledge, learn collaboratively, translanguage strategically, and work with caring peers and adults as they worked to accomplish school-based and personalized goals. Interviews with teens also provided insights into their recommendations for teachers and school settings. For example, teens desired more rigorous, grade-appropriate coursework. Observations and interviews with teens informed the design and implementation of a workshop entitled Writing our Identities for Successful Endeavors (WISE). In WISE, teens analyzed and constructed identity texts. Implications for educators designing learning environments that can support resettled refugee teens are discussed.

Author

• Shannon Mary Daniel, Vanderbilt University - Peabody College