Supporting Newcomers and SIFE Learners

Practical Guidance and Best Practices

Who are Newcomers?

The U.S. Department of Education defines newcomers as students and their families who were born in another country and have recently moved to the United States. They have typically been in U.S. schools for two years or less and are still learning basic English.

What to Know About Newcomers

Newcomers come from many different backgrounds and speak many languages.
Their ability to learn in English depends on:
- How much schooling they had before arriving
- Whether they can read and write in their home language
- How similar their language is to English
- Why and how they came to the U.S.

How Teachers Can Help

Create a welcoming space: Smile, learn their name, and show kindness.
Pair them with a friendly peer—especially one who speaks their language, if possible.
Use tools like Google Translate, visuals, and gestures to communicate.
Give screeners in their home language to better understand what they already know (see sample screeners under Documents).

Understanding the Silent Period

Many newcomers go through a time where they don’t speak much—this is normal! Keep giving them chances to join class activities, use visuals, and show what they know in nonverbal ways. With time, they’ll start talking!

Who are SIFE Students?

SIFE stands for Students with Interrupted Formal Education. These are newcomer students who have missed two or more years of school in their home country.

Because of this, they may need extra help to catch up with their classmates.

What Do SIFE Student Needs?

Basic reading and writing support, especially if they didn’t learn to read in their home language.
Extra time and guidance to build academic skills they may have missed.
A welcoming classroom where they feel safe, supported, and encouraged.

Why Were Their Studies Interrupted?

SIFE students may have:

Lived in areas without schools.
Faced war, poverty, or natural disasters.
Come from refugee backgrounds or rural communities.

How Can We Help?

Be patient and supportive.
Give them many ways to communicate—through pictures, hands-on activities, and conversations.
Celebrate their strengths and life experiences.
Work together as a school team to help them succeed.

Best Practices for Supporting Newcomers

Focus on strengths: Newcomers have valuable experiences and knowledge. With the right support, they can learn and grow quickly.
Support language learning: Give students chances to practice new words and phrases by talking with classmates.
Use visuals: Add pictures, charts, and diagrams to lessons and tests to help students understand. (Tip: Watch minutes 13:30–26:30 of the MDE Word Walls video to see visuals in action.)
Offer different ways to show learning: Let students point, draw, or act out answers if they aren’t ready to write or speak in English yet.
Use their first language: Build on what they already know in their native language when possible.
Use translation wisely: Check our Translation Resources page. Only translate when necessary—use visuals or simple English to help students understand and learn.
Use sentence starters: Give students sentence frames to help them begin writing or speaking about what they’re learning.
Model and give examples: Show how to do tasks step-by-step. Provide written notes or videos they can go back to.
Include families: Talk with families about their child’s progress in learning English, and encourage them to keep using and growing their home language at home.
Sites for Learning English: Students can use the following sites for learning English as alternate assignments or bell work when necessary:

Best Practices for SIFE Students

Start with basics: Teach foundational skills like the alphabet, numbers, and how school works in the U.S.
Use lots of visuals: Pictures, charts, and real objects help make learning clear and meaningful.
Build background knowledge: Many SLIFE students may not be familiar with school subjects or common U.S. topics—take time to explain.
Build Vocabulary: Use the The Picture Word Inductive Model - a low-prep strategy to build content vocabulary at the word and sentence level.
Go slow and repeat often: Break tasks into smaller steps and review frequently.
Use hands-on learning: Activities like drawing, acting, sorting, or building help students learn by doing.
Provide extra time: Give students time to process and complete work, especially when reading or writing.
Connect learning to real life: Use examples from everyday life to help students understand new ideas.
Create a safe, welcoming space: Be patient, encouraging, and celebrate small successes.
Support in their home language: Let students use their first language when possible to support understanding.
Work with families: Communicate often and include them as partners in learning.