Imagine you are a teacher working in a diverse school setting with a large English language learner (ELL) population. You recognize that not all ELL families are the same and understanding

Case Study 1: Mohammad

Mohammad is a student in an inclusive kindergarten classroom. Mohammad has been medically diagnosed as having autism and has an IEP. His family just moved into the area and his father said they were just approved for subsidized housing. His mother is pregnant and they think they may need to move to a bigger apartment before the school year is over. Mohammad has one older sister who is in first grade and also has an IEP. You have not spoken to the mother and just have contact information for the father. There are no academic concerns for Mohammad, although he does have difficulty with standardized testing. Data collected by teacher observation and work products has shown skills that are age- and grade-appropriate. Mohammad has some language but is mostly echolalic. He does display behaviors that concern his father. He is hyperactive and has difficulty sitting still. Mohammad has many self-stimulatory behaviors including hand flapping and rocking. His father reports that he cannot take him many places due to his behavior and says that his mother is not comfortable dealing with Mohammad at home by herself. Mohammad’s father often uses the phrase "because he has autism" after talking about Mohammad’s behaviors. His father has asked you for strategies for working with Mohammad and controlling his son's behaviors.

Case Study 2: Maria

Maria is a new third grade student at your school. Her family just arrived in the United States from Guatemala. Her father is working at a local farm and her mother stays at home to take care of Maria’s younger siblings. Maria is the oldest of five children in the family. No one in the family is fluent in English, so they rely on a neighbor to translate for them. The neighbor has told you that the family came quickly to the U.S. without any money. They arrived with only two bags of clothing for the entire family. They are currently living in a camper in a small park next to the neighbor. The camper is small with only one bedroom and the entire family sleeps in the one room. They often cook outside and wash clothes by hand in a tub outside. The family does not have any transportation.

Case Study 3: Patrick

Patrick is an 8-month-old boy who just began in the infant/toddler room. Patrick is the first child of a 16-year-old mother. His mother is living at home with a large extended family who helps support her and the baby. His father is currently in the process of trying to obtain joint custody but is not in Patrick’s life at the moment. His mother has requested that the father not be allowed to pick up or visit his son while in school. She dropped out of school when she found out she was pregnant but would like to go back. However, she tells you that her grandmother and mother did not graduate high school and are not able to help take care of Patrick so she can attend or do school work. She reports that she is a first-generation American and her family immigrated from Russia. She says that her parents try to have her raise Patrick like they were raised overseas. She speaks to you often and confides that she would like to move out and continue her education, but she is unsure if she can do it on her own. She sometimes comes late to pick up Patrick.