Amid a rising tide of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy, this study highlights how middle school teachers used multicultural citizenship education as a form of resistance. By affirming students' cultural identities, fostering critical awareness, and encouraging civic action, educators empowered immigrant-origin youth to see themselves as full members of a democratic society.

Newcomer students bring powerful cultural and linguistic assets into the classroom, yet too often instruction focuses narrowly on English acquisition. This piece offers six strategies to “teach up” to newcomers—centering inclusion, rigor, and relevance through culturally responsive teaching, translanguaging, and community-building practices that benefit all students.

How do children define what it means to be American in a time of growing diversity? This study explores fourth and fifth graders' views in a high-immigrant community. Despite the school's diversity and multicultural values, most students still saw “American” as white, U.S.-born, and English-speaking—though some offered a more inclusive vision. The findings highlight the need for schools to take a more active role in teaching a pluralist, inclusive model of Americanness.

Unlock the Hidden Strengths of Your Newcomer Students

Your students coming newly to the United States bring incredible knowledge, skills, and experiences to your classroom.

Grab this free teacher tool to help you identify their skillset in 11 easy to understand strategies that you can implement in your classroom today!

Discover how Futuro Brillante provided hope and education to over 3,000 unaccompanied minors through trauma-informed practices and collaboration, offering valuable lessons for creating safe, inclusive spaces for vulnerable students.

Learn how California’s Community Schools Partnership Program leverages family-school partnerships to center multilingual families, foster cultural inclusivity, and create transformative educational outcomes for students and their communities.