Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education

Award-winning high school teacher Lander (Driving Backwards) has been teaching immigrant students since 2015. Her book is informed by her teaching experience and her visits to immigrant-student assistance programs across the United States. Lander identifies eight elements essential to supporting immigrant students: opportunities for new beginnings; supportive communities; assurance of security; chances to dream, committed advocates; recognition of their strengths; acceptance; and valuing their voices. Each of these gets a devoted chapter that contains three narratives—one about a historical U.S. legal dispute involving education, one about a present-day educational program designed to help immigrant students, and one about a student of the author’s. Each of the chapters concludes by suggesting ways that school systems might support immigrant students. Lander is an excellent storyteller, and this book is an involving read.