Belonging doesn’t happen by accident, it’s built. In this episode, Mickelle welcomes Jessica Lander - award‑winning teacher, writer, and author of Making Americans, to explore what it truly takes for immigrant and internationally mobile students to feel at home in school and in life. The conversation is both luxurious and practical: big ideas, human stories, and actions any family or educator can start today.
Jessica traces her path from teaching in Thailand and Cambodia to a decade in Massachusetts classrooms, where she saw multilingual students mislabeled through a deficit lens. Her response is both compassionate and rigorous: design school experiences that recognize students’ strengths, invite families in as partners, and protect the sanctuaries where children learn.
We walk through Jessica’s research across the U.S. - history, present-day innovations, and deeply personal student journeysand land on a usable framework: eight pillars of belonging that any school or community can apply. We also address the current U.S. policy climate (including Plyler v. Doe) and how to talk with kids about hard headlines while cultivating upstanders, not bystanders.
In this episode:
- Strengths over deficits for multilingual learners - why language ≠ intelligence
- The 8 pillars of belonging: new beginnings, supportive communities, security, room to dream, committed advocates, strengths recognition, identity acceptance, and student voice
- Family engagement that actually works - and why schools must lead
- Policy context: Plyler v. Doe, rising fear, and why safety shapes learning for everyone
- Practical ways to talk with kids and build age‑appropriate upstander habits
- Entering a new school system without surrendering your place on your child’s team
Learn more
More about Jessica go to https://www.jessicalander.com or connect on Instagram
My website: https://www.jessicalander.com
Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710947/making-americans-by-jessica-lander/
Making Americans: Plyler v. Doe Opening the School House Door: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/825112/making-americans-by-jessica-lander/
Free Educator Guide for hosting conversations around Plyler v. Doe E-book
https://reimaginingmigration.org/educators-guide-for-making-americans/
Free lesson plans for teachers on the history spotlighted in Making Americans
https://reimaginingmigration.org/resource-items/making-americans-a-us-history-lesson-series/
If this episode resonated, share it with a parent, teacher, or community leader and subscribe to the House of Peregrine Podcast. Ready to deepen your roots abroad? Join the HOP community for events, guides, and real connection: houseofperegrine.com/memberships.