During the 1980s more than 100,000 refugees poured into the United States from Cambodia. This essay is intended to inform educators and others who work with Cambodian families about recent Cambodian history and traditional Cambodian culture and to create awareness of the social and psychological significance of these factors. The waves of refugees from Cambodia and their traditional culture are described. The history of civil war and invasion means that many Cambodian refugees add physical and emotional wounds to the difficulties they experience in adapting to life in the United States, including the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder. In the United States difficulties often arise between the generations in Cambodian families when children begin to adopt the behavior of American youth. Educational systems in Cambodia differ greatly from those in the United States, and adjustment to schooling is difficult for children and their parents. Cambodian immigrants have survived national and personal tragedies, and have emerged with personal strengths that must be recognized in finding ways to help their children succeed in school. Some recommendations are made for teachers. Eleven resources and five videos are listed for teachers. (Contains 22 references.) (SLD)