Writing with Multilingual Learners in the Elementary Grades

This two-day academy is designed for elementary grade-level teachers, English language development specialists, and instructional coaches.

In this interactive academy, educators will explore a pedagogical approach that apprentices multilingual learners into writing in various academic genres. Examples will focus on the genre of science and how this approach develops multilingual learners’ writing skills and their awareness of how language works in written form. This will allow them to become effective and informed writers across content areas.

What to Expect

This academy focuses on writing instruction that supports the use of the Teaching and Learning Cycle as a way to empower multilingual writers, not only to produce successful academic writing, but, more importantly, to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes and different audiences.

We want students to know how to leverage writing as a powerful tool to understand the world, express themselves effectively, learn from one another, and argue for things they believe in. This vision requires intentional language focused instruction and is strengthened when it occurs through authentic writing tasks in the content areas.

Agenda

A high-level agenda is provided below for participants' planning purposes.

Day 1

  • Welcome and Opening
  • Setting the Stage
  • Building the Field
  • Lunch Break
  • Exploring the Language of a Text Type
  • Closing

Day 2

  • Welcome and Review
  • Exploring the Language of a Text Type (continued)
  • Joint Construction
  • Independent Construction
  • Lunch Break
  • Review, Reflect, Revise
  • Putting it All Together
  • Closing

Note: Lunch will be provided by WIDA

Location and Travel

The academy will take place at a hotel, and the specific hotel name for each location are listed on the registration form. Registrants will receive an email with more detailed hotel booking information, including how and when to make arrangements. Registrants should not make any travel arrangements until receiving further information from WIDA. All hotel booking and charges are the responsibility of the registered participant.

WIDA is not able to assist with educators’ travel arrangements to and from the event. All registered participants are responsible for booking their transportation and/or flights.

Travel, hotel, other meals and incidentals are not included in the registration fee.

Enrollment details

January 13-14, 2025

April 7-8, 2025

July 28-29, 2025

September 8-9, 2025

Registration fee for all locations is $700.