News

A multifaceted approach to understanding and addressing the needs of multilingual learners with disabilities and their families can go a long way to help them achieve their fullest potential.

A recent report published by WIDA researchers reveals that proficiency scores for students classified as English learners (ELs) have continued to decline in the years following the pandemic. Interim assessments like WIDA MODEL can be used to gain real-time insight into multilingual students’ learning needs.

Engaging with families of multilingual learners (MLs) with disabilities is a vital step in creating a supportive classroom environment. Educator Brighid Finley often works with MLs with disabilities. She shares ways to be successful in this work.

Margo Gottlieb, WIDA co-founder and lead developer, whose groundbreaking contributions have transformed language education policy and assessment, joined an esteemed group of educators, researchers and advocates in the first ever class of inductees.

Classroom assessment can be categorized into three primary purposes: assessment as learning, for learning and of learning. Discover how classroom assessment can go beyond traditional assessments and include multimodality to capture students' language learning in multiple, meaningful ways.

La evaluación en el salón se puede categorizar en tres propósitos principales: la evaluación como aprendizaje, para el aprendizaje y del aprendizaje. Descubra cómo la evaluación en el salón puede ir más allá de las evaluaciones tradicionales e incluir la multimodalidad para capturar el aprendizaje del lenguaje de los estudiantes de múltiples maneras significativas. 

Teaching multilingual learners can be not only emotionally demanding but also filled with the potential for building deep connection, creativity and transformation. Educators Kathryn Gimse and Catriona Moore shared their reflections on the strategies that have helped sustain their resilience and passion throughout their careers. 

Tamara Coburn presented at the 2024 WIDA Annual Conference in a session titled, “ACCESS All Year: An Equity Approach to Language Assessment Prep.” She discusses that session and her tips for language assessment preparation in this edition of Featured Educator.

In this edition of Conversations with Educators, Gabby Cardenas and Marya Carrasco share insights into how they’ve integrated formative assessment into their practice to foster deeper learning, collaboration and independence among their students. Together, they provide actionable strategies for educators looking to strengthen their approach to classroom assessment.

Beverlyn Villanueva has years of practice and expertise in collaborating with content teachers under her belt. In this article, she shares her research, tips and vision for collaboration in schools.