News

Are you new to ACCESS for ELLs? Have you administered an ACCESS for ELLs test before but can’t remember where to find things like training, test prep and test materials? Look no further than this brief reference to all things ACCESS for ELLs (and, seriously, we will try to keep it brief because we know you don’t have time to look at one more thing).

In case you missed it (ICYMI) live, we highlight some of the themes, chat box happenings and TIL (today I learned) takeaways from a selection of 2021 WIDA eConference sessions. Plus, we tell you how to find the session recordings.

In this edition of Voices from the Field, guest authors and ESL and ELA educators Martha Boisselle and Kristen Leathers discuss how they use the WIDA ELD Standards Framework to bring the Big Idea of Collaboration to life. The article contains a sample unit map and conversation outline to illuminate the collaborative planning process.

Leaders from the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland state-approved trainers share the process they engaged in to design, develop, deliver and evaluate a series of state-approved trainings around the WIDA Early Years Essential Actions.

WIDA announces that the Virginia Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Care and Education has joined the WIDA Early Years member state network.

WIDA announces that the Minnesota Department of Educations’ Division of Early Learning Services has renewed its membership with the WIDA Early Years member state network.

Jovita Gandolfo is a teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing at La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin. Not only was Jovita nominated by a student (a first for Featured Educator), but she is also interviewed by that very same student! Learn more about Jovita by reading this question-and-answer style interview.

WIDA Early Years eLearning has moved to the WIDA Secure Portal, a members-only hub for WIDA professional learning courses and resources. Learn more about WIDA Early Years eLearning, what changed, and how to create a WIDA Secure Portal account.

Check out Marco ALE, a Spanish language arts framework from WIDA! Available now are two Marco ALE documents — Aplicación para la actualización y desarrollo de estándares and Aplicación para la enseñanza. These documents inform Spanish language arts standards development and instruction and are meant to guide states, districts and teachers as they implement Marco ALE.

Échele un vistazo al Marco de referencia de las artes del lenguaje del español de WIDA (Marco ALE). Marco ALE está disponible en dos documentos — Aplicación para la actualización y desarrollo de estándares y Aplicación para la enseñanza. Estos documentos sirven como guías para que educadores a nivel de estado, local, escolar y del salón usen el Marco ALE para el desarrollo de estándares e instrucción de las artes del lenguaje del español.