This report discusses an interdisciplinary and interorganizational endeavor to support the science education of multilingual youth: the Making Science Multilingual program. More specifically, the report addresses the rationale for the program, milestones it accomplished, resources it required, and challenges it faced.
Published November 2020
Authors: Daniella Molle, Weiqiong Scarlett Huang
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Released November 2020
This focus bulletin explores translanguaging from the perspective of four educators, spanning kindergarten through high school. Translanguaging, a common practice among multilingual people, can be explained as using all languages and language varieties available to communicate and understand the world around oneself. The bulletin provides specific ideas on how to use translanguaging to create spaces for students' multilingualism and includes reflection questions to help educators adopt translanguaging strategies in their practice.
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Released September 2020
This technical report aids WIDA Consortium members and stakeholders in producing imputed overall composite scale scores and proficiency levels for students who are missing scores in one or two domains due to a disability.
Published September 2020
Author: Narek Sahakyan
Released September 2020
This Focus Bulletin offers strategies for advancing equity in bilingual settings during the mundo actual of COVID-19. The bulletin emphasizes the importance of valuing multilingual learners’ linguistic and cultural diversity, using translanguaging, and leveraging technological resources.
Published August 2020
Authors: Sam Aguirre, Erika Rosales
Released August 2020
In this study, completed for the Minnesota Department of Education, we explore the perceptions, experiences and decision-making of 15 parents of young multilingual children, ages birth to 5 years. The focus revolves around children’s language learning and development, family engagement practices and children’s participation in early care and education (ECE) programs.
Published 2020
Resource Details View Download NowReleased May 2020
In this study, completed for the Maryland State Department of Education, we explore the perceptions, experiences and decision-making of 27 parents of young multilingual children, ages birth to 5 years. The focus revolves around children’s language learning and development, family engagement practices and children’s participation in early care and education (ECE) programs.
Published 2020
Resource Details View Download NowReleased May 2020
This WIDA Focus Bulletin emphasizes the many benefits of collaboration. The collaborative approach is presented as a cyclical process with shared responsibility by educators assessing, reflecting upon, planning for and teaching multilingual learners.
Resource Details View Download NowReleased May 2020
WIDA and the National Science Teaching Association formed Making Science Multilingual to support equitable and inclusive forms of science instruction through which all students, but especially multilingual learners, can learn science and language simultaneously. To guide this work, the Making Science Multilingual team devised eight design principles to define the integration of contemporary three-dimensional science and language-in-use pedagogies. These principles will guide educator resource development at both organizations and facilitate critical examination of how well educator resources support inclusion of multilingual learners in rigorous science learning.
Resource DetailsReleased February 2020
This report describes a study that examined to what extent scores on WIDA Screener predict scores on ACCESS for ELLs. Researchers found that Screener scores are strongly predictive of ACCESS scores, even when a variety of individual factors are accounted for.
Published February 2020
Authors: David MacGregor, Narek Sarakyan
Released February 2020
In this Focus Bulletin, we aim to help readers better understand how WIDA MODEL test scores may be used to support instructional planning decisions for multilingual learners and their teachers. We describe the rich resources available from WIDA to help educators understand what the test scores mean. We also explain how these resources may be used, along with MODEL test scores to help inform where multilingual learners have opportunities to further develop their English language skills.
Published February 2022
Authors: Mark Chapman, Heather Elliott, Jennifer Feldmann
Released February 2020
In February, 2011, WIDA published a Focus Bulletin on Language and Culture, which was enormously popular, and which continues to be requested by readers. This Focus Bulletin has been reformatted and lightly edited to emphasize current WIDA resources and terminology.
This Focus Bulletin explores linguistic and cultural diversity in school, and how teachers, staff and parents can help multilingual learners feel welcome, confident, and prepared to succeed academically.
Published September 2019
Authors: Don Bouchard, Mariana Castro, Andrea Cammilleri
Released December 2019
This Focus Bulletin explores the kind of spoken English language that multilingual learners benefit from developing, showing how that oral language is described in WIDA standards resources and assessed on the ACCESS for ELLs Speaking test.
Published October 2019
Authors: Mark Chapman, Dale Erlandson
Released November 2019
This working paper presents findings from a series of educator interviews conducted to understand how schools in the WIDA International School Consortium use MODEL.
Resource Details View Download NowReleased November 2019
This Focus Bulletin illustrates how educators in featured International Baccalaureate schools are integrating WIDA resources as they design lessons for multilingual learners.
Published June 2019
Authors: Jon Nordmeyer, Ruslana Westerlund, Elizabeth Cranley, Anne Katz
Released June 2019
This working paper presents findings from a survey conducted in 2018 to understand how schools in the WIDA International School Consortium use MODEL.
Published 2019
Resource Details View Download NowReleased May 2019
The illustrated models and procedures can be applied to calculate overall composite scores to identify an indicator of English language proficiency, based on composite scores for English learners with 504 or individualized education plans who are missing one or more domain scores on the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners assessment for state monitoring, achievement and accountability determinations.
Resource DetailsReleased May 2019
This WIDA Focus Bulletin introduces readers to the four pillars of Language-Focused Family Engagement and provides tools to help educators examine their local family engagement practices.
Published September 2018
Author: Delis Cuéllar, Alissa Blair, Lorena Mancilla
Released April 2019
This study examined how English learners in Grades 1-12, with and without disabilities, used online accessibility features during an ELP assessment. These accessibility features are designed to provide the necessary support for the general EL population, including ELs with disabilities.
Published March 2019
Authors: Ahyoung Alicia Kim, Meltem Yumsek, Mark Chapman, H. Gary Cook
Released March 2019
This research brief presents findings and policy implications from a recent research study exploring the so-called long-term English learner (LTEL) population across WIDA states. The findings highlight a continuing need for research that rejects an overly simplistic understanding of the LTEL designation. The next phase of this research will use student- and school-level data from three states to examine how individual and school factors can affect the diverse trajectories of ELs’ language development over time.
Published January 2019
Resource Details View Download NowReleased January 2019
This research report summarizes findings from a recent WIDA study exploring the potential long-term English learner (LTEL) population across 15 geographically-representative WIDA member states during the period 2009-10 through 2014-15. The findings highlight a continuing need for research that rejects an overly simplistic understanding of the LTEL designation. Additionally, future research should more carefully examine how educational systems, practices, and policies structure the experiences and diverse trajectories of students identified as LTELs.
Published October 2018
Authors: Narek Sarakyan and Sarah Ryan
Released October 2018