This report addresses three primary questions:
1. How do you determine a meaningful English language performance standard?
2. How do you establish a realistic, empirically anchored time frame for attaining a given ELP performance standard?
3. How can states take into account English learners’ English language performance level when setting academic progress and proficiency expectations?
Published May 2013
Resource Details View Download NowThis paper focuses on the creation of an instructional hyper textbook that serves as a personal environment for learning a less-commonly-taught language, Turkish in this case. It shows how digital personal environments can advance self-regulated language learning in tandem with more formal learning strategies.
Resource DetailsThis 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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As teachers, staff and administrators in school buildings, district offices and educational agencies across the country, we play a critical role in responding to the individual needs of students in our teaching and learning settings. Trauma can be experienced by any student, but for those who are also learning English as an additional language or who are adjusting to a new culture, these experiences add another dimension of care to be addressed by educators. Through this focus bulletin, readers will be introduced to a research based guide for working with multilingual learners who may benefit from trauma informed practices, including discussions on special populations, the sharing of empowering and engaging strategies, a raising of awareness about prompting adverse behaviors, and building rapport across whole school, student and family networks.
Resource Details View Download NowThese lesson plans (with accompanying worksheets) guide students in understanding language proficiency, determining their own strengths, and setting goals for language development. Designed for students 6-12.
Resource Details View Download NowThese lesson plans (with accompanying worksheets) guide students in understanding language proficiency, determining their own strengths, and setting goals for language development. Designed for K-5 students.
Resource Details View Download NowWIDA research findings show that WIDA MODEL Online scale scores can be interpreted in terms of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels. Use the tables in this document to look up students' MODEL scale scores and see the corresponding CEFR levels for each domain.
Resource Details View Download NowThis flyer provides a breakdown of the role school/district-level educators, state-level administrators and WIDA play in using or developing ACCESS Online and Paper test scores, interpreting scores and making decisions based on scores to best serve English learners. Plus, there’s a checklist outlining the positive and intended outcomes of using ACCESS Online and Paper scores, so you’ll always know what it takes to ensure your students have the supports they need.
Resource Details View Download NowThis WIDA Focus Bulletin explores educators’ and students’ perceptions of the accessibility tools available to all students when taking an online WIDA assessment. The bulletin emphasizes the ways in which the universal tools can support the test-taking experience for multilingual learners.
Published October 2023
Authors: Jason A. Kemp, Ahyoung Alicia Kim
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 NowThis 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 NowIn 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
This Technical Report describes a validation study of the newly developed WIDA ACCESS writing scoring scale by examining its feasibility in differentiating student ability and practical scoring use. TR-2024-1.
Published: April 2024
Author: Ping-Lin Chuang
Additional authors: Mark Chapman, Kyoungwon Bishop, Ahyoung Alicia Kim
Collaboration is one of the four Big Ideas of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. This two-page "comic" strip shows the story of how a science teacher and an ESL teacher work together on their multilingual learners' language development and ways of meaningfully engaging with the content of a science unit. This step-by-step example can be used in tandem with Section 4 of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition, that has a more detailed look at the collaborative planning process.
Resource Details View Download NowSend this handout, available in multiple languages, home with students as an introduction to ACCESS when testing is scheduled or as a reminder before scores are shared. This flyer explains what ACCESS is and why student take this kind of assessment. Use this resource to help parents understand annual language proficiency testing.
Resource DetailsUse this flyer in intake centers or at parent-teacher conferences as you explain the process of screening students and identifying them as ELLs. This flyer explains language testing in general terms. Also use this flyer, available in multiple languages, to help parents understand both screener testing and annual language proficiency testing.
Resource DetailsThis handout, available in multiple languages, is a resource that educators can send home with students to give families an introduction to WIDA Alternate ACCESS. The handout explains what WIDA Alternate ACCESS is and why students take this kind of assessment.
Resource DetailsThe WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Framework consists of the application of effective linguistic scaffolding and Universal Design principles to the development of test items, use of administrative considerations and purposeful design and delivery of universal tools and accommodations.
Resource Details View Download NowLearn how WIDA is more than a test! Mr. Vega is a 6th grade EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher at an international school who works with colleagues and families to support multilingual learners. Follow Mr. Vega all year long, as he focuses on what his students can do, using WIDA resources to collaborate and plan effective learning activities throughout the school year.
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