Weekly Update
Wayne Township LAP 9/13/2019
What Does 'WIDA' Mean? What's New This Year with WIDA?
WIDA used to mean World Class Instructional Design and Assessment. Before that, the letters were taken from Wisconsin, Delaware, and Arkansas, the three original states in the consortium (Arkansas later opted out.) Now, however, WIDA just means the WIDA Consortium, which includes 37 states.
WIDA is offering a one-hour webinar, Welcome Back: What’s New This Year?, on Wednesday, September 18. Register here.
What should I know about creating ILPs?
Federal law requires that each school year, a new Individual Learning Plan is created for every English Learner. The ILP is a legally binding document, and all staff who work with the student are responsible for implementing the plan.
The ILP contains detailed instructional strategies, assessment accommodations, and goals for the student, as well as his/her English language proficiency levels and state and local assessment data. The ILP should be updated as needed in response to student needs. Assessment accommodations documented on the ILP are to be implemented during classroom and state testing. Allowable state testing accommodations for English learners are outlined by the IDOE Assessment and Accommodations Guidance here.
A copy of the ILP for each student should be stored in the student’s cumulative or EL folder and be sent with the student in the event of transfer to another school. The ILP should be shared with the student, parents, teachers, and school staff.
Attendance Awareness Month
FlipGrid Fever
Have you tried Flipgrid? This interactive video tool allows students and teachers to create short videos in response to prompts. Students or teachers could introduce themselves to the class or give a book recommendation, for example. Learners could read the first draft of a writing assignment, explain what happened with a science experiment, or tell what they like best about school. Check out the How to Use FlipGrid in Your Class video or click here for 17 Ways to Infuse FlipGrid Fever! This is a great way for English Learners to practice their speaking skills.
K-12 Math Teacher Professional Development Series
The Indiana Department of Education's Office of School Improvement is offering a professional development series for K-12 math teachers in October and November. These workshops will help teachers learn to promote student mathematical discourse, to provide opportunities for productive struggle, and to support students in building number sense. Click here for more information.
Engaging Parents
Need some ideas to engage English Learner families? Colorin Colorado offers Twenty Strategies for School Leaders here and Edutopia offers Ways to Make the Most of Parents' Time in School here. If you would like help planning academic family nights for your English Learners and their families, please let me know!
College GO! Week
Indiana's College GO! Week, September 23 -27, is a great time to help students explore educational options after high school. On College Application Day, September 20, many Indiana colleges offer fee waivers to students who apply on this day. A variety of resources can be found at CollegeGO!Week. Advice on preparing ELs for college classes can be found here
and information about creating a "college-going culture" is here.