Language Connection
News from your Language Specialist
WIDA
The annual WIDA testing window begins soon! This is a language proficiency test required for students on the MLL list (attached to email). There will be 4 separate testing times for the whole building. Listening February 5th, Reading February 6th, Writing February 12, Speaking Feburary 13-16. Some classroom teachers will be proctoring and others will have the non-testing students. Proctors have already been notified. There will be a training for all certificated staff at our staff meeting January 22nd. An email will be sent soon with more details. Reminder that non-testing students should have a supplemental activity to do during testing, so testing students do not miss core instruction. Thank you everyone for helping with this! Jen and I are teaming up this year, so please include both of us in your communication.
Accountable Talk
Step 1: Build classroom routines for accountable talk (This could be Numbered Heads or Face to Face and Back to Back or whatever strategy you are comfortable using.)
Step 2: Create prompts that use targeted academic vocabulary. As you plan, choose a handful of words you want students to use. The key is intentionality and backwards planning.
Let's begin Step 3: Have students expand responses by adding details and examples. To do this you can use the following generic prompts, "I know this because ____________________." or "The text says ____________." or "An example of this is _______________."
School Talk vs. Academic Talk
One of the things I have heard from teachers is that students need reminders when to use academic talk. It doesn't come naturally. This could be a good discussion to have with students. The picture shows an example of an anchor chart you can use as a reminder. I also recommend having a signal to quickly let students know to shift to this kind of language. During your overview of CHAMPS expectations, when you review the "C for conversation", this would be a perfect time to remind students. Posting the academic words that you want students to use also helps to keep those words in the front of your mind and students mind, then you can do a quick check after their conversations "How many of these words did you use today?"