Language Assistance Program
September 28, 2018
WIDA Early ELD Standards
Why Do We Assign Dictionary Use as an Accommodation?
Test accommodations are suggested to help overcome the unfair challenges faced by English Learners due to their relatively low English proficiency. A test accommodation is regarded as effective when it improves the test performance of ELLs without giving any additonal, or unfair, advantages.
Research shows that one of the most effective accommodations for ELs is the use of a word-to-word dictionary, if the student uses a dictionary frequently during classroom instruction. This accommodation is helpful only if the student reads in his first language, and only if the student is familiar with the use of the dictionary.
This is the time of year to inventory dictionaries and to order more if needed, so students have plenty of time to practice using the dictioanary during classes. Please make sure to check that the student is able to read in his native language and to choose a dictionary from the state-approved list of dictioanries here before ordering dictionaries for use during testing.
PowToon offers a video here to help older students learn about the use of guide words. More information about using dictionaries in class with your ELs can be found here.