Language Assistance Update
September 21, 2018
WIDA Planning Questions for September
Schools are turning their focus from the WIDA Screener to WIDA ACCESS administration. Here are some questions that you will want to think about in preparation for the annual English Language Proficiency tests:
Which licensed teachers will administer WIDA ACCESS in your school? Be sure to include any Alternate ACCESS administrators if applicable.
What technology needs do you anticipate as you prepare for ACCESS testing?
When will you begin the WIDA ACCESS certification process? When will you ask your test
administrators to complete ACCESS certification?
Sharing ILPs with Students and Staff
It's important to share the Individual Learning Plan with your English Learners as well as their families so they know their proficiency levels, what classroom modifications the teachers will make during instruction, and what accommodations they will receive during testing. Please share the plan with school administrators, teachers, and any staff who work with the student so they understand that the goal is to support language acquisition across the instructional day.
Assessment Windows for Indiana 2018-2019
Need to know when each of the state assessments is administered? A one-page reference sheet from the Indiana Department of Education with testing dates can be found here.
Which Languages are Spoken Most in Indiana?
According to the 2017 LM report, students in Indiana speak 279 different languages. Seventy percent of our language minority students speak Spanish while three percent speak Chin. The next most-reported languages are Arabic, German, Burmese, Mandarin, and Punjabi.
English Learner Conference in Lafayette
The Wabash Valley Education Center is hosting its eighth annual EL conference: Engage Every English Learner at the Courtyard Marriott in Lafayette! This year’s keynote speaker is Tonya Ward Singer, national EL speaker, consultant, and author. This one-day conference will be held on October 3 and 4. Both days have the same presentations. You may attend one day or register for BOTH days to attend more sessions. Registration costs $165. Please let me know by Wednesday, September 26 if you would like to use Title III funds for registration. More information is available here.
How to Differentiate Instruction for Students
EdWeek offers the video, "Differentiating Instruction: It's Not as Hard as You Think,"
here. This animated video is the first installment in a multi-part video series about differentiated instruction from teachers Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull-Sypnieski, who have recently co-authored The ELL Teacher's Toolbox.
Indy Do Days
Looking for ways to teach students the benefits of volunteering? Indy Do Days are September 27, 28, and 29. Learn more about this educational opportunity for students here.
8th Annual Celebrate Science Indiana Festival
Please share with your families and teachers that the 2018 Celebrate Science Festival will be at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on October 6 from 9:30 to 5:00. Students enjoy the interactive exhibits and teachers love the free teaching materials. Learn more about this event and print a flier to invite families and staff here.