Resources
WIDA Focus Bulletins
WIDA is excited to offer a new series of bulletins on topics of interest to educators of English language learners.
The current edition 
offers an introduction to formative assessment.
To view past issues of the WIDA Focus bulletin, please visit the WIDA Focus Archive.
Dual Language Listserv
Many dual language educators believe that the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) make it difficult for Dual Language Schools to meet annual yearly progress (AYP) indicators, resulting potentially in undeserved sanctions for schools. The upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) offers dual language educators an opportunity to have an impact on federal policies that will improve the recognition of their unique needs and strengths.
WIDA has agreed to host a Listserv to allow dual language educators across the U.S. an opportunity to dialogue, share best practices, and strategize about new policies that promote and support high quality dual language practices and outcomes. Administrators and teachers from Nuestro Mundo, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin's first dual language immersion school, have agreed to serve as Listserv moderators to stimulate the conversation. WIDA staff will participate only minimally as they want to encourage educators in the field to be the main contributors to this Listserv.
WIDA will also be providing technical support for the Listserv. If you wish to subscribe, please send an email to Bob Rossa at rmrossa@wisc.edu and write "Subscribe to Dual Language Listserv" in the subject line.
External Web Links
The following are links to related external web sites:
Carnegie Corporation's National Program
No Child Left Behind
TESOL: A professional association for teachers of English to speakers of other languages
NABE - National Association for Bilingual Education
NCELA - National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs
Recommended Literature
"Delicate Balance: ELL students struggle to balance language and content while educators need partnerships and specific professional learning" by Jon Nordmeyer [Journal of Staff Development 29.1 (Winter 2008), 34-40].
In this article, WIDA Executive Director Tim Boals exposes the flaws of the politicized language of instruction debate. He examines the research on the pedagogical costs and benefits of transitional bilingual education (TBE) and structured English immersion (SEI) strategies in educating non-native English speakers, finding that both can be effective. His article reveals that it is more pertinent to ask how quickly students are exited from English as a second language support and whether or not they have access to subject area content in those programs. To ensure children's linguistic and academic success, research endorses much more thorough and extensive English as a Second Language program models which are rooted in academic content.
"What do we know about ELL formative assessment and how do we develop a system accordingly?" by H. Cook, G [University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, 2007-2008 Brounbag Series]
Higher Education Package for Instructors of Pre-Service ESL Teachers
For $7.50, WIDA currently offers a CD-ROM which contains the following:
- Sample ACCESS for ELLsŪ assessment items (K-12)
- Kindergarten Test Administration Manual
- Grades 1-12 Test Administration Manual
- 2 Power Point presentations used by our professional development staff to train educators about WIDA and ACCESS for ELLsŪ test administration
To order this CD-ROM, please send an email to help@wida.us which includes your name, the name of your institution of higher education, and your shipping address and phone number. To pay by credit card, please contact our Help Desk at toll free 1-866-276-7735 with your credit card number and expiration date ready. WIDA accepts Visa or Mastercard, but must charge an additional $2 processing fee in order to accept payment by credit card. To pay by check or purchase order, please fax to 608-890-2637 or mail to:
WIDA Consortium at WCER
Attn: Pakou Vang
1025 W. Johnson Street, MD #23
Madison, WI 53706
Professional Development
Please visit Professional Development Resources to find a variety of video presentations, recommended literature, and other information pertaining to professional development for educators of English Language Learners (ELLs).
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