World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment
Alabama Delaware District of Columbia Georgia Illinois Kentucky Maine New Hampshire New Jersey North Dakota Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Wisconsin

Resources

External Web Links

The following are links to related external web sites:

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].

PDF "Ensuring Academic Success: The Real Issue in Educating English Language Learners" by Tim Boals [Midwest Educational Research Journal 14.4 (Fall 2001), 3-8].

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.

"States Get Support for English Language Learners" Ed. Paul Baker [WI Center for Education Research (WCER) Research Highlights 18.3 (Spring 2007), 4-6].

"WIDA builds foundation to address complex language challenges: 'Learning English' is not Enough'" by Kerry Hill [University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education Campus Connections (Fall 2007), 2-5].

Higher Education Package for Instructors of Pre-Service ESL Teachers

For $5.00, 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. Unfortunately, we can not accept credit card payments. An invoice will be sent with the materials.

Coming soon! WIDA is currently in the process of developing a more comprehensive set of materials for use in higher education. This will include sample “modules” or lessons on how WIDA's curriculum, instruction and assessment goals can be introduced to students at this level. It will also include an annotated bibliography of recommended readings which could be completely customized or supplemented by the instructor, along with the ELP Standards, sample test items, and suggested assignments.

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).