Overview of WIDA and Introduction to Writing Content Language Objectives

What is WIDA? WIDA are comprehensive set of English language proficiency (ELP) standards. These standards are designed to help Colorado schools and teachers of English language learners (ELLs) provide high quality instruction and equitable educational opportunities for all K-12 English as a second language (ESL) students. The WIDA standards address the acquisition of social/instructional and academic English across all content areas.

WIDA The WIDA ELP Standards for Pre Kindergarten through Grade 12 are: ELLs communicate for Social and Instructional purposes within the school setting. ELLs communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts. ELLs communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Mathematics. ELLs communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Science. ELLs communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Social Studies.

What are CAN DO Descriptors? The five grade level cluster CAN DO Descriptors- PreK-K, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12- are examples of expectations of English language learners for each of the four language domains—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—and five levels of English language proficiency—Entering, Beginning, Developing, Expanding, and Bridging. The CAN DO Descriptors are a collective representation of WIDA’s five English language proficiency standards—social and instructional language, the language of language arts, the language of mathematics, the language of science, and the language of social studies. The Descriptors are a standards-based resource tool—an extension of, not a substitute for, the English language proficiency standards.

Can Do Descriptor KNOW WHAT ENGLISH LEARNER “CAN DO” INFORM INSTRUCTION Student Needs/Content Object SUPPORT PLANNING Conversations About. Language Objective: Functions, Structures PROGRESS MONITORING ELDP, Rti Conversations EVALUATION Body Of Evidence

Content/ Language Objectives (CLOs) Statements that identify what students should know and be able to do while using English in the content area. CLO’s support the students’ language development, focusing on a language function, content, support and domain (listening, speaking, reading or writing)in order to make the content accessible to the student.

Language Form and Functions Turn and Talk with a partner about the following two questions: What is a Form of Language? What is a Function of Language?

Take Off and Touch Down Take off (stand up), if explain is a function of language. Touch down (sit down), if adjectives are forms of language. Take off, if to compare and contrast are forms of language. Touch down, if pronouns are forms of language.

Form and Functions of Language Sample Forms of Language: Pronouns, Adjectives, Nouns, Past tense, future tense, Comparative adjectives Sample Functions of Language: Expressing needs and likes Describing people, places, and things Describing spatial and temporal relations Summarize Compare and Contrast Domain: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

Content Language Objective (DOMAIN) (Function) Students will orally or in writing compare and contrast the physical adaptations of whales and sharks (Content)after completing a Venn diagram: (Supports) a. with pictures ( levels 1,2) b. with words & phrases (levels 3,4) c. with a paragraph (levels 5,6) (Supports by level of language use Can Do Descriptors for guidance)

Planning Time Think of a lesson you are going to be teaching Write a content language objective for the lesson Share your content language objective with another person. Check for domain, function, content and supports (what forms of language are necessary for student to perform the function of language?)

Writing Language Objective Activity Standards: Select a standard from Common Core (see previous slide) Domain: listening, speaking, reading and writing Function: Describe, Compare and Contrast, Summarize, Explain, Evaluate, (see handout) Form: Forms of language deal with the internal grammatical structure of words. The relationship between boy and boys, for example, and the relationship (irregular) between man and men would be forms of a language. (see handout) Support: Visual Supports, Sensory Supports, Group Supports (see handouts) Language Level: Using the Can Do Descriptors to determine what students can do at their level of language acquisition.

Evaluation Ticket Out List 3 things you learned List 2 questions you still are pondering List 1 thing you will try tomorrow