Sheltered Instruction
This approach integrates content-area instruction with language development so ELLs can access grade-level material.
What is Sheltered Instruction?
Alongside content objectives, lessons for ELLs also include this type of objective, naming the language skill students will practice.
What is language objectives?
Temporary supports — like sentence frames or graphic organizers — that help a student do something they couldn't yet do alone.
What is scaffolding?
This ongoing type of assessment happens during instruction and is used to adjust teaching in real time.
What is formative assessment?
WIDA describes 6 of these, ranging from Entering to Reaching, to describe a student's English proficiency.
What are WIDA proficiency levels?
Slowing speech, using visuals, gestures, and context clues to help students understand a lesson increases this.
What is comprehensible input?
Language targets are often written at these three levels, from smallest to largest unit of language.
What are the word, sentence, and discourse levels?
Adjusting content, process, or product to meet the varied needs of learners in one classroom.
What is differentiation?
This type of assessment happens at the end of a unit or course to evaluate overall learning.
What is summative assessment?
These describe what a student can do at each proficiency level, across the language domains.
What are performance descriptors?
A statement of what students should know or be able to do in the content area, kept separate from the language goal.
What is a content objective?
This vocabulary tier includes basic, everyday words most native speakers already know, like "happy" or "walk."
What is Tier 1 level?
An asset-based approach that draws on students' cultural and community knowledge as a resource for teaching.
What is Funds of Knowledge?
Studying the patterns in a student's mistakes to understand what they do and don't yet understand.
What is error analysis?
Growth in this area typically includes phonics, fluency, and comprehension.
What is reading development?
The general term for an ESL teacher and a content teacher jointly planning and delivering instruction to a shared group of students.
What is co-teaching?
This vocabulary tier includes high-utility academic words that show up across subjects, like "analyze" or "summarize."
What is Tier 2 Level?
Quick, informal strategies — like thumbs up/down or exit tickets — teachers use during a lesson to gauge understanding.
What is check for understanding?
A tool that lays out specific criteria and performance levels used to evaluate student work consistently.
What is a rubric?
Growth in this area typically includes conventions, organization, and voice.
What is writing development?
In this co-teaching model, one teacher leads instruction while the other circulates and supports individual students.
What is "one teach, one assist"?
This vocabulary tier includes technical, subject-specific words like "photosynthesis" or "denominator."
What is Tier 3 level?
This type of assessment happens through watching students during everyday classroom activities rather than a formal test.
What is observational (informal) assessment?
Information given to a student about their performance that's meant to help them improve.
What is feedback?
Name all four language domains that WIDA measures.
What are listening, speaking, reading, and writing?