Calling All Educators: Help Make A Difference For Your EL Students

Each year, WIDA recruits educators with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to participate in online or in-person (expenses paid) review sessions. Educators review WIDA assessments to verify that content is grade-level appropriate, error-free, and does nor favor any one group of students. Alternatively, you may be invited to participate in field testing or other assessment administration opportunities with your students. Help us make this assessment the best it can be for you, your fellow educators, and—most importantly—your students! To participate, complete the 10 minute survey below. Based on your answers, we may contact you about the events below or other opportunities to share your expertise and help us develop WIDA assessments. Educators who have signed up will be contacted by a WIDA staff member if selected to participate.

To let us know you’re interested in participating, complete this short survey.

District Test Administrators, Test Administrators And Anyone Who Wants To Know About The Considerations Of Scheduling ACCESS Testing Should Attend

Thursday, October 17,12:00-1:00 p.m. MDT: 

Pre-Testing: Test Scheduling: This webinar will  provide How-To information on scheduling paper and online testing, grouping students, timing of tests, scheduling practice tests, scheduling a room and other considerations.

 Learn About The Overall Administration Of ACCESS And The Responsibilities For District Test Coordinators And Test Administrators

During the training, participants will learn about the procedures for facilitating the overall administration of ACCESS for ELLs suite of assessments. Topics include managing test materials,setting up testing schedules,monitoring test administrator certifications, and more. All participants must have computers or tablets to access sample items and the WIDA Assessment Management System. 

Audience: This training is designed for Test Coordinators and Test Administrators. It is available  for ALL interested in supporting and learning more about language development: EL educators, school principals, administrators, curriculum coordinators, regular classroom teachers, etc.

Participants will be able to: 

• Discuss the features of each of the different ACCESS for ELLs suite of assessments
• Describe the training requirements and preparation
• Identify the purpose of the WIDA Accessibility and Accommodations Framework
• Explain the technology basics for ACCESS for ELLs
• Describe the administrative functions of test coordination in WIDA AMS
• Explain test administration monitoring and materials management
• Identify the different aspects of online test administration such as:
  • Domain test details
  • Accessibility and accommodations
  • Monitoring the test administration
  • Preparing students for the online test platform
  • Describe the process of test materials management
  • Identify the WIDA AMS responsibilities for test administrators

English Language Development For English Learners

This workshop explores formative assessment practices that focus students' and teachers' attention on English language development within the context of subject-area classrooms. The purpose is to prepare participants to incorporate new formative language assessment practices into their educational contexts.

Audience: This workshop provides a great opportunity for teams who work with the same language learners to collaborate. Though teams are encouraged, individual participants also benefit from this opportunity. This workshop is for ALL those interested in supporting and learning more about language development: EL educators, school principals, administrators, curriculum coordinators, regular classroom teachers, etc.

Through reading, observation, discussions, and professional reflection, participants will be able to:

• Identify relevant formative assessment practices that advance content learning and language development

• Leverage expert roles within disciplinary practices to create opportunities for purposeful language use

• Create learning goals and success criteria that support content learning and language development

• Use routines that elicit evidence to inform formative feedback

All Spring 2020 Alternate Assessment Test Administrators (ALT-TA) Must Attend A WY-ALT Training, Either Online Or In Person, In Order To Administer The WY-ALT. If An ALT-TA Attended The Spring 2019 WY-ALT Training And Administered The Alternate Assessment, They May Attend This Year’s Training Online. 

Training Locations and Dates:

• Tuesday, December 10, in Afton, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 10, in Afton, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, December 12, in Riverton, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Thursday, December 12, in Riverton, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday, December 13, in Lusk, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Friday, December 13, in Lusk, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, January 23, Online, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition, all Spring 2020 ALT-TAs must complete the online Test Administrator Certification Course, available via the Wyoming Assessment Portal.

If you have questions, please contact the Wyoming Help Desk at wyohelpdesk@air.org or 888-897-8024.