ESL Testing and Placement by Jessica Fromme

Different Levels of ESL Placement:

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 00:32:02 UTC

There are six different levels of an ESL learner. Age may play a factor, but at the same time it may not. Placement for ESL starts with the level of a student with some focus on age and grade level which does still play an important role in placement.

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 00:37:55 UTC

A main thing to note is that an elementary school student could be at a B1 level as well as a high school student could be at the same B1 level although they would not be placed together because placement must be age-appropriate.

Things to consider before placing an ELL student in a specific classroom:

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 00:53:41 UTC

Just because a student may not be fluent or proficient in English does not mean they are incapable of thinking.

Consider:

-How much education the student has in not only the U.S. but also in their home country?

-How much support is there at home for English language development? Does the home they live in speak any English?

-What is the students' English literacy proficiency level?

New Jersey ELL Placement Guide 2023-2024

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 01:18:38 UTC

Every state has different rules and requirements when it comes to the testing and placement of ELL students. This is the 2023-2024 NJ document that is updated every spring displaying guidance on the identification and placement process for newly arrived English learners in your state.

WIDA Screener

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 01:56:08 UTC

The WIDA Screener is an assessment given to new students grades K-12 to identify if they are English Learners.

Key Features:

-Assesses four language domains including Reading, Writing,

Listening and Speaking

-Reports proficiency level scores for each language domain: Oral Language, Literacy, and Overall

The WIDA Screener can be used by educators to compare different English Learners as well as create differentiated levels of lessons/support for each specific child.

Home Language Survey

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 02:15:23 UTC

NJ has a standardized HLS all LEAs must administer to all students. The Home Language survey is a questionnaire given to parents or guardians to help schools identify potential English learners as well as to determine if they are eligible for language assistance services. This survey also determines if another language is spoken in the home and can be translated into 20 different languages.

Identification Testing

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 02:39:03 UTC

Identification Testing is meant to assess a student's ability to listen, speak, read and write in English. The purpose of these assessments are to:

-Identify a student's need for English Learner services

-Determine the number of English Learners in a district and their learning needs

-Being able to establish an English Learner's English proficiency level

The five most commonly used English Language Proficiency Identification Tests include:

Bilingual Syntax Measure (BSM) of listening and speaking
IDEA Proficiency Test (IPT)
Language Assessment Scales (LAS)
WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test
Woodcock-Muñoz Language Survey-Revised (WMLS-R)

What is the Purpose of Assessment and Placement?

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 03:03:00 UTC

Assessment for program placement allows English Language Learners to be identified. "According to federal and state laws, students who cannot function in a regular all-English program due to lack of English skills must receive language instruction that helps them learn English so that they can succeed socially and academically in a general education class." (ColorinColorado) These assessments allows for the correct and proper placement. Proper placement for ESL students allows them to succeed.

Placement Tests

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 03:09:28 UTC

This video gives a short summary of the purpose of different types of testing as well as details on why placements tests are necessary for students so they are placed in the appropriate classrooms for their abilities.

Different Instructional Program Placements

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 20:04:47 UTC

Once enough information has been gathered through assessments, it is time for the placement of an ELL student. ELL students benefit in regular classrooms for classes such as P.E., Art, Math, Science and more. Different instruction possibilities include:

-Classroom with the support of a Bilingual Aide

-Certified ESL Teacher

-Content Teacher with ESL Training

-Combined Grade Level Class (ELLs can be placed at a lower level at first and then moved up as they gain proficiency in English)

Reflection Paper

fromme49 — 2024-03-31 21:49:17 UTC