• What: Use the goal setting template created in Ellevation and support documents to have goal setting conversations with multilingual learners who will take the WIDA ACCESS test. 

• Why: We are focused on supporting students to understand the assessment they take yearly to measure their English language proficiency. We want students to understand the current level of performance they have shown and what they will need to do in order to make progress toward exiting their status as a multilingual learner. 

• How: All staff should support the effort in goal setting conversations with multilingual learners. This is especially important for multilingual learners who do not have designated instruction as part of their ELD services. 

• When: Goal setting should start in the first 30 days of school and be reviewed with students as they begin test prep for ACCESS testing. 

• Talk with them about the test and their areas of growth

• Encourage them to use complete sentences and academic vocabulary on the writing and speaking sections

• Have them complete the ACCESS test samples and talk about what makes a good response for writing or speaking

• Talk with your students about test anxiety and teach them techniques to help relieve it

  • Square breathing

  • Test Taking Tips

  • Taking Deep Breaths

• Consider testing specific students individually on the speaking portion of ACCESS

• Be sure students are raising their hands during the stop portions of the writing and ensure they have written in that section of the test

When we make testing a positive experience and let students know how they can be successful on all domains of the test, they have a chance to show us what they know.