Assessment can be implemented across mulitple modalities. We have included resources that are liked to WIDA and align with the components of the WIDA test.
Assessment can be implemented across all language modalities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) by designing tasks that allow students to demonstrate their skills in multiple ways.
Listening
For listening assessments, teachers could use short audio recordings or videos, followed by comprehension questions or group discussions to check understanding.
Speaking
Speaking can be assessed through structured academic conversations, oral presentations, interviews, or storytelling activities, allowing students to practice formal and informal language use.
Reading
Reading assessments could involve having students sequence events from a story, summarize passages, or answer comprehension questions that align with their reading level.
Writing
For writing, teachers can assign journal entries, short responses to prompts, or more structured paragraphs using sentence frames to support language development. Assessments should be varied and flexible to provide a complete picture of each student’s progress.
Sample Assessment Ideas
Some sample assessment types across these modalities include interactive listening quizzes, interviews or discussions for speaking, comprehension organizers or quizzes for reading, and short constructed writing responses that could be scored with a clear rubric. Using a variety of formats ensures that multilingual learners have multiple opportunities to show their growth in each area of language learning. To help teachers design effective assessments and better understand formal assessments like the WIDA ACCESS test, several resources are available.
The WIDA ACCESS for English Language Learners (ELLs) Overview explains the purpose and structure of the test. The Understanding WIDA Score Reports page helps educators interpret test results to inform instruction, and the Sample Items for ACCESS for ELLs resource provides examples of the types of tasks students complete during testing. These tools support teachers in aligning classroom assessments with broader standards for English language proficiency.
Preparing for the Alternate ACCESS Testing
Found on the WIDA website: there are resources that are available for educators to further prepare for the WIDA testing. Every language domain is available but may take a different time to deliver based on students' individual grade-levels, abilities and modes of communication.
The QuickStart Guide is a great resource for teachers to utilize while in the preparation process. The guide include a step-by-step process that includes:
Meet with student's IEP team to determine if Alternate ACCESS is the appropriate assessment for the student
Review alternate ACCESS testing information specific to your state/territory/agency
Complete your Alternate ACCESS certification and review other supplemental training materials
Share information about the test with families
Review Alternate ACCESS sample items with students
Schedule test sessions
Review, inventory, and prepare test materials
Monitor your student's level of engagement and your administration practices during testing
Giving students the opportunity to practice answering questions that they will experience on the test is very beneficial. These sample tests help enhance the true authenticity of the test. As of now, it is only accessible through a print option but WIDA is working on making it accessible through an online platform.