WIDA Standards
WIDA Standards are guidelines used in K-12 schools to help teachers work with students who are learning English as an additional language. Think of them as a roadmap that shows teachers how to help these students learn both English and regular subject content at the same time. These standards were created by the WIDA Consortium, which is a group of state education departments working together. They're similar to other language learning frameworks like TESOL or SIOP, but WIDA is specifically designed for U.S. schools and is used in over 40 states.
Examples in Resumes
Implemented WIDA Standards and WIDA ACCESS testing to assess English language learners
Created lesson plans aligned with WIDA Standards for diverse ESL classrooms
Provided professional development to staff on WIDA Framework implementation
Typical job title: "ESL Teachers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find ESL Teachers
Professional Organizations
Teacher Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you lead a school-wide implementation of WIDA Standards?
Expected Answer: A strong answer should include creating professional development plans for staff, mentoring other teachers, coordinating with administration, and developing assessment strategies to monitor progress.
Q: How do you use WIDA Standards to differentiate instruction for various proficiency levels?
Expected Answer: The candidate should discuss how they adapt teaching materials and methods for different English proficiency levels while maintaining grade-level academic content, with specific examples of modifications.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you use WIDA Can Do Descriptors in your lesson planning?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they use these guidelines to set appropriate expectations and create activities that match students' current language abilities while pushing them to improve.
Q: Explain how you collaborate with content teachers using WIDA Standards.
Expected Answer: Should describe methods of working with other teachers to modify lessons and assessments, sharing strategies for supporting English learners in regular classrooms.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the five WIDA English Language Development Standards?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list the standards: Social & Instructional Language, Language of Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, and give basic examples of each.
Q: How do you assess a student's English language proficiency using WIDA levels?
Expected Answer: Should explain the basic 1-6 proficiency levels (Entering to Reaching) and describe some common assessment tools used to determine student levels.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of WIDA Standards framework
- Using Can Do Descriptors in lessons
- Basic ESL teaching strategies
- Understanding language proficiency levels
Mid (2-5 years)
- Adapting content for different proficiency levels
- Collaborating with mainstream teachers
- Using WIDA assessments effectively
- Creating aligned curriculum materials
Senior (5+ years)
- Training other teachers in WIDA implementation
- Program development and evaluation
- Leading professional development
- District-wide coordination of ELL services
Red Flags to Watch For
- No familiarity with language acquisition stages
- Unable to explain differentiation strategies
- Lack of experience with diverse student populations
- No knowledge of ESL assessment tools
- Unfamiliarity with federal ELL requirements
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