Looking forward, we are excited for the New Year and new things! For 2021, the BSB EAL department will strive to excel in excellence. One of the ways we have already started doing that is by joining a larger community of scholars and experts on English language development. BSB is now a member of the WIDA international consortium. WIDA stands for World Class Design and Assessment and is a framework program designed specifically for multilingual and multicultural students. WIDA creates systematic and explicit language practices so that your child’s English language development needs can be served in the best way. That happens when content and language learning happen together in linguistically and culturally sustaining ways.
What we know for sure is that good teaching practices for all learners is not what allows us to achieve excellence in the EAL department. We must go further to look at practices that were specifically designed for the unique learning needs of multilingual, multicultural students. By joining WIDA, families will benefit from clear learning goals, clarity on what teachers are teaching and students are learning, and an increased understanding of the language development process. We are excited for the new changes this will bring. Happy New Year and welcome 2021!
By Renee Gasch
EAL Teacher