Multilingual Services

hello in many different languages in word bubbles

Woodridge School District 68 English Learner students will receive a free, appropriate public education that is focused on their English language proficiency growth, academics, functional, and social-emotional growth.

We believe that in order to produce world-class learners it is essential to provide a program of instruction based upon the most effective practices that are grounded in language acquisition research. Therefore we are committed to:

Provide instruction that builds on students’ cognitive abilities and prior education.
Provide instruction for EL & Bilingual students in the most appropriate program according to needs, assessment, and ISBE regulations.
Emphasize English language development and content area learning at every grade level.
Use native language instruction, as available, to access content area curriculum while simultaneously providing English language instruction.
Provide ongoing valid assessment of students that reflects the stages of English language acquisition and cultural background.
Evaluate data and make program adjustments to continually improve student learning.
Develop and maintain services in the areas of special needs, gifted, and at-risk students.
Support and expand early childhood and family literacy programs.
Promote understanding of and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity by students, parents, staff, and community.
Build teacher capacity through a comprehensive staff development plan which enhances teacher knowledge in best practice instruction of ELs.

Program information

Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)

The curriculum for transitional bilingual education students is tied directly to the Common Core Standards, Illinois Spanish Language Arts Standards, Woodridge 68 core curriculum, and WIDA English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards. Bilingual education is provided to Spanish speaking students through one or both models of instruction: self contained and push-in.

Self-Contained Model (Pre-K – 2nd Grade)
Push-In Model

Self-Contained Model (Pre-K – 2nd Grade)

Students receive native language instruction in all core subject areas according to their grade and English proficiency level in a self-contained classroom.
Native literacy instruction follows the district literacy curriculum.
Native language development and literacy instruction begins in pre-kindergarten.
Student literacy skills are developed in both languages: English and Spanish.
Transition to English literacy is expected of all students in the program.
Native language support is provided by certified bilingual teachers.

Push-In Model

The Bilingual/EL teacher and classroom teacher co-teach lessons; both teachers are equally involved in the planning, implementation, and assessment of classroom instruction.
Instruction takes place in the students’ grade level classrooms.
Materials and strategies are specifically adapted to meet the needs of bilingual students.
Ongoing, regularly scheduled collaboration occurs between the Bilingual/ESL teacher and classroom teacher in order to ensure lessons are matched to the students’ needs.

Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI)

EL Resource
The Transitional Program of Instruction (TPI) is for non-native English speaking students who have difficulty with written or spoken English. The goal of the program is to help students transition into general education classroom at high levels of social and academic English proficiency. The program provides support to help students succeed in academic subject and learn English.

Students receive varying levels of language and content support based on ELP, academic and language needs of the student.
The majority of the instruction takes place in the general education classroom with push-in support from the EL teacher during reading or writing instruction.
Students with lower proficiency levels in English can receive additional support from the EL teacher during a 30-45 minute pull-out time.
Students receive literacy and math instruction in the general education classroom.
All students have the opportunity to receive additional literacy-based intervention during the school day based on the student’s individual needs.

Guidelines & procedures

Director of Multilingual Services
Dr. Yadi Alfaro
630-795-6845 office
815-483-1692 mobile
Email

Bilingual Liaison (north)
Thomas Jefferson Junior High School
Roxana Monreal
630-795-6774
Email

Bilingual Liaison (south)
William F. Murphy Elementary School
Ana Espinoza
630-795-6572
Email

Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Resources for English Learners

Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC)

The purpose of the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) is to:

Participate in the planning, operation, and evaluation of the district's EL program and provide programmatic advice and recommendations to the Multilingual Services Department
Serve as a communication link between school staff, administrators and families who reside within the Woodridge 68 community
Help with parent education and involvement to support learning for all students in Woodridge 68

BPAC membership is open to all and mostly made up of bilingual parents/legal guardians with students currently enrolled in the EL program, as well as teachers and other school staff and EL community leaders. The BPAC chairperson is be a parent/guardian of a student currently enrolled in the EL program, and the different home languages in the district are reflected in the BPAC membership.

Woodridge 68 provides training annually, in the home languages, to BPAC members that includes but is not limited to:

Information related to instructional approaches and methods in bilingual education
State and federal law related to students' participation and parents' rights
Accountability measures relevant to students in the bilingual program

BPAC meets at least four times per year, including guest speakers and cultural events. Fun, food and child care are usually a part of all BPAC events.

Resources for English Learners

Mango Languages
Mango prepares learners for realistic conversations and strengthens everyday communication skills in over 70 world languages, including English

Colorín Colorado
Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners.

Freerice
Freerice is an educational trivia game that helps you get smarter while making a difference for people around the world. Every question you answer correctly raises 10 grains of rice for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to support its work saving and changing lives around the world.

BridgeUniverse
Fun ESL games and activities for kids & teens

Woodridge Public Library
Woodridge Public Library has a variety of books, CDs, and DVDs to assist local residents with their English as a Second Language studies and with basic literacy skills development. (ESL/ELL Resources)

Literacy DuPage
Literacy DuPage helps adults achieve their goals through accessible, customized tutoring in English. They offer free, customized, one-to-one tutoring for adult learners.

Illinois State Board of Education - Multilingual Services
The Multilingual Department provides leadership, advocacy and support to districts, parents and policy makers by promoting equitable access to language support services for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have been identified as English Learners.

National Association for Bilingual Education
Since 1975, the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) has been a non-profit membership organization that works to advocate for educational equity and excellence for bilingual/multilingual students in a global society.

WIDA Consortium
WIDA designs language development standards for early childhood and K-12 multilingual learners.

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