The WIDA standards are the basis for assessing and instructing English language learners in academic English proficiency across content areas. The standards guide language instruction, differentiation of content, and assessment for ELL students in 19 states. The WIDA standards include 5 standards focused on social language and language arts, math, science, and social studies. Model Performance Indicators provide examples of language skills for each standard, content area, language domain, and grade level cluster. MPIs describe language functions, content topics, and supports or strategies. Educators can transform MPIs to create new indicators tailored for their classrooms, districts, or states.

1. What are the WIDA Standards?
The WIDA standards are the basis for the assessment and
instruction of academic language proficiency for ELLs in
Vermont and 18 other states.
The WIDA standards guide language instruction,
differentiation, and assessment within the context of all
academic content.
The WIDA Standards are also used to differentiate content
for ELLs at different proficiency levels.

2. What are the WIDA Standards?
Standard 1: English language learners communicate for SOCIAL AND
INSTRUCTIONAL purposes within the school setting (SIL)
Standard 2: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and
concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of LANGUAGE
ARTS (LoLA)
Standard 3: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and
concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of MATHEMATICS
(LoMA)
Standard 4: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and
concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of SCIENCE (LoS)
Standard 5: English language learners communicate information, ideas, and
concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of SOCIAL STUDIES
(LoSS)

3. What are the WIDA Standards?
The WIDA standards are expressed in Model Performance
Indicators (MPIs).
MPIs are samples of language performance that can be
assessed in…
1. Each standard or content area
2. Each language domain (Listening, Speaking, Reading,
Writing)
3. Each grade level cluster (Pre-K-K, 1-2,
3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

4. What are the WIDA Standards?
MMPPII

5. What are the WIDA Standards?
MPIs consist of 3 elements:
The Language Function
The Content Stem or Sample Topic
The Support or Strategy
Match vocabulary associated with
perimeter and area from graphics,
symbols, or figures.

6. What are the WIDA Standards?
MPI Element #1= Language Function
Match vocabulary
Listen
Point
Match
Locate
Select
Sort
Respond
Identify
Draw/illustrate
Circle
Name
Recall
Retell
Define
Explain
Summarize
Role-play
Compare/contrast
Discuss
Express
Repeat
Copy
Trace
Define
Analyze
Interpret
Justify/Defend
Elaborate
Critique
Explain
Narrate
Conclude
Convince
Reflect
Resolve
Infer
Compose
Synthesize
Hypothesize

7. What are the WIDA Standards?
MPI element #2= Content or TOPIC Stem
“Perimeter and Area”
For LA, MA, SS, and SCI these topics come from grade level
topics from state standards.
There are ideas for different content in the WIDA Resource
Guide

8. What are the WIDA Standards?
Element#3 of the MPI= SUPPORT OR STRATEGY
“from graphics, symbols, or figures.”

9. STRAND

10. What are the WIDA Standards?

11. TRANSFORMING THE MPIs
The MPIs in the WIDA Standards are a limited sample of
indicators.
TRANSFORMATION is the method to create new
indicators for classroom, district, and possibly even state
wide use.

12. Match Vocabulary
Associated with perimeter and area
From Graphics, Symbols, or figures
CDroapwy VVooccaabbuullaarryy
AArsosuoncdia ltiende wseithg mtheen stskeletal system
IFWnr ioathm s a mG paraallrp tgnhreiocrusp, Symbols, or figures in a
small group

13. Addressing language within WIDA
Language features (vocabulary, grammar, text structure,
etc.) are not EXPLICIT in the WIDA MPIs
Language elements come from Performance Definitions
and CAN-DO Descriptors, but these are general guides.
Language can be interpreted from the MPIs based on the
language function and the task.
Describe tables and graphs summarizing the weather.
“What language (discourse, vocabulary, grammar,) do
students need to do this?”

14. Addressing the language within WIDA
Language can be interpreted from the MPIs
based on the language function and the task.
Explain information from tables and graphs about
the last month’s weather. (Level 3 GRADE 3-5
SPEAKING)
“What language (vocabulary,
grammar,discourse) do students need to do
this?”

15. Addressing language within WIDA
Language can be put into the
TRANSFORMED MPI and addressed in more
detail.
Justify reasons for selections using comparative
sentences with a partner and sentence frames
How much language you address will vary
depending on role, training, time, etc.