An 1/2 hour warm-up activity, How do accommodations for ELLs help ELLs access the language of the test while still maintaining test validity? [PDF | 12 pages]

This activity is useful when explaining to district and school educators how accommodations for English language learners (ELLs) are different from accommodations offered to students with disabilities.  ELL accommodations are designed to help ELLs access the language of the test (while still maintaining the validity of the test).

This training activity involves a mathematics problem that has been written in Hungarian. After printing it out, sit with a partner to find the answer to the mathematics problem using different types of accommodations. Post-activity discussion questions are included.

Resource 2: Bilingual Word-to-Word Dictionaries

1) Massachusetts has created a list of Approved Bilingual Dictionaries for Use on MCAS Tests by LEP Students--Updated February 2007  [PDF and Word | 20 pages]

Massachusetts DOE hope to isssue an updated list in Fall 2007 (since some of the dictionaries are out of print, and there are changes in the ISBN numbers).

They welcome your suggestions for additional entries and deletions to help them maintain an accurate, comprehensive, and current list. Please communicate this information via e-mail to mcas@doe.mass.edu or by phone to 781-338-3625.

2) See also the list of Bilingual, Word-to-Word Dictionaries at Bilingual Dictionaries, Inc.

Some SEAs are allowing LEAs to find their own suppliers as long as the dictionaries don't contain any examples, pictures, or definitions. LEAs are having much success with the dictionaries found here.