Instructional Playbook

INTEGRATING WISR INTO LESSONS Language development varies across each level of language proficiency and within each domain (writing, speaking, listening, and reading). Therefore, providing opportunities for students to practice and engage in each domain is critical. By integrating Writing, Inquiry, Speaking & Listening, and Reading & Viewing (WISR) into each lesson, we foster meaningful interactions. WISR for Multilingual Learners and Newcomers Quality interactions are those that encourage active student participation, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. These interactions provide students with opportunities to engage deeply with content, practice language skills in authentic contexts, and co-construct new knowledge through sustained dialogue and inquiry.

WISR Learning

Writing

Inquiry

Speaking & Listening

Reading & Viewing

This in turn creates a classroom environment where students can navigate and attain both new language skills and grade-level content, ultimately enhancing their overall academic achievement and language development. To ensure students are able to access content and language, it is important to scaffold the learning based on individual student needs. Here are some considerations for scaffolding tasks based on a student’s language proficiency level through a WISR lens.

ACCESS BY LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY LEVEL

CONSIDERATIONS FOR WRITING TASKS

Entering (1)

Emerging (2)

Developing (3)

Expanding (4)

Allow students to express ideas in the home language,

Students may still need clarification in the home language and alternate between languages. Provide sentences frames, word banks and exemplars to support writing and help build confidence.

Students need opportunities to practice writing for various tasks and applying academic vocabulary. Provide exemplars and rubrics as well as timely feedback to expand writing.

Encourage students to write use varied sentence structures and focus on expanding academic vocabulary. Provide exemplars and rubrics. Targeted, timely feedback and support helps these learners refine their writing skills.

illustrations, words and short phrases in English or a combination of all. Provide sentences frames, word banks and exemplars to support the beginning stages of writing.