Effective Strategies for Assessing ELL Students at the Elementary Level

Abstract

The purpose of this capstone is to help teachers identify challenges in assessment for English language learners and provide strategies that can be used to mediate those challenges. The goal is to provide strategies for teachers that can be implemented in the mainstream classroom through modifications and accommodations. The literature review shows that there are linguistic and cultural biases in assessments that hinder the success of ELLs. Assessments are written for students who speak English as their first language which present a problem to ELLs. Without the understanding and ability to recognize these biases, ELLs will continue to fall behind compared to their English-speaking peers. This capstone offers a Professional Development in order to present this issue to educators and provide opportunity to modify assessments in a new lens. This PD provides strategies for teachers to recognize these biases in their own assessments and modify to be more accommodating to ELLs. The end goal for teachers is to begin the new school year with assessments that are valid and accommodating to assess ELLs.