Virginia Law

The program in English as a second language shall ensure that the candidate has demonstrated the following competencies:

1. Skills in methods of teaching English as a second language to include instruction based on the World-Class Instructional Design Assessment (WIDA) English Language Development (ELD) Standards;

2. Skills in designing and administering formative or classroom-based assessments and interpreting results of both formative and summative assessments, including the WIDA Access test. Using the results of a variety of formative assessments, including performance-based assessments of oral language and writing, to direct instruction. Ensuring that formative assessments reflect high validity and reliability for the purposes for which they are used and are appropriate for the targeted students. Teaching test-taking skills in preparation for standardized tests;

3. Skills in the teaching of reading to include: phonemic awareness; pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading strategies; vocabulary development; and guided reading. Ability to structure interactive tasks that engage students in using oral language to develop reading skills. Ability to determine students' reading levels and design instruction for multi-level classrooms by incorporating appropriate scaffolding or language supports;

4. Skills in teaching grammar and syntax in the context of writing. Ability to model and teach editing skills and organization of writing using predominant text structures in the content areas;

5. Knowledge of the effects of sociocultural variables in the instructional setting;

6. Proficiency in spoken and written English;

7. Skills in providing language and cognitive support or scaffolding bases on the various stages of the second language acquisition process;

8. Knowledge of another language and its structure;

9. Understanding of and proficiency in grammar, usage, and mechanics and their integration in writing; and

10. Knowledge of both general linguistics and English linguistics.