Supporting Multilingual Learners in K–12 Schools: Strategies, Tools, and Action Course

Support Multilingual Learners with Confidence, Clarity, and Action

Support multilingual learners with confidence using this practical, self-paced course designed for K–12 educators and school staff. Participants will explore essential legal responsibilities, language acquisition and proficiency development, the influence of culture and acculturation, and strategies that provide meaningful access to grade-level learning. Through real-world situations and the Reflection–Collaboration–Action (RCA) framework, learners will explore WIDA tools, effective accommodations, intentional instructional planning, and technology that strengthens language and content learning across K–12 settings.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Describe legal responsibilities and requirements for serving multilingual learners.
• Explain key concepts of language acquisition and proficiency development, including the distinction between social language (BICS) and academic language (CALP).
• Apply instructional strategies, accommodations, and WIDA tools to strengthen multilingual learners’ access to grade-level instruction.
• Integrate technology and intentional planning practices that support language development and content learning.

Target Audience:

• K–12 teachers, EL/ML staff, special education teams, administrators, instructional coaches, and anyone supporting multilingual learners across content areas.

Format:

• Self-paced eLearning course with interactive knowledge checks and real-world scenarios.
• The estimated time to take the course is 60 minutes.
• The course includes two ready-to-use downloadable tools:
  • Language-Rich Lesson Planner Tool: to intentionally embed language objectives, interaction, and scaffolds into daily instruction, and the Academic Sentence Frames for Multilingual Learners.
  • Sentence Frames & Starters: to provide structured language supports that help students confidently explain ideas, use evidence, respond to peers, and reflect while maintaining academic rigor.
• A completion certificate is available after completing the course.