WABE 2026 Annual Conference

Move beyond guesswork by designing with the end in mind. Participants will learn how our district used WIDA Key Language Uses, functions, and features to co-construct clear learning targets and develop common units of instruction for our secondary English Language Development courses. We will share our collaborative process, struggles and successes to design instruction that intentionally develops academic language for every student.

This session will explore literacy instruction that centers multilingual students’ linguistic assets while prioritizing strong family engagement. The session connects science‑of‑reading principles to multilingual learners, highlights home languages as assets, and models culturally responsive practices that deepen family partnerships, communication, and student literacy success.

Family engagement is essential to K–12 multilingual learner success. This interactive session explores equity-centered, research-based family engagement practices through real-world dual language case studies. Participants will design a practical, context-specific engagement strategy and leave with actionable tools to support sustainable family-school partnerships.