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MPLS/ESL WIDA Tools: Student-Friendly Can-Do Descriptors | Pre-K and Kindergarten
“Student-Friendly” WIDA CAN DO Descriptors: Grade Level Cluster PreK-K:
For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support through Level 4, English
language learners can process or produce the language needed to:
Level 1: Level 2:
Entering Emerging
• Listen and match • Listen to directions
words to things and sort things
• Listen and point to • Listen to
pictures descriptions and
match things
Listening
• Listen and do things
• Listen to one-step
• Listen to names and directions and do
find people and
things
places
• Listen and find
patterns
• Listen to stories
and make gestures
• Say the names of • Tell some things
pictures of people or that happened in a
things in stories story
Speaking
• Say the same thing as • Tell about pictures,
the teacher things, and people
• Answer yes or no to • Answer questions
questions about with one or two
myself words
• Name things in the • Finish the rhyme
classroom, house, (song or chant)
and outside
• Match symbols to • Match kinds of
pictures writing
• Find my name • Tell which types of
writing are the
• Find words and
Reading
same and which
pictures that match are different
• Find things in my • Show how to read
classroom a book
• Match picture
cards to pictures in
book
• Draw pictures and • Find the word the
scribble teacher says
• Circle or underline • Copy words from
Writing
pictures, symbols, the page in a story
and numbers
• Copy signs I see or
• Trace pictures and the teacher tells
letters me about
• Make letters with • Draw things and
clay (pipe cleaners, write what they
straws…) are
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The tools developed at http://mplsesl.wikispaces.com represent teacher efforts to better understand, explain and use the WIDA English Language Proficiency
Standards, our state-mandated standards for ESL instruction. These materials are neither produced nor authorized by the WIDA test-publishing company.
Level 3: Level 4:
Developing Expanding
• Listen and follow • Listen to
two-step descriptions and
directions, one find matching
step at a time pictures
• Listen and draw • Listen to directions
pictures and use a picture
to check that I
• Listen and show
understand
"Yes" or "No"
• Listen to stories
• Listen and act out and tell what
songs/stories with comes first and
gestures what comes next
• Listen to stories
and act out a part
• Retell short stories • Retell stories with
with pictures pictures with
details
• Repeat sentences
from rhymes and • Sing songs and say
patterned stories chants by myself
• Tell what will • Tell what is the
happen next same and what is
different in things
• Answer questions
about stories I hear • Tell where things
are
• Use pictures to • Find sight words in
figure out words a story
• Sorting things • Put pictures in
using words and order to tell a story
pictures
• Match pictures and
• Tell who the words
author and
illustrator are • Sort a picture into
two groups
• Sort pictures
• Write to tell • Write about a
something picture
• Write notes with • Draw pictures and
pictures and words use words to tell a
story
• Make connections
between speech • Label people and
and writing things
• Write words from • Write words that
labeled pictures tell things I see
often
Level 5:
Bridging
• Listen and put
pictures in the right
order
• Listen and arrange
pictures
• Listen and find the
pictures or things
that match what the
teacher says
• Listen and make a
pattern that the
teacher explains
• Make up stories and
tell them
• Tell how I feel
• Tell what I think
• Tell what I like/
dislike and why I
like/dislike it
• Find things that go
with "school"
• Tell the different
between a letter, a
word, and a
sentence
• Put words together
to make short
sentences
• Find parts of words
and sentences that
are the same
• Tell about
something using
pictures and words
• Make a book with
pictures and words
• Write things by
myself
• Write about my life
 “Student-Friendly” WIDA CAN DO Descriptors: Grade Level Cluster 1-2
For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support through Level 4, English
language learners can process or produce the language needed to:

Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: Level 4: Level 5:

Entering Emerging Developing Expanding Bridging
• Follow one-step • Match pictures to • Follow directions • Listen and tell how • Figure out what
directions a story I hear with more than things are alike and words don't know
one step different mean from
• Find pictures of • Follow two and listening to a
things the teacher three step • Put pictures in • Find details in story
Listening

tells me directions order to retell a stories that are

story read aloud • Use ideas from
• Point to things that • Listen and put discussions
my teacher says things in the • Match people • Find the picture
order and jobs that I am told about • Tell the meaning
• Listen and do what of what the
the teacher does • Listen and find • Listen and sort • Find things that are teacher reads
things things described to me
• Match an
explanation to a
picture or a term

• Repeat words and • Use my home • Ask questions • Ask questions to • Use academic
phrases language to help about people find about people vocabulary in
me speak English and school class
• Answer questions • Tell how I feel discussions
about things I see • Repeat facts or • Talk in whole class
statements • Retell stories discussions • Tell and support
Speaking

• Tell the names of with pictures ideas with

things that I see a lot • Tell what jobs • Retell stories with examples
people do from • Sort things and details
• Sing and chant with pictures tell how I sorted • Give oral
the class them • Put stories in order reports
• Compare things using order words
• Tell what I think • Start
will happen conversation
• Tell about parts with children
(levels, order) of and teachers
things
• Show the sign that • Find and explain • Make text-to-self • Put words in order • Read non-
goes with something pictures I've seen connections to make sentences fiction texts and
before use text
• Match works and • Choose a title to • Tell about setting features to help
pictures • Match what the match pictures and characters in a me understand
Reading

teacher says to story

• Match real things to pictures and • Sorts labeled • Use reading
words letters pictures • Follow whole- strategies
sentence directions
• Follow directions • Sort words into • Match sentences • Tell main idea
using pictures word families to pictures • Tell the difference
between general • Match
• Find pictures to and specific things figurative
match patterns language to
pictures
• Copy written words • Use graphic • Do prewriting • Making sentences • Write several
organizers by myself sentences
• Listen to the teacher • Make sentences about a prompt
explain how to write • Make lists from using the word • Write cards or
a word and write it word wall bank letters • Write content-
Writing

• Write things with • Finish sentences
pictures that the teacher
starts
• Label things and
pictures • Write about
people, places,
and things from
pictures
related
• Write in journal • Write in my journal sentences
about my life
• Tell about • Write stories
something using • Use dictionaries
pictures and word walls to • Explain how to
write sentences do something

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The tools developed at http://mplsesl.wikispaces.com represent teacher efforts to better understand, explain and use the WIDA English Language Proficiency
Standards, our state-mandated standards for ESL instruction. These materials are neither produced nor authorized by the WIDA test-publishing company.
 “Student-Friendly” WIDA CAN DO Descriptors: Grade Level Cluster 3-5
For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support through Level 4, English
language learners can process or produce the language needed to:

Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: Developing Level 4: Level 5: Bridging

Entering Emerging Expanding
• Listen and point to • Listen to descriptions • Follow directions. • Listen to • Listen to follow
pictures or words and sort pictures. information and instructions about
• Listen to an apply to a new [math or
• Follow one-step • Listen and arrange explanation and match situation. microscopes or
directions pictures. it to a picture. whatever]
• Listen to an
Listening

• Listen and find • Follow two-step • Match descriptions to explanation and • [Using a model],
things or people directions. illustrations. point out details on listen to a problem
• Listen to the • Listen and draw • Listen to a story and an illustration. and use models to
teacher and do the pictures. sort pictures. [Listen to figure it out.
• Listen to [a story, an
classroom routines. an explanation and …] explanation] • Listen and explain
• Listen to choices and
express an opinion. figurative language.
• Listen about authors
[scientists, etc.] and • Listen to [stories,
act out what you explanations] and
hear. give opinions.
• Tell what you need. • Ask everyday • Answer [simple] • Give reasons for an • Use evidence to
| Tell how you feel. questions. questions about opinion. defend opinions.
• Say the names of • Restate facts about [school subjects] • Discuss stories, • Give oral
things. school topics. • Re-tell stories. [Re-tell issues and concepts. presentations using
events.] technical
Speaking

• Repeat words and • Describe [people, • Give oral reports.

phrases from events, objects, or • Listen to [stories, vocabulary.
• Compare solutions
pictures. people]. explanations] and to a problem. • List the steps you
• Answer yes/no • Talk about yourself make predictions. take to solve a
questions. Answer with other students. Listen and guess why • Compare and problem.
choice questions. things happened. contrast [ideas from • Explain the results
• Offer solutions to a subject]. of an experiment.
social conflicts.
• presentations.
• Solve problems.
• Match symbols to • Read texts with • Interpret data from • Classify features of • Summarize
words [or illustrations and charts and graphs. genres. information from
concepts] identify facts and [#] sources.
ideas. • Identify main ideas • Choose the graphic
• Identify cognates. and some details. organizer that • Answer thought
Reading

• Find changes to root matches a text. questions.

• Make words in sentences or • Sequence events in
sound/symbol/wor stories. stories [articles, • Find details that • Identify and explain
d relations explanations, historical support main ideas. examples of figures
• Identify elements of accounts]. of speech. [Give
• Match words on stories [characters, • Distinguish fact and examples of figures
the board to words setting, etc.] • Use context clues and opinion. of speech.]
and pictures. illustrations to figure
• Follow written out the meaning of • Make inferences.
directions. (visually words or phrases.
supported)

• Write the words • Make lists from labels • Write stories or • Use graphic • Write responses to
that tell about or with other reports organizer to take texts near my
things students notes grade level
• Write sentences that
• Tell what I think • Finish or write go together • Summarize • Write about [new
Writing

by drawing sentences using word information about situation] using

walls
• Copy words and
short sentences • Fill in graphic
organizers, charts,
• Answer questions and tables
with one word
• Write a comparison
about [some realia]
• Write what is the a subject information I
same and different learned in class
about two sets of • Write different
information kinds of texts • Make text-to-self
connections
• Write about things or • Tell how I solved a
people or ways to do problem • Write stories or
something reports

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The tools developed at http://mplsesl.wikispaces.com represent teacher efforts to better understand, explain and use the WIDA English Language Proficiency
Standards, our state-mandated standards for ESL instruction. These materials are neither produced nor authorized by the WIDA test-publishing company.
 “Student-Friendly” WIDA CAN DO Descriptors: Grade Level Cluster 6-8
For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support through Level 4, English
language learners can process or produce the language needed to:
Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: Level 4: Expanding Level 5:
Entering Emerging Developing Bridging
• Follow one-step • Follow directions with • Listen and sort things the • Listen and tell main ideas • Listen and use
directions more than one step teacher says and details of information to
• Match everyday • Listen and sort pictures • Listen and match main ideas conversations finish work
language to • Listen and put pictures in of texts to pictures • Finish work based on • Evaluate
Listening

pictures order • Listen and use strategies what the teacher tells unspoken reasons
• Point to things that • Listen and find • Listen to ideas from you for what
my teacher says information on charts ____________ and find • Use strategies in new someone says
• Match school and tables examples situations and respond
language to • Match words and phrases to • Act out scenes from a • Make inferences
pictures past, present, or future story from texts read
aloud
• Tell the difference
between genres
• Answer yes/no and • Use everyday language • Talk about time using • Summarize ideas • Defend a point of
choice questions to talk about school multiple tenses. • Defend a point of view view and give
• Use words that are subjects • Retell ideas you heard • Tell how things end reasons.
common • Tell main ideas from • Give short presentations • Explain and compare • Use and explain
Speaking

• Repeat words and class about __________ concepts metaphors and

sentences • Use example sentences • Tell what I think similes.
• Connect ideas with
• Answer who, what, to describe situations. • I can use transitions (like supporting details and • Communicate
when, where, and • Tell about things we do "but" or "then") to connect evidence. fluently in school
why questions everyday ideas. and social
• Support opinions with situations
• Tell what I need or want • I can use different registers reasons and evidence.
• Talk to friends inside and outside class. • Talk about and
give examples of
• Ask for things • Tell main idea and details abstract ideas
• Ask for help understanding
• Know that letters • Put pictures in order • Identify topic sentences, • Put paragraphs in order • Use words with
and sounds match based on text main ideas, and details in • Match a summary to the multiple
to things • Find main idea in a paragraphs original passage meanings
• Match school sentence • Identify words that mean • Identify figurative • Apply strategies
things to words • Find information from more than one thing language (e.g., “dark as to new situations
• Find everyday text features • Use context clues night”) [but you'll
Reading

signs and words • Follow along while • Make predictions based on • Read and interpret probably state
• Find author and listening pictures from a story [adapted classics or the strategy to be
illustrator modified text] used.]
• Sort words and phrases • Explain how prefixes and
• Find one-word suffixes change meaning • Match cause to effect • Make inferences
• Use words I know to about meanings
answers to who, finish sentences • Tell fact from opinion • Match specific language
what, when, and in text
• Use my home language • Answer questions about to genres or texts that
where questions in use it • Critique material
to help learn English. what I read and support
a story • Use many strategies to
• Use bilingual dictionaries • Use English dictionaries and argument
• Use picture and glossaries. glossaries understand what I read
dictionaries • Sort grade-level
text by genre
• Draw pictures • Finish pattern sentences • Write paragraphs with main • Write essay with several • Write
about • Finish sentences with my idea and details paragraphs explanations of
___________ own ideas • Write compound sentences • Prove that ideas are graphs or charts
• Use common • Put sentences together • Tell steps for solving a good • Write reports
Writing

words • Finish graphic organizers problem • Write reports using multiple

• Label pictures and with information about • Tell what is the same and • Use details/examples to sources/citations
graphs me different between events support ideas • Begin using
• Make vocabulary • Answer yes or no to who, and characters • Use transitions analogies
cards what, when, where, and • Tell what I think, like, or feel • Write introduction, body, • Tell what you
• Write lists from why questions with my reasons and conclusion think about a text
word banks • Summarize text
• Take notes

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The tools developed at http://mplsesl.wikispaces.com represent teacher efforts to better understand, explain and use the WIDA English Language Proficiency
Standards, our state-mandated standards for ESL instruction. These materials are neither produced nor authorized by the WIDA test-publishing company.
 “Student-Friendly” WIDA CAN DO Descriptors: Grade Level Cluster 9-12
For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support through Level 4, English
language learners can process or produce the language needed to:
Level 1: Level 2:
Entering |Emerging
• Listen and point to • Listen and match
parts of things what I hear to
• Listen and match pictures
ideas with pictures • Listen and tell if it is
Listening
• Listen and group in the past, present
things or future
• Listen and tell what • Listen and put
something is pictures in order
• Answer yes or no • Tell about people,
questions places, things, and
• Tell information things that happen
about myself • Ask who, what,
Speaking
• Name everyday when, where, why
objects and pre- questions to help me
taught vocabulary understand
• Repeat words and • Tell about school-
sentences related things
• Talk about things in
pictures
• Match pictures or • Match
things to words ideas/things/informa
• Read things I see in tion to where they
school everyday came from
• Answer who, what, • Sort information
when, where, and from graphs
Reading
why questions about • Follow directions
a story from what I see or
• Use dictionaries read
• Match sentences to
pictures
• Tell what is the same
and what is different
in things
• Find main idea in a
sentence
• Label pictures • Make lists of words
• Listen and write that go together
things about myself • Take notes
Writing
• Write short answers • Write questions
• Finish the sentence • Write to tell
something using
letters or email
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The tools developed at http://mplsesl.wikispaces.com represent teacher efforts to better understand, explain and use the WIDA English Language Proficiency
Standards, our state-mandated standards for ESL instruction. These materials are neither produced nor authorized by the WIDA test-publishing company.
Level 3: Level 4: Level 5:
Developing Expanding Bridging
• Listen and tell what I • Listen and tell what a • Figure out cause and
think word means effect
• Listen and tell main • Listen and figure out • Listen and make
ideas and details what I need to do inferences based on
• Listen and use • Categorize genres read satire, sarcasm, or
strategies aloud humor
• Listen and sort • Listen and compare • Listen and find
examples traits differences in speech
(e.g., hyperbole, satire,
comedy)
• Listen and figure out
what is intended and
act accordingly
• Tell ways to solve • Choose a side and use • Give multimedia oral
problems evidence to defend it presentations on
• Compare and • Tell about issues and grade-level material
contrast how people ideas • Participate in debates
are • Compare and contrast on issues using specific
• Put processes, cycles, how people see things language
procedures, and • Explain metacognitive
• Make choices and tell
evens in order pros and cons of them strategies for solving
• Interview people to problems (e.g., “Tell
• Use and explain slang me how you know it.”)
get information and idioms
• Make predictions • Figure out meaning in
• Use speaking discussions
based on ideas strategies
• Understand words • Compare and contrast • Tell the meaning of
with multiple _________________ grade-level literature
meanings • Understand • Draw conclusions after
• Find topic sentence, information reading different
main ideas, and • Infer meaning sources on a topic
details • Infer importance of
• Match cause to effect
• Answer questions data or information
about what I read • Tell how useful data or
graphic information • Find proof of bias or
• Tell the difference credibility of a source
between fact and
opinion
• Put paragraphs/
sentences in order
• Write reports using a • Summarize notes from • Write reports using
form lecture or text multiple sources
• Write short pretend • Revise work based on • Write stories, essays,
and true stories feedback reports, etc. from
• Write my ideas on a • Write stories and different genres
graphic organizer reports for different • Edit and comment on a
• Compare and think purposes peer's writing using a
about how I did using • Defend ideas and rubric
a rubric opinions • Explain things using
• Write reports on details
school-related