As a multilingual learner leader, I believe that every step in the language learning journey deserves to be both discussed and recognized. Language growth is not only about reaching an end goal but also about valuing the progress students make along the way. Over the past several years, my team and I have intentionally focused on creating spaces to discuss language development with students, while also celebrating milestones through Growth and Achievement.
We highlight Growth by recognizing students who demonstrate significant progress from year to year, showing that their consistent effort and persistence are paying off. We also celebrate Achievement by honoring students who reach exit criteria or meet state-level proficiency targets, marking a powerful milestone in their academic journey.
How to Discuss Language Growth
Before we celebrate language growth, we must first focus on discussing language proficiency development with students. When students understand what their proficiency levels mean, what skills they have already mastered, and what the next steps look like, they begin to see language learning as a journey rather than a grade. These conversations can be simple yet powerful: showing students their scores, explaining the descriptors in student-friendly terms, and setting short, achievable goals. By making their progress visible and concrete, students are more likely to take ownership of their learning, pay closer attention to how they use language in different settings, and recognize that every improvement—no matter how small—is a meaningful step forward.
One effective way to guide these conversations is by using a language proficiency form that displays a student’s prior and current scores in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and the overall composite. Reviewing this form with students allows them to see their growth across each domain and understand how their skills are developing over time. Teachers can highlight areas of strength while also identifying specific skills that need more attention. This not only personalizes the learning experience but also helps students understand that growth in one area, such as listening, may look different than growth in another, like writing.
These discussions may also include a connection to state language proficiency targets so students can clearly see how their current performance aligns with long-term expectations and exit criteria. Explaining where they are now, where they are expected to be, and what steps they need to take makes the learning pathway transparent. Adding the number of years a student has been learning English provides important context for both the student and teacher. For a newcomer, early progress can feel especially motivating, while for long-term learners, steady progress reinforces the importance of persistence and consistent effort.
When educators frame proficiency data within the broader story of each student’s journey, they send a powerful message: every student’s growth matters, and every step forward deserves to be recognized. This approach not only informs instruction but also encourages students to care more about their learning, take ownership of their progress, and approach language development with confidence and pride.
By discussing progress and celebrating success at every level, we reinforce to students that their language learning matters, their hard work is seen, and their accomplishments are worth honoring. This approach not only builds confidence but also strengthens a culture of pride and perseverance in our multilingual community.
How to Celebrate Language Proficiency Growth
Once we make students aware of their language proficiency—helping them understand where they were, where they are now, and where they need to go—we must then take time to celebrate their language growth. Recognition is powerful; when students see their hard work honored, they feel valued, motivated, and more eager to continue learning. Celebrations remind them that language learning is a journey full of milestones, not just an end goal.
Celebrations can be small and personal or public and community-based. On a personal level, teachers can meet with students to acknowledge their progress, give verbal praise, or write personalized notes that highlight specific growth in listening, speaking, reading, or writing. Simple gestures such as stickers, certificates, or a classroom “language growth wall” where students add their names when they move up a level can go a long way in reinforcing pride in their accomplishments.
At a classroom level, teachers can organize mini-celebrations where students share their successes with peers. For example, a “growth spotlight” can give students the chance to read aloud a passage they wrote at the beginning of the year compared to one written later in the year, or present how their confidence in speaking has grown. This builds community and helps students see that growth is not just individual but part of a shared learning journey.
Schools and districts can also recognize growth on a larger scale. Hosting assemblies, featuring student names in newsletters, or awarding medals, certificates, or badges for growth and achievement gives students a sense of accomplishment that reaches beyond the classroom. In our district, we celebrate using certificates of achievement and Achievement Medals.
Language Growth Celebrations
Growth is at the heart of language learning, and we make it a priority to recognize students who demonstrate measurable progress on the annual assessment. Each year, students take the WIDA assessment, which provides scale scores across the domains of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and an overall composite score. Growth is celebrated when students show significant improvement from one year to the next, meeting or exceeding 80% of their expected growth target.
During this session, teachers learn how to identify which students qualify for growth recognition by reviewing their prior and current year scores. The focus is on helping educators understand how to calculate growth, interpret results, and share that progress with students in meaningful ways. For example, a student who grows from a score of 225 to 245 over one year demonstrates that their dedication and consistent effort are paying off.
To honor this accomplishment, students in my district who achieve growth receive a Growth Certificate. These awards make the recognition tangible and memorable, serving as a visible reminder that hard work and persistence in language learning truly matter. The celebration not only boosts student confidence but also reinforces the message that growth is an achievement worth honoring—whether a student is a newcomer making early progress or a long-term learner continuing their steady climb toward proficiency.
How to Calculate Growth
- Find the student’s previous year’s overall scale score.
- Find the student’s current year overall scale score.
- Subtract the two scores to see the total growth.
- Divide the student’s actual growth by their growth target.
Example:
- Previous year: Scale Score = 225
- Current year: Scale Score = 245
- Growth target = 25 points
- Student growth = 20 points
20 ÷ 25 = 80% → This student meets the growth criteria and earns the Growth Medal!
If you would like to calculate individual student growth for all students at once, you may do so using an Excel document.
Below is a way to generate school-wide individual student growth using Excel:
- Enter Student Data
- Column A: Student Name
- Column B: Prior Year Scale Score
- Column C: Current Year Scale Score
- Column D: Growth →
=C2-B2 - Column E: Growth Target (district/state)
- Column F: % Growth Achieved →
=D2/E2(format as %) - Column G: Met Growth →
=IF(F2>=80%,"Yes","No")
2. Highlight Growth Automatically
- Use Conditional Formatting on Column F.
- Rule: Cell Value ≥ 80% → Fill Green.
- You’ll see that students who met the growth target are highlighted instantly.
Celebrating Achievement
While growth acknowledges progress, achievement honors the powerful milestone of meeting language proficiency exit criteria or higher achievements. For example, students who reach an overall score of 4.7 or higher in the state of Delaware on WIDA demonstrate that they are ready to transition from language services, equipped with the skills needed to succeed in mainstream academic settings. This milestone marks the culmination of years of effort, resilience, and determination.
Students who meet exit criteria are awarded both a Certificate of Achievement and an Achievement Medal. These honors symbolize not only their language proficiency but also their persistence in reaching a major educational goal. The ceremony of awarding these items creates a lasting memory for students and communicates to families and peers that language achievement is a celebrated accomplishment in our schools.
Expand Growth and Achievement Celebrations into Other Areas
Building on the idea of celebrating students’ progress on the WIDA ACCESS assessment, I expanded this practice to our world language programs by recognizing students who took the STAMP assessment for the first time. Just as we honor multilingual learners for their growth and achievement in English, we now celebrate world language students who demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, French, or other languages offered in our district. By extending recognition to these learners, we highlight that language learning—whether through acquiring English or studying a new world language—is a valuable accomplishment. Students who meet proficiency targets on the STAMP are awarded certificates, reinforcing that their effort and achievement in language learning are equally worthy of celebration.
Take Away
By celebrating both Growth and Achievement, we establish a culture where progress and mastery are equally valued. Every student has the opportunity to be recognized—whether for advancing on their journey or for completing a major milestone. These celebrations build a community where language learning is honored and multilingualism is valued as an asset.
When we recognize growth both big and small, we empower students to take ownership of their learning and remind them that their effort, persistence, and resilience are worth celebrating. By consistently discussing progress and celebrating success, we reinforce that language development matters, students’ hard work is seen, and their accomplishments are worth honoring. This approach not only builds confidence but also strengthens a culture of pride, motivation, and perseverance in our multilingual community.