CELLA Connections℠ turns student assessment results into a jumping off point for targeted, research-based English language instruction in listening, speaking, reading or writing.

Right from a student’s CELLA Online test report, a teacher can click on a skill area that needs improvement and obtain teacher-friendly resources based on high quality research. These include skill objective details, step-by-step instructional activities, relevant research findings and citations, and opportunities for professional collaboration with peers. 

CELLA Connections℠ takes advantage of technology to transform data-driven instruction from a promising concept to a practical, effective technique for teachers of ELLs.
CELLA Connections℠  is included at no additional cost for users of CELLA Online.

Skills

As a standards-based assessment, each CELLA diagnostic skill category addresses a cluster of essential English language skill objectives. The name of a skill category—the only description available on a student’s test report—provides only a broad sense of the measured skills. The first section of CELLA Connections℠  describes the skills in substantial detail, so that a teacher can design, (or refine) instruction accordingly.

Instructional Activities

The heart of CELLA Connections℠ includes instructional activities that target the skills assessed in particular diagnostic categories. The activities are constructed based on the best research relevant to instruction in the skill objectives. They are printable and include clear, specific descriptions of each instructional step as well as examples and models. At least two instructional activities are included for each diagnostic skill category.

Research Findings and References

Important research findings relevant to each skill category are summarized in jargon-free language accessible to practitioners. A list of applicable research citations is also provided for those interested in accessing the original studies and reports. Ready access to the professional knowledge base raises the level of discussion among educators, to the ultimate benefit of students.

Professional Collaboration

Logged in teachers can add a comment, or respond to a peer, regarding effective instruction in a particular skill category. Teachers are encouraged to become active participants in a meaningful, collaborative process that is practical and on point.

Here is an Example of a CELLA Connections℠ Instructional Activity for Kindergarten Students: