How Do You Measure Student Progress in a Dual Language Classroom?

State assessments offer a limited snapshot, but they rarely capture the full picture of a student's learning journey —especially in dual language classrooms.

In these spaces, growth in bilingualism, biliteracy, and sociocultural competence unfolds daily, not just during testing season.

So, how can we more effectively monitor student progress in ways that align with the core pillars of dual language education?

Here are some meaningful and practical ways to assess your students' biliteracy development.

Bilingualism	Biliteracy	Academic Achievement	Sociocultural Competence
Speaking Tasks	Writing Samples	Formative Checks	Embedded Reflection Opportunities
Using rubrics to assess oral tasks, like presentations at the end of a unit, is a great way to track progress in a specific and consistent way	A collection of writing samples in both languages can allow students to showcase their abilities and growth in the two languages.	Exit tickets, concept maps, and performance tasks can capture concept understanding over time.	Intentionally embed cultural learning in lessons and projects. Include reflection questions that surface student thinking about cultural perspectives. Use a simple tool to track these reflections over time.

We are sharing a free guide to help you plan your reflection questions to assess for sociocultural competence.

Free Resource—CLICK HERE!

As we guide students along their biliteracy journey, it's important to remember that no single assessment can fully capture their growth. By combining thoughtful reflections, classroom observations, and authentic performance tasks, we gain a more complete understanding of how they navigate across languages and cultures.

And don't forget—celebrating progress matters. Every step forward deserves recognition.

How do you monitor your students' biliteracy progress?

We'd love to hear from you—drop a comment below!

Con cariño,

Esmeralda