Making Language Visible

Articles and Book Chapters

• Cooney, K. & Westerlund, R. (2026). Developing culturally & linguistically sustaining ESOL pedagogies through SFL professional development in de Oliveira, L. C. & Terrell, K. (Eds.) Preparing antiracist ESOL professionals: Linguistic equity for multilingual learners. Routledge.
• Daniels, J. & Westerlund, R. (2022). Scaffolding learning for multilingual learners in math. WIDA Focus on. June. Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
• de Oliveira, L. C. (2021). A functional approach to language development for dual language learners. Journal of English Learner Education, 12(1). https://stars.library.ucf.edu/jele/vol12/iss1/2/
• de Oliveira & Westerlund, R. (2023). Scaffolding for Multilingual Learners in Elementary and Secondary Schools. Routledge.
• Malin, O., & Westerlund, R. (2026). “What words should I use?” Multilingual learners learning how to make language choices in science explanations in elementary school. In L. C. de Oliveira (Ed.), Applying a functional approach to language development in teaching the content areas to multilingual learners in K-12 classrooms. Information Age Publishing.
• Westerlund, R. (2024). Teaching writing in the content areas: Research to practice. Colorín Colorado. 
• Molle, D., Wilfrid, J., MacDonald, R., Westerlund, R., & Spalter, A. (2022). The WIDA framework for equitable instruction of multilingual children and youth in content-area classrooms (WCER Working Paper No. 2022-1). University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin
• Westerlund, R. (2023). Teaching with the WIDA Standards in a Second Grade Literacy Block. Practice Snapshot. Cooperative Educational Service Agency 2 (CESA 2), Wisconsin 
• Westerlund, R. & Adah, E. (2022). Multilingual scientists: The synergy of NGSS and WIDA. White Paper. Cooperative Educational Service Agency 2 (CESA 2). 
• Westerlund, R., & Folberg, E. (2024). Scaffolding multilingual learners’ access to Wisconsin social studies inquiry through the WIDA ELD Standards. Cooperative Educational Service Agency 2 (CESA 2). 

• Invited Speaker, Literacy Across Languages: The Science of Reading for Multilingual Learners. Panel Presentation for The Reading League Illinois | September 22, 2025
• Analyzing the WIDA Standards through the SFL Metafunctions: A trinocular perspective. Research Presentation. International Systemic Functional Linguistics | University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK | July 7-11, 2025
• Invited Speaker, Literacy Foundations for English Learners: A Follow-Up Conversation for Classroom Application The Reading League Minnesota and the International Dyslexia Association, Upper Midwest Branch | April 7, 2015
• Invited Speaker, Debunking a Struggling Writer. Presentation at Schusterman Convening Meeting | May 15, 2024. 
• Keynote Speaker, Reconsidering Comprehensible Input for Multilingual Learners Using the WIDA ELD Standards. Keynote. South Carolina TESOL Conference | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | October 28–30, 2024
• Presenter, Understanding the Proficiency Level Descriptors as a Progress Monitoring Tool TESOL International Convention | March 21, 2024 
• Keynote Speaker, Achieving Equity through the WIDA Standards. Keynote. Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia | July 2023
• Using the WIDA Standards to Improve Universal Tier I Instruction. Professional Development Training. 8-hour Fargo Public Schools, North Dakota, June 2023.
• Making Language Visible in Content Area Classrooms. Professional Development for Teachers. Kennesaw State University ESOL Conference. March 2023.
• “It’s hard to explain. It’s easier to point and show.” 3rd graders writing Science Explanations in Elementary Grades. Conference Presentation. Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Conference, March 2023
• Making Academic Language Culturally Sustaining: Debunking Myths and Misconceptions. Conference Panel. TESOL 2022
• Scaffolding for Multilingual Learners in Elementary and Secondary Schools. Book Panel. TESOL, March 2022
• “Is Calkins’ Writing Workshop Appropriate for My Multilingual Learners?”. Conference Presentation. TESOL, March 2022
• “Writing is a little like sledding”: LCT-informed critique of the Teachers College Units of Study for Writing in a Fourth Grade Classroom. Systemic Functional Linguistics Interest Group Conference.  Recording available here.
• Enacting Equity Through a Genre Approach. Professional Development for Delaware Equity Summit. October 2021. 
• Making Language Visible in Disciplinary Literacy. WIDA Conference, October 2021.    
• Understanding New Key Language Uses in the WIDA ELD Standards. Conference Presentation. NABE, April 2021
• The Ideal Knower in Calkins’ Curriculum: Implicit Neglect of Multilingual Learners in the Teachers College Units of Study for Writing. WIDA Research Community Meeting, December 3, 2020
• Understanding New Key Language Uses in the WIDA ELD Standards. WIDA E-Summit, October 2020
• Common English Learner Myths and Misconceptions for Administrators. Star Conference Wyoming Department of Education, June, 2020
• “Write Down Everything You Know”: An Equity-based Critique of Calkins’ Writing Workshop Unit ‘Bringing History to Life’. International Literacy Research Conference Presentation, December 2019