You have heard me talk about March Madness in the classroom and it has nothing to do with basketball. I love using the March Brackets to add in vocabulary repetitions. They are great for anything from music to sports.
In the world language classroom, brackets are a valuable tool for reinforcing vocabulary through repetition. Integrating brackets allows instructors to provide contextual cues or alternative meanings for target words, aiding students in grasping nuances and expanding their linguistic understanding. By strategically incorporating brackets into exercises, teachers can prompt students to identify appropriate vocabulary choices within specific contexts, enhancing comprehension and retention. Furthermore, brackets facilitate differentiation by offering varying levels of complexity, catering to diverse learning styles and proficiency levels within the classroom. Ultimately, the deliberate use of brackets fosters an interactive and engaging learning environment, empowering students to master vocabulary with confidence and precision.
So how can you use March brackets in the classroom?
This March I am using the art bracket with the De’Via Art Mini Unit. It is a great break from the themed units and it will offer the students a wonderful cultural prompt option on the Seal of Biliteracy test in April. The unit is planned out so that it can be completely taught in the target language. The unit is for levels 2 and up. For my students, I am using it for my 3 and 4 combo class.
Here is my plan for March:
- Use the day-to-day lesson plans provided in the De’Via Art Mini Unit.
- On the second day of the unit, I will introduce Ann Silver using the Deaf Legends packet incorporating the jigsaw activity, the infographic, and the become the artwork tasks.
- Later I will use the De’Via Gallery Walk about a week before students create their own artwork for an art showcase. This will hopefully inspire them and give them a feel for their own class Gallery walk.
- Then I will assign the De’Via WebQuest so students have a better understanding of Deaf art and artists. This will also better prepare them for their expressive task (Seal of Biliteracy).
- Daily during the unit, we will analyze art together using the art bracket until we have one piece of art that is the winner.
March is a great month to incorporate brackets. This is an example of how you can use De’Via art and March Brackets together, however, you can use different vocabulary for the brackets. Try foods like vegetables, desserts, or fruits. Or you could use brackets in a clothing unit by putting together the best outfits. The possibilities are endless. How will you use brackets in your classroom?
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