Many Black educators acknowledge the difficulty of Black History Month when teachers only focus on struggle, slavery, and civil rights. Many wish that educators would focus on the contributions of Black Americans. It’s easy to find stories of many amazing Black contributors on the internet that connect with your discipline (science, social studies, art, music, consumer science, business, etc. *Tip: Jasmine Bradshaw, of First Name Basis has created this series of remarkable Black Americans as an example. Though written for elementary-age students, all ages can learn from these stories. The tasks associated with the stories can make them more advanced.
After finding a passage or short video, you can use task cards to help differentiate the various language learning levels. I’ve used WIDA since has been adopted in many states.
What are “task cards”?
A set of cards that have tasks or questions written on them.
Why are task cards effective for Multilingual Learners?
They are manageable for MLs because there is only one task per card. MLs only have to tackle one task at a time, so they feel a sense of accomplishment.
Task cards can be tailored to specific content and language objectives.
Task cards make differentiation easy. Depending on their WIDA level, MLs can be given fewer task cards or tasks that specifically match their WIDA level.
Adding visuals and graphics to each card is easy, creating contextual, comprehensible input.
Here’s an example of one of my favorite writers, Maya Angelou, that could be used in language arts and/or social studies disciplines.
In small groups, have students at WIDA levels 1, 2 or 3, read the following passage about Maya Angelou:
Maya Angelou had a remarkable life as an artist, author, and activist. She lived 86 years. People loved her stories and poems. She received many awards.
She faced hard times throughout her life but kept going. When she was 8, she was sexually assaulted. She stopped talking for almost five years because she thought it was her fault. Reading poetry helped her a lot during that time.
With help, she started talking again. She used books to feel better. At 16, she became a mom. She worked hard to earn money for her family, doing different jobs.
Her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing, became famous. With help from her friend, she wrote it at age 17. She also wrote poetry, plays, and children’s books.
Maya Angelou helped civil rights by joining organizations. She wrote about pride in one’s identity. Even though life was tough, Maya Angelou never gave up. She always kept going.
More advanced WIDA levels and dominant English speakers can read this biography.
The challenge #s on the task cards goes from the easiest language ability to the most advanced.
Link for Task Cards for Maya Angelou
Link to create your own free task cards here.
Different ways to use task cards:
Pass out a set of task cards for students to work on individually based on their
Zone of Proximal Development. Let them choose 3 out of 6 to complete.
In small groups, have students complete a set of task cards that include a variety of skills. Organize the groups with a variety of WIDA levels working on the same concept.
In pairs, have students complete a set of task cards. Let them choose one of the responses to share out with the class.
Stack a set of task cards at a communal table. Let students answer them when they have free time.
Have you used task cards?
What are you doing to celebrate Black Americans this month?