Teaching Music to Multilingual Learners: Strategy of the Week

Each week we share one strategy that you can use to meet the needs of your diverse multilingual learners in secondary content classes. This week’s strategy is specifically for secondary music teachers but could be adapted for use in many content areas.

Strategy Name: Shades of Meaning

Language Objective: I can discuss how vocabulary words are related.

Shades of Meaning: How-To

Before the Activity

1. Generate a list of words related to the same topic (for example: dynamic levels, articulation styles, etc.).
2. Prepare manipulatives that students can use (paint chips, words printed on paper or 3×5 cards, etc.)

During the Activity

1. Explicitly teach the words to students.
2. Give students the list of words and allow them to discuss the meanings with a group.
3. Students place words along a continuum – paint chips, a word line along their desk, etc.

Extra Support for MLs

• Use visuals and gestures or play/sing examples to explain the meanings of words.
• Use words that are very different at first before introducing more similar terms.

Example: Dynamics

• LT: I can define and use words to describe dynamics in music.
• Teach students the definitions of dynamic markings by playing or singing at each dynamic level. Then have students work in groups to put the dynamic markings on a continuum from softest to loudest. Finish by having students play or sing at each level.

Learn More

• See an example of the lesson at BetterLesson 
• Get ideas for vocabulary topics from NAfME