Teaching Pre Schoolers ASL

Babyblue

Babyblue

New Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
12,187
Reaction score
7
I am currently a Pre School teacher and I am very active on teaching my pre schoolers signs. I get alot of positive feedbacks from the parents. It is true that kids learn signs a whole lot faster than speech. I have taught several infants and toddlers signs and I communicate with parents and let them know what the child is saying. I taught several babies "more milk please" and taught them differents sign on the vocabulary words that is in the cirriculum and lesson plans. I'm also a V.P.K teacher which is the No Child Left Behind program to teach 4 year olds before the enter Kindergarden. They truely enjoy learning signs and learning how to express themselves in a positive way. These children are all hearing children with hearing parents and it is great. I even have parents/grandparents buying and looking up to learn ASL so they can communicate with their child better. Even the owner of the center is getting involved, it is a new trend and it will help to spread our language to others.
 
Babyblue said:
I am currently a Pre School teacher and I am very active on teaching my pre schoolers signs. I get alot of positive feedbacks from the parents. It is true that kids learn signs a whole lot faster than speech. I have taught several infants and toddlers signs and I communicate with parents and let them know what the child is saying. I taught several babies "more milk please" and taught them differents sign on the vocabulary words that is in the cirriculum and lesson plans. I'm also a V.P.K teacher which is the No Child Left Behind program to teach 4 year olds before the enter Kindergarden. They truely enjoy learning signs and learning how to express themselves in a positive way. These children are all hearing children with hearing parents and it is great. I even have parents/grandparents buying and looking up to learn ASL so they can communicate with their child better. Even the owner of the center is getting involved, it is a new trend and it will help to spread our language to others.
Click to expand...

That's is wonderful! Now if we can get the pre-school teachers of the deaf to follow your lead!
 
I'm HOH so I'm not sure if you mean for the deaf schools or what? I have graduated from a Deaf School so.....What do you mean by of the deaf?
 
Babyblue said:
I'm HOH so I'm not sure if you mean for the deaf schools or what? I have graduated from a Deaf School so.....What do you mean by of the deaf?
Click to expand...

No, not the deaf schools, per se. Most of them use signs. I'm talking about the mainstream programs....and the oral programs that keep insisting that signs will impede a deaf child's speech. My son graduated from a Deaf school, as well. I should have been more clear, and said the pre-school teachers responsible for teaching deaf kids. You are correct....there is a difference between a teacher of the deaf, and a teacher that simply teaches deaf kids in the mainstream. Sorry for the confusion.
 
Alot of pre school teachers are now taking classes to teach infants and toddlers Signs to be able to teach them better now. It is a big trend now to teach the hearing child to communicate. Now as you say "of the deaf" meaning "for the deaf" I highly encourage it because I truely believe in total communication to help that child to learn vocabulary, Speak and Sign at the same time. A deaf child can learn to Sign when a teacher speaks and sign and that child will know exactly what to say and to expect as well as the teachers. but it requires the parents to cooperate to achieve that goal Signing to a deaf child will NOT delay a childs speech if you use Total Communication. I had a child that was in my pre school class that was deaf and had a CI and the parent didn't want me to sign to that child anymore they wanted me to talk to that child and I was in Awe...so upset, I could not stop myself from signing and speaking to the child because the childs first language was ASL and then she just wanted me to talk to him and he was still adjusting to his programs on his CI. Unfortunately she withdrew him and wanted him to just learn to talk and get used to the sounds without signs. But........I was her right it is her child..... even though I disagree with it.
 
Babyblue said:
Alot of pre school teachers are now taking classes to teach infants and toddlers Signs to be able to teach them better now. It is a big trend now to teach the hearing child to communicate. Now as you say "of the deaf" meaning "for the deaf" I highly encourage it because I truely believe in total communication to help that child to learn vocabulary, Speak and Sign at the same time. A deaf child can learn to Sign when a teacher speaks and sign and that child will know exactly what to say and to expect as well as the teachers. but it requires the parents to cooperate to achieve that goal Signing to a deaf child will NOT delay a childs speech if you use Total Communication. I had a child that was in my pre school class that was deaf and had a CI and the parent didn't want me to sign to that child anymore they wanted me to talk to that child and I was in Awe...so upset, I could not stop myself from signing and speaking to the child because the childs first language was ASL and then she just wanted me to talk to him and he was still adjusting to his programs on his CI. Unfortunately she withdrew him and wanted him to just learn to talk and get used to the sounds without signs. But........I was her right it is her child..... even though I disagree with it.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am very glad to see the trend of teaching hearing children sign. It still puzzles me why so many parents will teach a hearing child sign to give them an advantage in communication, but so many hearing parents of deaf chidlren refuse to allow them to sign.:dunno:

The situation that you just described is what I was referring to. You are correct, it is that parent's choice. But it is so sad for deaf children.

I have taught all of my nieces and nephews sign, starting when they were babies. And like your pre-schoolers, they loved it!
 
I agree parents that have deaf children are often in denial. It is the strangest thing I know... I guess the parent expected a child to be perfect with ten fingers and ten toes and then the child is deaf....The parents are not sure what to do.... but hopefully teaching babies ASL trend will encourage all parents/families/teachers to teach ASL so it will not be such a "dirty" little disablity.
 
Babyblue said:
I agree parents that have deaf children are often in denial. It is the strangest thing I know... I guess the parent expected a child to be perfect with ten fingers and ten toes and then the child is deaf....The parents are not sure what to do.... but hopefully teaching babies ASL trend will encourage all parents/families/teachers to teach ASL so it will not be such a "dirty" little disablity.
Click to expand...

**nodding agreement** Keep up the good work!
 
Babyblue said:
I agree parents that have deaf children are often in denial. It is the strangest thing I know... I guess the parent expected a child to be perfect with ten fingers and ten toes and then the child is deaf....The parents are not sure what to do.... but hopefully teaching babies ASL trend will encourage all parents/families/teachers to teach ASL so it will not be such a "dirty" little disablity.
Click to expand...

That's something that angers me cuz these deaf children are in desperate need for access to language, yet they are being denied it. I am partially angry at the parents but I am more angry at the "oral professionals" who feed that misinformation to the parents.

I dont know what to say about that cuz it is just too upsetting but on a more positive note, I am ahppy that those hearing kids are learning ASL. If it helps them, great. Anything to improve children's language development.

Like Jillo said, keep up the good work! :)
 
Babyblue said:
Alot of pre school teachers are now taking classes to teach infants and toddlers Signs to be able to teach them better now. It is a big trend now to teach the hearing child to communicate. Now as you say "of the deaf" meaning "for the deaf" I highly encourage it because I truely believe in total communication to help that child to learn vocabulary, Speak and Sign at the same time. A deaf child can learn to Sign when a teacher speaks and sign and that child will know exactly what to say and to expect as well as the teachers. but it requires the parents to cooperate to achieve that goal Signing to a deaf child will NOT delay a childs speech if you use Total Communication. I had a child that was in my pre school class that was deaf and had a CI and the parent didn't want me to sign to that child anymore they wanted me to talk to that child and I was in Awe...so upset, I could not stop myself from signing and speaking to the child because the childs first language was ASL and then she just wanted me to talk to him and he was still adjusting to his programs on his CI. Unfortunately she withdrew him and wanted him to just learn to talk and get used to the sounds without signs. But........I was her right it is her child..... even though I disagree with it.
Click to expand...

This is what I will be doing at the public library in spring of 08. I will
be teaching hearing parents of hearing infants how to teach their
children ASL. The librarian told me there has been alot of intrest
in this class, so much so that we may have to form two classes.
I bet my receptive skills improve then! Having to watch all those
parents try to use sign language. heeheee I'm even going to be
paid a small stipend. If this goes well, I just may have a home
based business going here! Travel around to different librarys
teaching a 5 week course in ASL! Awsome!
 
be teaching hearing parents of hearing infants how to teach their
children ASL. The librarian told me there has been alot of intrest
in this class, so much so that we may have to form two classes.
I bet my receptive skills improve then! Having to watch all those
parents try to use sign language. heeheee I'm even going to be
paid a small stipend. If this goes well, I just may have a home
based business going here! Travel around to different librarys
teaching a 5 week course in ASL! Awsome!
12-21-2007 11:48 AM
Click to expand...

Way to go! I think it is great now that we see the hearing people are starting to learn the concept of ASL and it is a start, to educate hearing people on Deaf Culture, by teaching them sign. I feel we should add Deaf Culture to the ASL classes so they have more understanding of the language.
 
Last edited:
Babyblue said:
Way to go! I think it is great now that we see the hearing people are starting to learn the concept of ASL and it is a start, to educate hearing people on Deaf Culture, by teaching them sign. I feel we should add Deaf Culture to the ASL classes so they have more understanding of the language.
Click to expand...

In ASL 4 we had to do many hours studying Deaf culture
do s and don't s. I probably forget a lot of them though.
When you are in a new Deaf situation and struggling to
remember your signs, it is difficult to think about how
your body is positioned in relationship to other people.
shoot! I have enough trouble just walking and not
tripping!
 
Babyblue said:
Way to go! I think it is great now that we see the hearing people are starting to learn the concept of ASL and it is a start, to educate hearing people on Deaf Culture, by teaching them sign. I feel we should add Deaf Culture to the ASL classes so they have more understanding of the language.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The ASL classes at the college where I work includes cultural studies. Understanding the culture is necessary to fully understand the langauge....particularly useful as well, it one's intent is to enteract with deaf people given their new found knowledge.
 
In ASL 4 we had to do many hours studying Deaf culture
do s and don't s. I probably forget a lot of them though.
When you are in a new Deaf situation and struggling to
remember your signs, it is difficult to think about how
your body is positioned in relationship to other people.
shoot! I have enough trouble just walking and not
tripping!
Click to expand...

I agree...I personally HOH did not learn ASL and took deaf culture in the Deaf School I attended til 1989. It was hard at first but me attending to a Deaf school being with my peers helped me alot. I was picked on alot at first by my peers, but eventually I got it and was and am respected by my Deaf peers. I just think ASL is a great resource to get hearing and deaf to unite and to understand one anothers language. It will not be perfect but if we can get the hearing culture to understand that signing ASL isn't a insignificant language then we are set.
 
Just an undate to prove that A.S.L is much easier to teach that oral speech. I was playing with a 7 month old child today saying and clapping my hands to Patty cakes... Did the child say patty cake or clapped her hands?



If you guess clapped her hands.

OF COURSE.... I can just say "Patty Cake" the infant would automatically clap her hands.

Something to ponder.... Let me know what you think of this..
 
Babyblue said:
Just an undate to prove that A.S.L is much easier to teach that oral speech. I was playing with a 7 month old child today saying and clapping my hands to Patty cakes... Did the child say patty cake or clapped her hands?



If you guess clapped her hands.

OF COURSE.... I can just say "Patty Cake" the infant would automatically clap her hands.

Something to ponder.... Let me know what you think of this..
Click to expand...

Guess what? The head of the local private preschool wants to send
her teachers to my class, so they can learn ASL and teach the
hearing pre schoolers! Maybe when ASL becomes even more popular
with Hearing community, the Hearing parents of Deaf children will feel
more comfortable with letting their children learn ASL. I think it would
improve their abilities to learn oral speech and any other modalities.
 
Maybe a good idea might be to contact any early intervention programs (you know the ones for all kinds of disablities) and let them know that you'd be available in case there's a dhh kid. Also contact any deaf ed programs in your area, and let them know that you're available. Trust me......they are ALWAYS looking for ASL fluent TODs!
 
deafdyke said:
Maybe a good idea might be to contact any early intervention programs (you know the ones for all kinds of disablities) and let them know that you'd be available in case there's a dhh kid. Also contact any deaf ed programs in your area, and let them know that you're available. Trust me......they are ALWAYS looking for ASL fluent TODs!
Click to expand...


Thanks, I'll look into that.
 
Babyblue said:
Just an undate to prove that A.S.L is much easier to teach that oral speech. I was playing with a 7 month old child today saying and clapping my hands to Patty cakes... Did the child say patty cake or clapped her hands?



If you guess clapped her hands.

OF COURSE.... I can just say "Patty Cake" the infant would automatically clap her hands.

Something to ponder.... Let me know what you think of this..
Click to expand...

Yes. Children develop motor skills like that earlier than they develop the skills necessary to produce speech. But she understands that the words "patty cake" mean the same thing as clapping hands.
 
That's great, babyblue. Keep up the good job. :)

Fredfam, good luck on the job when it starts.

Maybe ASL will be a huge trend that hearing parents of deaf kid will have no choice but to allow it.
 
Back
Top