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‘Signing’ merges students of all ages | News | Metrowny.com
A group of third grade students from Colonial Village Elementary School recently met with high school students from St. Mary’s School for the Deaf to experience sign language demonstrated by students who use sign language as their main form of communication.
Colonial Village third graders completed an eight-week long afterschool program in American Sign Language. Due to the students success in the course, Joanna Torreano, a reading specialist at Colonial Village, wanted to encourage the students to spend time together and see that although they communicate differently – they can still fully communicate with one another through the use of sign language.
“I saw in practice what I knew in theory. Kids at this age soak up languages,” Torreano said.
Students were taught weekly lessons after school and were expected to practice at home.
With the use of sign language, third grade students toured the building while explaining to the visiting students what they do in their school.
“As a culminating activity, students applied what they learned in the classroom to real life,” Torreano said. “The students involved in the course were eager to learn and to expand their horizons, learning ways to communicate without saying anything at all.”
In order to give the third graders a more in depth demonstration and teach them about communicating in different ways, St. Mary’s Principal Dr. Jane Schlau gave a demonstration during the visit on how her hearing dog helps her with her activities.
Three fourth grade students, who were taught sign language by Torreano in third grade, helped the third graders tour the school with the St. Mary’s students.
“I like sign language because I can communicate with more people now. I have enjoyed helping teach sign language to the third graders and I have been able to help a lot of kids,” said Anthony, a former sign language student. “We are representing our school and that feels pretty good.”
Torreano coordinated this unique experience in collaboration with Schlau, Colonial Village Principal Tim Carter, and St. Mary’s teacher Aimee Bell.
Bell’s students at St. Mary’s selected a children’s book and read it to the third grade students by signing and voicing the book with the supervision of their teacher.
Students from both schools enjoyed the learning experience.
A group of third grade students from Colonial Village Elementary School recently met with high school students from St. Mary’s School for the Deaf to experience sign language demonstrated by students who use sign language as their main form of communication.
Colonial Village third graders completed an eight-week long afterschool program in American Sign Language. Due to the students success in the course, Joanna Torreano, a reading specialist at Colonial Village, wanted to encourage the students to spend time together and see that although they communicate differently – they can still fully communicate with one another through the use of sign language.
“I saw in practice what I knew in theory. Kids at this age soak up languages,” Torreano said.
Students were taught weekly lessons after school and were expected to practice at home.
With the use of sign language, third grade students toured the building while explaining to the visiting students what they do in their school.
“As a culminating activity, students applied what they learned in the classroom to real life,” Torreano said. “The students involved in the course were eager to learn and to expand their horizons, learning ways to communicate without saying anything at all.”
In order to give the third graders a more in depth demonstration and teach them about communicating in different ways, St. Mary’s Principal Dr. Jane Schlau gave a demonstration during the visit on how her hearing dog helps her with her activities.
Three fourth grade students, who were taught sign language by Torreano in third grade, helped the third graders tour the school with the St. Mary’s students.
“I like sign language because I can communicate with more people now. I have enjoyed helping teach sign language to the third graders and I have been able to help a lot of kids,” said Anthony, a former sign language student. “We are representing our school and that feels pretty good.”
Torreano coordinated this unique experience in collaboration with Schlau, Colonial Village Principal Tim Carter, and St. Mary’s teacher Aimee Bell.
Bell’s students at St. Mary’s selected a children’s book and read it to the third grade students by signing and voicing the book with the supervision of their teacher.
Students from both schools enjoyed the learning experience.