Miss-Delectable
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Explore Howard: 'Adventures' sessions hone literacy for hearing, deaf
Storyteller Louise Rollins asked a group of children to sign their names using American Sign Language, and 3-year-old Ella Howarth responded with a proficiently signed E-L-L-A.
Ella was one of two hearing children in a group of five participating in a program sponsored by the Maryland School for the Deaf called "Adventures in ASL! The Sequel." The school, which serves deaf and hearing-impaired children, has a campus in Columbia.
The "Adventures" program, which was held once a week at the Barnes & Noble store, in Ellicott City, is designed for both hearing and deaf children. The free program is aimed at promoting early literacy development and is funded by a grant from the state Department of Education.
The program includes a storyteller who signs a story from a new book each week and does other related activities. There is a translator who speaks for the hearing participants (Theresa Howarth, mother of 3-year-old Ella, translated the April 12 session).
"That's the intent of being in the natural environment," said Deb Marquez, a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf who helps coordinate the ASL event.
She added that the event provides an opportunity for deaf or hard of hearing children to be included in an activity along with hearing children.
The April 12 session spotlighted the book "Feast for 10," by Cathryn Falwell, a story that features rhyming and counting as a family prepares for dinner.
For the children, the hour-long activity is fun and interactive.
Before reading the book, Rollins, also a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf, asked the students what they thought the book would be about.
Sarah Harcum, 5, who is deaf, signed that she thought the story might be about the Thanksgiving holiday, judging by the title and cover of the book.
Sarah's mother Alzenia Harcum, of Baltimore City, said that while she feels her daughter enjoys the program (Sarah insisted her mother bring her despite being sick with a cold), she feels that it has helped her, as the parent of a deaf child, a great deal as well.
"It's difficult when you're trying to learn all these techniques and you're a hearing parent," Alzenia said.
The storyteller models different American Sign Language techniques, such as the body languages and facial expressions that go along with some of the signing.
"She's modeling the visual language of ASL as well," Marquez said, adding that the parents learn a lot this way.
After the activity is complete, parents are also given information to do follow-up activities with their children.
The most recent "Adventures" program concluded April 19. It was the second four-week session the school held this year.
Marquez said she hopes the school can renew the grant and hold two more four-week sessions next school year.
Storyteller Louise Rollins asked a group of children to sign their names using American Sign Language, and 3-year-old Ella Howarth responded with a proficiently signed E-L-L-A.
Ella was one of two hearing children in a group of five participating in a program sponsored by the Maryland School for the Deaf called "Adventures in ASL! The Sequel." The school, which serves deaf and hearing-impaired children, has a campus in Columbia.
The "Adventures" program, which was held once a week at the Barnes & Noble store, in Ellicott City, is designed for both hearing and deaf children. The free program is aimed at promoting early literacy development and is funded by a grant from the state Department of Education.
The program includes a storyteller who signs a story from a new book each week and does other related activities. There is a translator who speaks for the hearing participants (Theresa Howarth, mother of 3-year-old Ella, translated the April 12 session).
"That's the intent of being in the natural environment," said Deb Marquez, a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf who helps coordinate the ASL event.
She added that the event provides an opportunity for deaf or hard of hearing children to be included in an activity along with hearing children.
The April 12 session spotlighted the book "Feast for 10," by Cathryn Falwell, a story that features rhyming and counting as a family prepares for dinner.
For the children, the hour-long activity is fun and interactive.
Before reading the book, Rollins, also a teacher at the Maryland School for the Deaf, asked the students what they thought the book would be about.
Sarah Harcum, 5, who is deaf, signed that she thought the story might be about the Thanksgiving holiday, judging by the title and cover of the book.
Sarah's mother Alzenia Harcum, of Baltimore City, said that while she feels her daughter enjoys the program (Sarah insisted her mother bring her despite being sick with a cold), she feels that it has helped her, as the parent of a deaf child, a great deal as well.
"It's difficult when you're trying to learn all these techniques and you're a hearing parent," Alzenia said.
The storyteller models different American Sign Language techniques, such as the body languages and facial expressions that go along with some of the signing.
"She's modeling the visual language of ASL as well," Marquez said, adding that the parents learn a lot this way.
After the activity is complete, parents are also given information to do follow-up activities with their children.
The most recent "Adventures" program concluded April 19. It was the second four-week session the school held this year.
Marquez said she hopes the school can renew the grant and hold two more four-week sessions next school year.