American Sign Language (ASL) in the Child Care Setting

Melissa WardellCertified Instructor

My Smart Hands – Des Moines

Who are YOU?Share with us: Your name Where you work How long you’ve been in child care Whether or not you’ve used ASL with

children, either personally or professionally What signs you’ve used and in what ways

Why use ASL with hearing children? Language comprehension

long before verbal ability Intellectual stimulation Natural ability Preference for languages over pantomime It’s FUN!

Break into groups of 3 or 4. Briefly introduce yourself

and where you work. Work together to list the possible benefits of

using ASL with hearing children. These can be things you’ve personally experienced/witnessed or things you’ve heard about.

Pick one person to be a spokesperson to share your list with the large group.

Working Together

Early communication Fewer frustrations/tantrums Larger vocabularies Early literacy skills Higher IQ scores Brain health

There are LOTS of benefits!

Break into groups again. Work together to list any negative things you

may have heard about using ASL with children. Pick one person to be a spokesperson to share

your list with the large group.

Working Together

Common Myths… Causes speech delay Child is too old or

already talking Puts too much pressure

on the children It’s too hard It’s not a good use of

my time

Supporting Research Signing Time Research Summary

http://www.signingtime.com/resources/sign-language-research/

Sign 2 Me Researchhttp://sign2me.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=33

Baby Signs Researchhttps://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=64

Baby Hands Productions Researchhttp://www.mybabycantalk.com/content/information/research/babyresearch.aspx

Autism Research Institutehttp://legacy.autism.com/families/therapy/sign.htm

Supporting Articles How the brain develops

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/youth/jan-june97/brain_5-29.html

People who learn sign language from birth use a brain region that those who learn to sign later in life can't access.http://web.archive.org/web/20020126214900/health.yahoo.com/search/healthnews?lb=s&p=id:7021

A baby's brain can process language as early as 3 months of age, a French study suggests.http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=1&id=510662

Supporting Articles A growing number of parents and children have begun

using American Sign Language as part of their daily communication. Some daycare centers even incorporate sign language into their daily curriculums.http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/3324/29698.html#2

Teaching sign language to young students who can hear boosts their ability to read.http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsDetail&ap=1&id=109892&pageNum=1

Signing with Infants:Goal = Communicate How to begin

Choose 2-5 signs Be consistent!

Common first signs for communication Milk Eat More Mommy Daddy

Songs, books, and games

Milk Eat More

Mommy Daddy

Signing with Toddlers:Goal = Cultivate How to begin

Choose a weekly theme or group of signs Use signs “in the moment”

Signs for cultivating new concepts Colors Emotions Opposites Shapes

Songs, books, and games

Happy Grumpy Cry

Nice Hurt Share

Signing with Preschoolers:Goal = Comprehend How to begin

Teach the ASL alphabet; begin fingerspelling Use signs to reinforce key concepts in each lesson

Signs for reading comprehension and literacy Alphabet

Letter recognition Sound recognition

Numbers Matching Rhyming

Songs, books, and games

Signing with Children with Special Needs:Goal = Communicate, Cultivate, Comprehend Signing benefits children with:

Deafness/Hearing Loss Speech Apraxia and Delays Downs Syndrome Dyslexia Autism Cerebral Palsy Almost any special need!

Signs for communication, cultivating new concepts, and reading comprehension and literacy

Songs, books, and games

Resources My Smart Hands

www.MySmartHands.com My Smart Hands – Des Moines

www.MySmartHandsDesMoines.com Signing Savvy

www.SigningSavvy.com ASLpro

www.ASLpro.com HandSpeak

www.HandSpeak.com LifePrint

www.LifePrint.com

Books The Baby Signing Bible: Baby Sign Language Made Easy

by Laura Berg Babies Can Talk: A Practical Guide for Early Communication

Through Signing and Fun Activitiesby Marilyn Daniels, PhD

Toddlers At Play: A Complete Guide to Enhance Early Learning Through Signing and Fun Activitiesby Marilyn Daniels, PhD

Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacyby Marilyn Daniels, PhD

Simple Signing with Young Children: A Guide for Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Teachersby Carol Garboden Murray

Sign to Learn: American Sign Language in the Early Childhood Classroomby Kirsten Dennis & Tressa Azpiri

Questions? Comments?

Thank you!