Reading Together Hearing parents CAN read to Deaf children! Rebecca Reed
Why read to your child? Significantly increases your child's potential for academic success as well as lifelong success in general Improves language development, attention span, and imagination Fosters meaningful oneon-one communication. Reading to your child is FUN!
How will my child learn English if I tell stories in ASL? Over time, children realize that the word order of the two languages is different, but the same ideas can be conveyed in both. (Schleper, 1998) By referring back to ASL, the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of English gradually acquired. (Schleper, 1998) Children find stories told in ASL to be more interesting and engaging. (Shick & Gale, 1995)
What if I don t know the sign? Look it up! Act it out! Ask your child!
Read It Again and Again By David R. Schleper, Literacy Coordinator at Gallaudet University s Pre-College National Mission Program 6 Steps for Shared Reading Characteristics of popular books for children Ways to promote English literacy through ASL
1. Pick a book you like.
#2. Read the book. Title Author Print & Signs Visible
#3. Read the book a second time. Encourage participation in predictable parts!
#4. Extend the story. Interesting words & illustrations Content Main idea Story sequence
#5. Continue to share the story. Use props Role play Encourage writing
#6. Independent Reading Let your child read to you!
Which books should I get?
Selecting predictable books: 1. Repetition 2. Cumulative sequence 3. Known sequence 4. Rhythm & Rhyme
Repetition Same words, phrases, sentences repeated Examples: I Went Walking by Sue Williams Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
Cumulative Sequence Building on a pattern Examples: I Know an Old Lady by Linda McClelland The Napping House by Audrey & Don Wood Today is Monday by Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Known Sequence Learning through familiar themes (days of the week, months of the year, letters) Examples: Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sednak The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Rhythm and Rhyme Using recurring beats and hand-shapes to form a sign concept Examples: Abiyoyo by Peter Seeger The Dancing Fly by Joy Cowley
Reading is NOT limited to books! Grocery lists Closed captioning on televisions Magazines Billboards To-do list Newspapers Internet Catalogs Recipe Postcards Menus Signs
Websites 15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children from the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/clerc_center/information_and_resources/inf o_to_go/language_and_literacy/literacy_at_the_clerc_center/welcome_t o_shared_reading_project/15_principles_for_reading_to_deaf_children.ht ml Project N.A.D.I.N.E. http://www.projectnadine.org/aslstory.htm Non-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and collaborative resources for parents with deaf children, fostering leadership and advocacy within the Deaf community and educating the general public about the beauty and value of Deaf culture and its natural language, American Sign Language (ASL). Books shown with stories Different camera angles show different characters Updated monthly No captions, no audio Formal videos Deaf-related American Sign Language vlogs http://www.aslvlog.net/ Provides story translations for most No captions, no audio Informal videos
Websites ASL Pro www.aslpro.com Free comprehensive online ASL dictionary Nursery Rhymes http://sign2me.com/shop/page5.html For purchase ASL vocabulary and English text provided Includes suggested activities Can purchase entire set