Sign LANGUAGE

What is ASL?

• American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language. With signing, the brain processes linguistic information through the eyes. The shape, placement, and movement of the hands, as well as facial expressions and body movements, all play important parts in conveying information.

how can teachers use sign language?

• Manage students behaviour
• Keep students actively engaged
• Assist students in literacy development of phonics, reading and spelling
• Assist students in speech and language development
• Promote positive peer to peer communication and interactions

Benefits of Asl

Teachers can...

• -juggle more tasks during teaching
• -Use silent communication, ASL is not distractive or disruptive
• -Teach inclusivity through ASL
• -Assist students in speech and language development
• -Create classroom bonding

Benefits for students

• Social diversity, inclusion, language skills Build connections, comprehension, and communication Ability to read nonverbal cues is a necessary life skill within society Communication does not only lie in spoken words Signing creates a cooperative environment, allows for quick assessment, and is considerate to different learners and abilities

"So many kids are so visual that words just wash over them. A lot of times the more words you use, the less effective you are."

asl for you!

"May I go to the bath Room?"

Use whole body listen-ing

"I have a quest-ion"

"I have an answ-er"

Other ideas:

• -Teach "a, b and c" to check understanding or to perform quick assessments
• -Have students interact with each other by saying "hello" or "goodbye", or "please" and "thank you" in asl
• -Teach students the alphabet and practice spelling words in Asl

References

• https://ed.psu.edu/pds/teacher-inquiry/2008/lackc.pdf
• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR200910150...
• https://www.handspeak.com/learn/index.php?id=12
• https://www.schoolhealth.com/benefits-of-using-sign-language-in-your-classr...