Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/american-sign-language-a-new-strategy-to-integrate-into-your-current-teaching-practices/5017658/
During an outing with my 18-month-old son to a local park, he appeared frustrated when he couldn’t climb a certain play structure. I went over to offer assistance. I asked him, “Do you need help?” While I asked him this question I also signed the word help in sign language. He immediately responded and signed help back. For the rest of the day he used his new sign �" help �" whenever he needed assistance climbing a play structure. It was incredible to see him respond so quickly and to use his new sign to solve his challenges.Getting started
An educator’s first step to integrating ASL into their teaching practices is to introduce three to five words in ASL into their daily routines and activities. Children as early as four to six months can be introduced to signs. Signs that are easy to execute and are simple and meaningful are good to start with. Some suggestions are:
• milk
• eat
• more
• all done or finished
• stop
Other suggested ways to add ASL into your curriculum include:
• Labeling objects and activities in the classroom.
• Using ASL finger spelling to teach the alphabet and children’s names.
Teaching ASL signs to support vocabulary during story time ...