I am planning on teaching deaf children, so when reading the articles, I did so through the eyes of a deaf educator. Deaf children generally have a more difficult time learning how to read because English is not their first language. There were several techniques in the two articles that stood out to me. The IRA NAEYC position aper stated that one of the goals during the preschool years is to enhance exposure to and concepts about print. For all children this is important. It is especially important for deaf children. By using Big Books, the teacher can sign the story to the children and the children can see that certain signs are associated with certain words on the page. The Letter of the Week article provided examples that allow the child to connect familiar concepts to literacy. Donna Bell used the alphabet chart with children's names and the environmental print wall. Deaf children can use familiar visual cues and associate them to literacy.
I am a special education major so I too look through a different lens when reading these articles. I really think that sign language is so amazing and would love to learn more about it. Learning everything visually would be a big challenge for me!!! I like how you included some suggestions for educating a deaf child.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting that you recommended some ways on how to educate a child who is deaf. I would have never looked at it through that spectrum. I think it would be very important to give children who are deaf more exposure to print and things of that nature since English is their second language.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on this one. It is so important to create words and language anywhere that you can in your classroom maybe with word walls or labeling objects around the room. They need to be able to use the language in order to enhance their experience at school. I also think that it is important for the parents to implement these techniques at home as well. Language is so important for these children and the earlier they are exposed to it the better.
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