Use ASL in the Classroom
Jenning Prevatte, M. Ed.
As an Assoc Professor in education, I am privileged to work with wonderful individuals working in early childhood. During class sessions, we have fantastic discussions about child development, developmentally appropriate practices, and how to help children with challenging behaviors. My students are hungry for information and knowledge that will enhance their abilities and skills as teachers. One strategy that I have found to work repeatedly again is the use of American Sign Language (ASL) in the Classroom for a variety of reasons. “The research has demonstrated that there are many benefits to utilizing sign language with hearing children. Some of the benefits noted in the research are developing larger vocabularies, possessing greater self-esteem, and increasing phonemic awareness and spelling skills. The research has deemed that ASL is a useful intervention for early education curriculum and is not only for deaf children.” (Prevatte & Matthews, 2013)
Some additional benefits are:
Using signs helps to lower noise levels in classrooms and provides alternate means of communication. I have used it from early childhood to higher education.
It reduces frustrated screaming and crying in young children by providing an effective communication tool to get their needs met.
Signing minimizes stress and frustration for early childhood educators who are responsible for meeting the needs of many children at once. If you know WHAT they want, you can be more efficient in supporting them.
Signing reduces the “guesswork” in meeting each child’s basic needs, resulting in more available time for positive, intentional interactions. I have found this to be a great tool when working with multilingual learners.
Signing significantly reduces problems with biting in toddler rooms. Take away the frustration and biting go with it.
The use of American Sign Language gives children with exceptionalities the opportunity to interact in a meaningful way with other children. The general acceptance of children with exceptionalities is especially enhanced when using sign language. It creates a common language for children to engage with each other.
Signing supports diversity and inclusion by providing alternative means of expression.
Play
“The research has demonstrated that there are many benefits to utilizing sign language with hearing children. Some of the benefits noted in the research are developing larger vocabularies, possessing greater self-esteem, and increasing phonemic awareness and spelling skills. The research has deemed that ASL is a useful intervention for early education curriculum and is not only for deaf children.” (Prevatte & Matthews, 2013)
I value this teaching strategy in the classroom so much that I co-wrote a book on ways to use it in an early childhood classroom. Some of my favorite ways to use American Sign Language (ASL) with children are:
1. Incorporate ASL into classroom management by adding signs for the following words:
Please
Thank you
Sit
Lineup
Stop
Quiet
2. Incorporate ASL into themes you teach, such as:
Animals (Zoo, Forest, Farm, etc.)
Nature
Manners
Friendship
Community Helpers
Foods
Colors
3. Incorporate ASL into playground/outside exploration time
Take a nature walk and sign the things you see, such as a tree, rock, flower, etc. Then take your children inside and have them create a memory by incorporating an art project.
4. Incorporate ASL into music and nursery rhymes, and even stories:
ABC song – fingerspell the letters
Little Boy Blue – sign blue
Any song from Dr. Jean is wonderful to sign to
Highlight repetitive vocabulary in stories
5. Incorporate ASL into your classroom daily routines, such as:
Lunchtime
Naptime
Hello & goodbye times
Story Time – add signs to your favorite stories that emphasize the main idea of the story or help the children understand and remember the story.
The four most important things to remember when adding ASL into your classroom is:
Be Consistent
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Model, Model, Model – even use ASL with other adults, show the children what you want from them and that this is a natural way of communicating
Above all, have FUN!