Deaf History Month and ASL • Keep ’Em Reading • by | Kathy Macmillan
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Deaf History Month and ASL • Keep ’em Reading • by | Kathy MacMillan nterest in American Sign Language (ASL) has increased exponentially in recent years—the Modern Language Association reports that enrollment in ASL classes increased 433% between 1998 and 2002. Yet the average hearing person’s knowl- Iedge about ASL and Deaf Culture is sketchy at best. Use the resources below to acquaint your students with the proud history of this language and the people who use it. Fast Facts about ASL and from that island, which for two hundred years had a sizable deaf population. Deafness • Many deaf people do not like the term “hearing impaired.” Most prefer “deaf,” as this term does • The term “deaf” refers to being unable to not come from outside the community, and does hear. Uppercase “D”—“Deaf” refers to Deaf not imply brokenness of any kind. Culture, the collection of attitudes, experi- ences and views that make up the core of the deaf community. Members of Deaf Culture Resources are proud users of ASL, and see their deaf- Deaf Culture and Experience ness as a difference, not a disability. • Dad and Me in the Morning by Patricia Lakin, • American Sign Language is a language with illustrated by Robert Steele. Albert Whitman & Co., its own grammar, structure, vocabulary and 1994. 1–4. A deaf boy and his hearing father spend syntax. It is primarily used in the United a morning together watching the sunrise. Though States and Canada. Signed English, Manually Lakin slips in several details of the deaf experience, Coded English and other sign systems have such as a flashing alarm clock, hearing aids, signing been developed over the years to help deaf and speech-reading, this story shows how much students learn English, but these are not lan- deaf and hearing children have in common. A great guages—they are merely codes that use some lead-in to discussions of our overall similarities. ASL signs to represent English. • Let’s Learn About Deafness: Classroom Activities • Ninety percent of deaf children are born to by Rachel Stone-Harris. Gallaudet University, 1988. hearing parents, which means that they often Includes activities and worksheets appropriate for do not have early exposure to language. the primary grades, focusing on deaf culture, termi- • The first school for the deaf in the United nology, basic sign language and famous deaf people. States opened in Hartford, Connecticut, • Moses Goes to a Concert (1998); Moses Goes to in 1817. This marked the first time that School (2000); Moses Goes to the Circus (2003) deaf people from all over the country came by Isaac Millman. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. K–4. together, and the beginnings of These excellent picture books illuminate the world ASL. ASL is a blend of French of Moses, a deaf child, while incorporating basic Sign Language (brought to the sign language instruction into the text and bright, school by teacher Laurent Clerc, child-friendly illustrations. Use Moses Goes to a a deaf Frenchman), home signs Concert to challenge your students’ notions of what brought by each student and deaf people can and cannot do. Explore the similar- Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, ities and differences between deaf and hearing stu- brought by the many students March 2006 Web Resources • LibrarySparks • 1 Keep ’em Reading dents in Moses Goes to School, an excellent • The Printer by Myron Uhlberg, illustrated by snapshot of a school for the deaf. Learn Henri Sorenson. Peachtree Publishers, 2003. animal signs with Moses Goes to the Circus. 1–4 This story, narrated by the hearing son of a • Secret Signs: Along the Underground deaf father, focuses on the father’s experiences at Railroad by Anita Riggio. Boyds Mill Press, a 1940s printing plant, where the hearing print- 1997. 2–5. Luke, a young deaf boy, must over- ers do not communicate with him at all. The come his fear when he becomes the only one deaf man sees a fire and springs into action, who can pass on information about a safe house catching the attention of the other deaf printers to slaves along the Underground Railroad. and signing his message across the noisy press- Riggio’s suspenseful story brings a new angle to room. Thanks to the quick action of the deaf a part of history students already know, and she printers, every man in the building escapes. draws effective, though not overdone, parallels Later, the hearing printers gather around the between the “secret signs” of the slaves and the boy’s father and tell him “Thank you” in his sign language of the deaf, another oppressed own language. Uhlberg, himself the son of a community. deaf printer, explains the historical background of this fictional story in an informative Author’s Deaf History Note. Directions for making a newspaper print- • Apple Is My Sign by Mary Riskind. Houghton er’s hat appear on the final page of the book. Mifflin, 1981. 4–6. This novel follows ten-year- • History through Deaf Eyes edited by Cathryn old Harry as he returns to his parents’ apple Carroll. Gallaudet University, Clerc Center, farm after his first term at a school for the 2002. 2–6. Three young deaf students visit deaf in Philadelphia at the turn of the century. a deaf history exhibit, and learn about sign Riskind’s dialogue reflects ASL syntax, and the language and deaf history as the statues come use of fingerspelling in the plot offers an excel- to life. From the prince of Lydia in the sixth lent chance for students to practice their own century B.C.E. to more recent seminal figures fingerspelling during a readaloud. such as Laurent Clerc and Helen Keller, this • Deaf Heritage: A Student Text and Workbook book presents the highlights of deaf history in by Felicia Mode Alexander and Jack R. Gannon. an accessible way, without ever shying away NAD, 1981. 2–8. This classic resource offers from its uglier parts. Activities and resources information on important deaf figures from the accompanying the exhibit are available at depts. 1800s to 1980, and includes brief readings for gallaudet.edu/deafeyes/index.html. students on deaf schools, ASL, the oral move- • Movers and Shakers: Deaf People Who ment, deaf artists, sports, theater and writings Changed the World by Cathryn Carroll and by deaf authors. Time lines help keep dates Susan M. Mather. DawnSignPress, 1997. 3–6. straight, and comprehension questions and fol- These twenty-six brief stories tell of deaf people low-up activities appear at the end of the book. who overcome the prevailing attitudes of their • Discoveries: Significant Contributions of time to show that, as Dr. I. King Jordan famous- Deaf Women and Men by Anita P. Davis and ly said, “deaf people can do anything hearing Katharine S. Preston. Butte, 1996. Each of these people can—except hear.” twenty-two biographical entries on deaf people • Victory Week by Walter P. Kelley, illustrated by from all walks of life includes a short sketch, Tony L. McGregor. Deaf Life Press, 1998. 1–5. related activities incorporating a variety of skills, In language accessible to younger children, a vocabulary pages and enrichment pages. This child narrator tells the story of the 1988 “Deaf book provides information about both well- President Now” movement at Gallaudet known and lesser-known figures, such as edu- University, which result- cator Laurent Clerc, actress Linda Bove, sculp- ed in the appointment tor Douglas Tilden and mountain climber Heidi of Gallaudet’s first deaf Zimmer. president. 2 • LibrarySparks • March 2006 Web Resources Keep ’em Reading • The Week the World • Once Upon a Time: Children’s Classics Heard Gallaudet Retold in American Sign Language series by Jack R. Gannon. signed by Ben Bahan and Nathie Marbury. Gallaudet University Press, Dawn Sign Press, 1991. K–5. This excellent 1989. 2–6. Though the epilogue is out- series of six videotapes features classic fairy tales dated, this triumphant book captures the spirit, such as “Rapunzel” presented by native signers, heart and courage of the eight-day student with English voiceover. Each video is accompa- protest of 1988 that led to the appointment of nied by a book containing the English text of the first deaf president of Gallaudet University. the stories, as well as line drawings of several of Filled with quotes, photos and contemporary the most important signs. Teach the signs before newspaper excerpts, this is an excellent way to viewing, and challenge students to raise their introduce an important part of deaf history to hands each time they recognize one of them students. being used. American Sign Language • Signing for Kids by Mickey Flodin. Putnam, 1991. 1–5. This book presents ASL vocabulary • Come Sign with Us: Sign Language Activities through line drawings and descriptions of sign for Children by Jan C. Hafer and Robert M. formation. The introduction contains useful Wilson. Gallaudet University, 2002. This easy- information about conventions of ASL and deaf to-follow book presents twenty lessons on basic etiquette. Most chapters end with an activity sign language, broken down into easy chunks suitable for the classroom, such as a worksheet such as “Asking Questions” and “Saying Hello,” or instructions for signing a song. and accompanied by clear line drawings of the signs discussed. • You Can Learn American Sign Language by Jackie Kramer and Tali Ovadia. Troll • The Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin. Communications, 1999. K–5. A great source of Dial, 1991. K–3. This lovely wordless picture ASL vocabulary, with over three hundred signs book presents the manual alphabet in Rankin’s arranged by theme in a high-interest graphic soft colored-pencil drawings. Each manual letter style incorporating color photos of real kids and is depicted alongside a creative representation snappy comic illustrations.