ENHANCE LITERACY INSTRUCTION USING SIGNING TIME®

Written for Two Little Hands Productions by Virginia Brown, MA Robin L. Williams, MA signingtime.com | 1 COMPONENTS OF EFFECTIVE LITERACY INSTRUCTION

There are several key components to a strong foundation for literacy. They are phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency.

FOUNDATIONS OF LITERACY IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO Phonics: the association between the printed letter ADDRESS EACH CHILD’S and the sound it makes LEARNING STYLE

There are three main learning styles: Phonemic Awareness: the ability to identify and visual, auditory and manipulate sounds kinesthetic/tactile.

Vocabulary: the words a child understands and Visual Learners - learn best through can use in context images and pictures

Auditory Learners - learn best Comprehension: the ability to understand what is through sound and music heard or read Kinesthetic/Tactile Learners - learn Fluency: the ability to speak, read or write best by moving their whole body accurately and smoothly or hands, or through their sense of touch.

Teachers can choose activities that engage a variety of learning styles to enhance the effectiveness of their literacy instruction.

signingtime.com | 2 ENHANCING LITERACY WITH SIGN

Sign language is an extremely and word associations. child’s literacy education is the valuable tool for hearing chil- amount of explicit vocabulary dren as they learn to read. Many Signing Time Series 1 instruction included within Studies have shown that chil- DVDs have the the program. Every Signing dren who are taught sign alphabet (manual alphabet) at Time product includes several language as a part of their the end. representations of each word. reading instruction score higher These include the signed word, on standardized reading tests.1 written word, spoken word, Studies have also shown that A child watching photographs, illustrations, and babies who learned and used video. The vocabulary is also signs scored an average of 12 a Signing Time reinforced through song on the points higher on IQ tests than DVDs and CDs. their non-signing peers, when DVD enjoys tested after second grade.2 One of the main reasons Sign- the singing and ing Time is effective in support- One of the most basic literacy ing literacy is because it is fun skills is the ability to recognize signing so much for the child. A child watching letters. Children can learn to a Signing Time DVD enjoys the sign the alphabet as they learn that they are singing and signing so much their letters. This adds a kines- that they are unaware that they thetic component that helps unaware that are learning! young children who often learn best through . For they are learning! Through Signing Time, children many children it is easier to as- see the word, hear the word, sociate the visual letter with its say the word, and feel the sign and then its sound, than it The ABC Practice Time DVD word, creating a multi-sensory is to learn the letter and sound explicitly teaches each manual experience for each child! in isolation. alphabet letter with the written letter. The ABC Signs DVD is a While a child is learning to more informal introduction to identify and sign the letter C, the manual alphabet. It teaches he may learn the word cat to each letter in the context of a remember the sound the letter fun song, providing examples C often makes. Eventually he of words that start with each can fingerspell the word cat. letter. For example, the letter This becomes a tool that can C is paired with careful and be used by the child at home, caterpillar. school or on the go. It helps increase memory and retention Perhaps the greatest benefit of the alphabet, letter sounds, of including Signing Time in a

signingtime.com | 3 WHAT IS SIGNING TIME? Signing Time appeared on public television stations from Signing Time is a family of 2006-2009, for which Rachel products (DVDs, Music CDs, received an Emmy® nomina- books, and flashcards) that tion for the category entitled teach “Outstanding Performer in a (ASL) vocabulary. Signing Time Children’s Series.” Coleman products are created for chil- co-created the series with her dren from infancy through age sister, Emilie Brown, who is the 8, but appeal to all ages and mother of two boys, Alex, and abilities. Signing Time DVDs Zachary. (Cousins Alex and feature children and adults who Leah are both featured in Sign- model each sign, original music, ing Time along with Rachel.) real-life scenes, and animated segments. The combination of As the host of Signing Time, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic Rachel teaches each sign and teaching results in an effec- then uses the signs in an origi- tive, multi-sensory approach to nal song, featuring video clips learning. Each DVD in Series 1 of infants, toddlers, young teaches approximately children and parents who sign The key mission 25-30 signs. the targeted words in a real- life context. The added visual of Signing Time At the time of this publication, component of the printed is to make basic there are 34 DVDs available for vocabulary word, along with an purchase. The co-creator and illustration, increases retention sign language host of Signing Time is Rachel and comprehension of the new Coleman, who is a mother to word and its sign. Verbal vo- simple and two girls: Leah, who is deaf, and cabulary often increases as ASL Lucy, who has cerebral palsy vocabulary increases. engaging, and spina bifida. Rachel and her husband Aaron began signing not only for the with Leah when she was diag- nosed as profoundly deaf at 14 child, but for months old. everyone in that Prior to learning that Leah was deaf, Rachel was a singer and child’s life. songwriter. She has personally written all the songs in the Sign- ing Time series and her fascinat- ing life story has been featured in numerous national publica- tions and media programs, including NBC’s TODAY show.

signingtime.com | 4 HOW SIGNING TIME!® CAN HELP?

The key mission of Most adults find Signing Time is to make ba- it daunting sic sign language simple and engaging, not only for the child, to learn another but for everyone in that child’s life. Most adults find it daunt- language, but ing to learn another language, but Signing Time DVDs make Signing Time learning ASL vocabulary easy and fun. DVDs make The Signing Time songs are learning ASL repetitive and simple to learn, giving multiple opportunities vocabulary easy to view and imitate the signs. Some of the more complex and fun. songs include ASL phrases and Through Signing additional signs that make multiple viewings purposeful. Time, children

Signing Time board books and see the word, flash cards provide fun and functional ways for everyone in hear the word, the family to learn and reference the signs being used say the word, and for daily communication. In addition to DVDs and related feel the word, products, a wealth of free information is available at the creating a Signing Time website, Early Literacy Jump Start Bundle www.SigningTime.com, and in multi-sensory www.SigningTime.com/Early-Literacy the parenting forums www.SigningTime.com/forums. experience

Please visit http://www.sign for each child! ingtime.com/baby-learns-to- read/ to see how a one year old learned to read with the help of Signing Time!

signingtime.com | 5 USING SIGN LANGUAGE TO ENHANCE LITERACY: A GUIDE THROUGH THE EARLY YEARS

Infants & Toddlers, ages birth-2 Play ball outside, read books, Elementary School, ages 5-8 Read, read, and read! Sign, and write a story that your child Invite children to retell a story sign, and keep signing! Rep- dictates to you about a bear. using ASL. Encourage your etition is key for infants and Every time you use a “B” word, child to tell about their day at toddlers. They may want to sign the word in ASL and use school using verbal vocabu- read the same story frequently. the letter B to reinforce the be- lary and signs that they know. This is an important part of the ginning sound. When learning to read, have developmental process. Con- children see, hear, say, and sign tinue reading and signing with Preschool Age, ages 3-4 the printed words. The added enthusiasm! Link reading to real life. Help dimension of signing helps to children connect the text they reinforce vocabulary and pro- Sing silly songs and recite nurs- read to real life concepts. For mote retention and comprehen- ery rhymes often. Teach new example, after reading a book sion. When possible, provide a signs each time you sing and about animals, and teaching the concrete object or visual of new sign. This will provide a con- appropriate signs, visit a local words to establish meaning. crete visual for your child. Many zoo or pet store and sign and Using signs can help to create signs are iconic and “look” like say all of the animals you en- strong readers. the concept they represent. counter. Signing while reading or singing increases retention and makes When directly teaching new All Ages those activities engaging, multi- vocabulary, display the written Read aloud daily for 15-20 sensory experiences. word (flashcard), sign the word minutes. Make reading an en- in ASL, verbalize the word, joyable experience for all! Use Practice signing with your child fingerspell it, and then sign the the ASL vocabulary you have using your Signing Time Flash word again. This process is learned through Signing Time Cards. Consider using the a powerful teaching tool that and sign each word you know. flashcards with the U-play Mat. incorporates various learning Encourage your child or This is a fun and interactive styles (visual, auditory, and kin- students to sign along with you. approach that allows the adult esthetic/tactile). and child to have focused inter- action. This method increases receptive and expressive vo- cabulary.

Teach the manual alphabet to your child. Have a letter of the day. For example, when it is “B” day, you can serve bananas for breakfast, bread and berries for lunch, and burritos for dinner.

signingtime.com | 6 HOW TO USE SIGNING TIME TO ENHANCE LITERACY

As a Parent or Caregiver Watch Signing Time DVDs Encourage your child to read together as part of your daily to you. Picture books provide Help children to sign stories routine. Encourage family wonderful opportunities for even before they can write. members and friends to learn your child to “read a book” Children are developmen- and use basic signs with your before they have even learned tally able to use sign language child. their letters. Use ASL signs to before they can produce the show what the characters in the written word, and often be- Make signing a part of every- book are doing. fore they can speak! Encour- day life. For example, when age your child to use the signs your child is hungry, encourage Take advantage of the resourc- and words they know to de- her to sign “HUNGRY” and then es at your local library. Attend scribe their daily routine, how ask, “WHAT do you WANT to activities like library story times they feel, what they learned in EAT?” Encourage children to and help your child check out school that day, or what they sign and verbalize what they books to read. Remember to saw at the park. It has been want. Repeat the word and use signs as you read out loud. said that people only write as sign after they say it. “You well as they can talk. Encour- want to EAT an APPLE?” Turn off the TV and get mov- age your child to be a descrip- ing. TV, videogames, and com- tive and animated storyteller Take a class from a local Sign- puter time should be limited for (both with signs and spoken ing Time Academy Instruc- children of all ages. Go outside words) as early as you can. tor. Classes provide valuable and use the signs you have You will be amazed at what face-to-face interaction with learned while you play games wonderful adventures they can a knowledgeable and trained or go on a walk. Solve a puzzle, tell about, both imaginary and instructor. They also facilitate build a fort, read a book, dance in real life. You can also write wonderful bonding time be- to music, swing and slide at the down the stories they tell and tween parent and child. Many park, or join a playgroup. Use have a precious memory book families enjoy associating with signs as you interact and enjoy for the future. other families who are signing fun activities together. together. Listen to Signing Time CDs and practice the new signs you have Visit www.signingtimeacademy learned. Get up and dance .com to find a class in your around the room and sign, sign, area. sign! Listening to Signing Time CDs in the car, or watching the Model a love of reading. Make DVDs on a road trip are won- sure your child sees you read- derful ways to practice ASL ing and enjoying books often. signs and a fun way to pass the Books are meant to be de- time together. voured, loved, learned from, and shared.

signingtime.com | 7 HOW TO USE SIGNING TIME TO ENHANCE LITERACY

As a Librarian As an Educator will help with this process. Practice and review letters and Add Signing Time DVDs, CDs, Incorporate sign language into often with your and books to your library col- your daily classroom routine. students. When working with lection. Use the Signing Time Class- emerging readers, fingerspell room Edition to teach yourself the words the students are at- Share signs with children and and your students ASL signs. tempting to sound out. En- parents during story time ac- There are original songs, po- courage students to fingerspell tivities. ems, games, and activities to new words, and sign all the help teach and reinforce new words they know. Signing sight Teach new signs before reading signs. The Signing Time Class- words will help solidify memory a book aloud. room Edition features 8 DVDs and meaning. and 16 units of lesson material Invite children and parents to that can be incorporated into Sign and sing! The Signing sign along while listening to the existing curriculums or used Time music CDs have sing- story. as additional lesson plans. This along tracks, and your students comprehensive resource will can perform along with them. Locate Signing Time Academy help guide you through how to The Signing Time songs are instructors in your area, and use ASL to set up transitions for great for learning and reinforc- invite them to present a story routines, assist with classroom ing the signs they know. Utilize time with sign language or management, increase vocabu- the Signing Time board books another signing activity. Find an lary, add a hands-on teaching in your classroom library. Chil- instructor at www.signingtime method, and to enhance liter- dren love exploring sign lan- academy.com. acy. Have a set time each day guage books. They also enjoy to teach a few new words in conversing with each other sign language. This can include using the new signs they have watching the Signing Time DVD learned. The Signing Time flash with your students, following an cards are another powerful tool activity in one of the units, or to teach and review American learning a new song. Take op- Sign Language portunities to review previously vocabulary. learned signs with your class.

Sign the words you know. Every time you say the words, sign, sign, sign! Learn the manual alphabet until you are proficient. Teach the manual alphabet to your students. The Signing Time ABC Signs DVD and Practice Time ABCs DVD

signingtime.com | 8 SAMPLE LESSON PLAN: ZOO ANIMALS

Target Age: MONKEY - move hands below word for one of the signs you This lesson can be adapted to your armpits like a monkey have introduced, you would any age group of students from BOOK - hold your hands to- like them to sign it as you read. toddlers through elementary gether in front of you, then While reading, pause briefly school students. open them like a book after reading the target words LIBRARY - sign the letter L and to give students a chance to Objective: move it around in a circle sign the words you have taught Students will: them. • engage in oral reading Procedure: through sign language 1. Introduce the Topic 4. Show the Video • learn and practice signs for Ask students if they have ever Introduce the video to the zoo animals been to the zoo or if they have students by telling them that seen pictures of zoo animals in they are going to watch a video Materials: a book, magazine, or in a video. that will show them the signs 1. Wild About Books by Judy Have them close their eyes and for many zoo and aquarium Sierra, Knopf, 2004 think about what animals they animals. Tell them you will be 2. Signing Time DVD: The Zoo know live in a zoo. As time al- using the signs in a game after Train lows, ask a few students to tell the video to give them incen- 3. Picture of a Giraffe, Elephant, the group what animals they tive to focus and remember the Panda, Monkey, and Penguin are thinking of. Then tell the signs. students you are going to teach Signs to be taught: them some signs for common 5. Play a Game PANDA - sign the letter P and zoo animals. Introduce each Play the game “Guess What I make a circle around your eye sign by showing a picture and Am!” If you are comfortable showing the panda’s eye mark- demonstrating the sign. Invite singing, you can do it as a song ings or fingerspell P-A-N-D-A students to practice the sign (like Rachel does in the Zoo ELELPHANT - start with your along with you. Train DVD), or play it like a pan- hand up by your nose and tomime game. This game will move it down in front of your 2. Introduce the Book check students’ comprehension body, tracing the shape of an Hold up the book Wild About of the signs they learned. elephant’s trunk Books by Judy Sierra and tell PENGUIN - put your arms students that it is about a zoo 6. Wrap It Up against your sides and point where the animals learn to love If time allows, review all the your fingers out away from books when Molly McGrew, the signs at the end of the class your body like a penguin’s feet. librarian, drives her bookmobile and congratulate students Then move your torso like a into the zoo one day. on their efforts and learning. penguin waddling. Encourage students to teach GIRAFFE - cup your hand 3. Involve Students in Reading the signs to a parent, sibling against your chest palm fac- Demonstrate the signs for or friend before the end of the ing up and move your hand up BOOK and LIBRARY. Tell day. showing a giraffe’s neck students that as they hear the

signingtime.com | 9 SUCCESS STORIES Learning ABCs with Signing There have been many times Time Reinforces Core Curricu- I have been able to address a Viewers of NBC’s Today Show lum. “I have been using Signing problem that has occurred on watched in awe as 17-month- Time in my classroom for the the other side of the classroom old Elizabeth Barrett read to past three years. I have found just by using a sign. I even them. Elizabeth’s parents attri- it to be a great tool specifically use signs to direct students on bute her early reading in part to for classroom management. In what they need to do like “line Signing Time. Elizabeth started education we use many silent up” or “pay attention”. reading shortly after her first cues to guide student behavior. birthday, while most children Sign language helps students I’ve also been able to use Sign- do not learn to read until they to know specifically what I want ing Time effectively to sup- are four to six years old. them to do. port our curriculum. In our first grade class, we use the Signing According to the Today Show, “It has enhanced Time DVD called “ABC Signs” “Katy Barrett and her husband, at the beginning of the year to Michael, are speech patholo- his communication learn the alphabet in sign lan- gists, and when Elizabeth was guage. We continue to use the born they started teaching skills, his verbal signs all year to reinforce the her sign language along with alphabet and their sounds. We spoken language. They read acuity, and have also tied in to the curricu- to her often, and her favorite lum many of the other volumes television program — the only increased his of Signing Time and use them one her parents let her watch — to reinforce the things that we was a PBS show called ‘Signing confidence and are already teaching. Time,’ which teaches kids sign language.” social skills!” Sign language has been a Kei M., Charlamont, MA wonderful tool for some of our Thousands of parents like students with special needs the Barretts are seeing that that struggle with language de- children can accelerate their velopment. Using sign language language and reading develop- brings another dimension to ment through the unique blend what they are being taught and of sign language, written word, boosts their comprehension. song and video modeling used in Signing Time. Besides these teaching ben- efits, students get the added Watch an interview with Katy advantage of learning the and Elizabeth Barrett at www. basics of a second language signingtime.com/baby-learns- (American Sign Language). I to-read/ know it is working because I frequently find my students Early Literacy Jump Start Bundle signing with each other in small www.SigningTime.com/Early-Literacy group settings. They love to go

signingtime.com | 10 home and share the signs they Time – no other product had Connection of the Farmington know with their family, and they the same effect on him. When Valley. Virginia is certified as a always look forward to the time volume 5, the ABC Signs, came Baby Signing Time instructor, when they can watch another out, we discovered an addition- teaching classes at The Little volume of Signing Time.” al benefit of learning ASL. Wil- Green Tambourine in Canton, liam, who has Trisomy 21 (Down CT. Virginia began using Signing Anya G. Syndrome) began spelling and Time with her oldest son three 1 years ago. Kearns, Utah reading at 4 /2. The words were Utah Walk Now for Autism Speaks almost all from Signing Time, First Grade Teacher so it’s an unmistakable connec- Robin L. Williams, MA holds tion. He mastered his ABC’s a Masters Degree in Teaching Fingerspelling helped him very quickly after Signing Time with a Reading Specialization remember. “My 8 year old has volume 5, and we realized that from National University, and been a great reader for many the format of Signing Time was has a Clear Multiple Subject years, but he struggles when it teaching him to read as well. To California Teaching Creden- comes to spelling. We started see Rachel sign and say a word tial. After interpreting in Utah fingerspelling words he had got- as the written word is present- for a year, she taught in public ten wrong to see if it helped. It ed on the screen, has ingrained elementary schools for eight was amazing to watch him come them firmly in William’s mind. It years. She has been using up to the hard word again and has enhanced his communica- American Sign Language for spell it out on his fingers first. tion skills, his verbal acuity, and the past 13 years after studying Having another method to teach increased his confidence and ASL at Brigham Young Univer- the brain really seemed to help social skills.” sity and earning her Bachelors him remember.” of Science in Elementary Edu- Kei M. cation. Robin is a Thinking Maps Melissa M. Charlamont, Massachusetts Trainer of Trainers, and is a UCI Bala Cynwyd, PA Fellow with the Writing Project. Robin is a Master Signing Time My son with Down syndrome Instructor certified through the learned to read with the help ABOUT THE AUTHORS Signing Time Academy. She of Signing Time. “We began currently is a stay-at-home signing with William when Virginia Brown, MA mom with an infant and toddler he was a few months old. He holds a Masters Degree in who love to sign. began signing back to us just Reading and Language Arts before he was a year old, but it and a Remedial Reading Certifi- 1 Daniels, Marilyn, Dancing with Words: never seemed to be something cation from Central Connecticut Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy. he was completely interested State University as well as an Bergin & Garvey, Westport, CT, 2001. in. When he was two, we dis- elementary education certifica- covered Signing Time and his tion from Sweet Briar College. 2 Acredolo, L.P., & Goodwyn, S.W. “The long- interest in using ASL skyrocket- Virginia taught Pre-K through term impact of symbolic gesturing during ed. He could communicate with grade 1 for eight years. She cur- infancy on IQ at age 8.” Paper presented at us! Suddenly he wanted to learn rently serves on the board and the meetings of the International Society more, but only from Signing was a past director for Mothers’ for Infant Studies, Brighton, UK. July 2000

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