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 LANGUAGE 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 sign language 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 movement. 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 American Sign Language “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.