Fingerspelling fingerspelling Maria Frey Griffin maria frey griffin One More Path to the Brain One More path to the brain

What is fingerspelling? What is fingerspelling ? Fingerspelling is the use of hand positions to represent letters of the alphabet C-A-T C A T

Does Fingerspelling enhance early literacy in hearing students? According to Research Fingerspelling…  Offers another path to memory  Improves attention  Provides deeper meaning through active participation of students  Cements knowledge  Helps hearing students who have difficulty learning through auditory and visual approaches  Helps learning words and letters through kinesthetic cues  Is a high interest, motivational activity yes

How do teachers use fingerspelling to enhance early literacy?  Incorporating fingerspelling into regular daily lessons such as sight word review  Focuses their attention on the teacher while keeping them active and participating  Students fingerspell answers silently in whole class assessments  Benefits all levels of learners  Assists in ESL learners to help distinguish letter sounds  Benefits students who have difficulty in auditory processing  Used as a supplement to instruction  Fingerspelling is inexpensive, efficient and easy to implement

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Cedrum cedrum

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References references Cooper, B.(2002) The use of sign language to teach reading to Kindergartners: The Reading Teacher; October 2002;56,2. Edmunds, M.& Krupiski, D. (2004) Using sign language and fingerspelling to facilitate early literacy: PBS Teachers retrieved on April 9, 2008 from Good, L.A., Feekes, J. & Shawd, B. (1993) Let your fingers do the talking; hands on language learning through signing: Childhood Education; Winter 1993, 70,2. Vicar, B.(2006) ASL University Online accessed April 27, (Fingerspelling Resources including downloadable font, printable fingerspelling charts and a fingerspelling practice tool available at )