1. American Sign Language (ASL) in the Child Care Setting Melissa Wardell Certified Instructor My Smart Hands – Des Moines

3. Who are YOU? Share with us: Your name Where you work How long you’ve been in child care Whether or not you’ve used ASL with children, either personally or professionally What signs you’ve used and in what ways

4. Why use ASL with hearing children? Language comprehension long before verbal ability Intellectual stimulation Natural ability Preference for languages over pantomime It’s FUN!

5. Break into groups of 3 or 4. Briefly introduce yourself and where you work. Work together to list the possible benefits of using ASL with hearing children. These can be things you’ve personally experienced/witnessed or things you’ve heard about. Pick one person to be a spokesperson to share your list with the large group. Working Together

6. Early communication Fewer frustrations/tantrums Larger vocabularies Early literacy skills Higher IQ scores Brain health There are LOTS of benefits!

7. Break into groups again. Work together to list any negative things you may have heard about using ASL with children. Pick one person to be a spokesperson to share your list with the large group. Working Together

8. Common Myths… Causes speech delay Child is too old or already talking Puts too much pressure on the children It’s too hard It’s not a good use of my time

9. Supporting Research Signing Time Research Summary http://www.signingtime.com/resources/sign-language- research/ http://www.signingtime.com/resources/sign-language- research/ Sign 2 Me Research http://sign2me.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie w&id=17&Itemid=33 http://sign2me.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie w&id=17&Itemid=33 Baby Signs Research https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=64 https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=64 Baby Hands Productions Research http://www.mybabycantalk.com/content/information/research/ babyresearch.aspx http://www.mybabycantalk.com/content/information/research/ babyresearch.aspx Autism Research Institute http://legacy.autism.com/families/therapy/sign.htm http://legacy.autism.com/families/therapy/sign.htm

10. Supporting Articles How the brain develops http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/youth/jan- june97/brain_5-29.html http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/youth/jan- june97/brain_5-29.html People who learn sign language from birth use a brain region that those who learn to sign later in life can't access. http://web.archive.org/web/20020126214900/health.yaho o.com/search/healthnews?lb=s&p=id:7021 http://web.archive.org/web/20020126214900/health.yaho o.com/search/healthnews?lb=s&p=id:7021 A baby's brain can process language as early as 3 months of age, a French study suggests. http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsde tail&ap=1&id=510662 http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsde tail&ap=1&id=510662

11. Supporting Articles A growing number of parents and children have begun using American Sign Language as part of their daily communication. Some daycare centers even incorporate sign language into their daily curriculums. http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/3324/29 698.html#2 http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/3324/29 698.html#2 Teaching sign language to young students who can hear boosts their ability to read. http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsDe tail&ap=1&id=109892&pageNum=1 http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?page=newsDe tail&ap=1&id=109892&pageNum=1

12. Signing with Infants: Goal = Communicate How to begin  Choose 2-5 signs  Be consistent! Common first signs for communication  Milk  Eat  More  Mommy  Daddy Songs, books, and games

13. Milk Eat MoreMommy Daddy

14. Signing with Toddlers: Goal = Cultivate How to begin  Choose a weekly theme or group of signs  Use signs “in the moment” Signs for cultivating new concepts  Colors  Emotions  Opposites  Shapes Songs, books, and games

15. Happy Grumpy Cry NiceHurt Share

16. Signing with Preschoolers: Goal = Comprehend How to begin  Teach the ASL alphabet; begin fingerspelling  Use signs to reinforce key concepts in each lesson Signs for reading comprehension and literacy  Alphabet Letter recognition Sound recognition  Numbers  Matching  Rhyming Songs, books, and games

18. Signing with Children with Special Needs: Goal = Communicate, Cultivate, Comprehend Signing benefits children with:  Deafness/Hearing Loss  Speech Apraxia and Delays  Downs Syndrome  Dyslexia  Autism  Cerebral Palsy  Almost any special need! Signs for communication, cultivating new concepts, and reading comprehension and literacy Songs, books, and games

19. Resources My Smart Hands  www.MySmartHands.com My Smart Hands – Des Moines  www.MySmartHandsDesMoines.com Signing Savvy  www.SigningSavvy.com ASLpro  www.ASLpro.com HandSpeak  www.HandSpeak.com LifePrint  www.LifePrint.com

20. Books The Baby Signing Bible: Baby Sign Language Made Easy by Laura Berg Babies Can Talk: A Practical Guide for Early Communication Through Signing and Fun Activities by Marilyn Daniels, PhD Toddlers At Play: A Complete Guide to Enhance Early Learning Through Signing and Fun Activities by Marilyn Daniels, PhD Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy by Marilyn Daniels, PhD Simple Signing with Young Children: A Guide for Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Teachers by Carol Garboden Murray Sign to Learn: American Sign Language in the Early Childhood Classroom by Kirsten Dennis & Tressa Azpiri

21. Questions? Comments?

22. Thank you!