I have been using American Sign Language for 14 years, and have worked as an ASL/English interpreter in both secondary and post secondary settings for the past 9 years. I have participated in literacy workshops and have experience working in a childcare setting. I have also studied ASL formally as a part of my
Linguistics degree at the University of Manitoba.
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I am certified with the Sign2Me Presenters' Network, and I structure the classes following Joseph Garcia's SIGN with your BABYTM program.
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Both my children are hearing.
My daughter is now 6 and loves grade 1. At age 2, she had well over 200 signs. When she started talking, her first words were the signs she had already learned, and she continued learning new signs for words she was still unable to pronounce. So with 2 languages, the terrible two's were not so terrible. Now she's more into reading, writing, drawing and friends, but still uses signs for fun: songs, stories and to her little brother.
My son is now 3. When he was under a year, he would put signs together to make small sentences. At only a year old, he would use his signs to "read" me stories. It ws very empowering for him, and a great jump-start to literacy. The emphasis in those little fingers and on his chubby little face...I loved every minute. Now that he's 3, his signs help with number & letter recognition, and in songs and rhymes. He's doing some basic reading now, and fingerspelling has helped him visualise that letters combine to make words. The benefits don't end after they start talking!
If you wish to explore this wonderful way to communicate with your baby, I will share my experiences, interpret the signs we use throughout the course, and provide tips to help you along the way. |
