Presented by:

Signing Time! Brain Growth and Language Bridge Kyle Stielow Master Signing Time Instructor – International Associate Director for the Midwest Region

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

About the presenter I have taught preschool in Summit County and Denver and have signed with the children on my classes for over 10 years. I was first introduced to sign language as a young child. My mother was a special education teacher who used signing with her students and me. Fast forward several Helen Keller book reports later and I had learned and taught my friends the manual alphabet well enough that we could converse during class without needing to pass notes. When I started teaching preschool I quickly learned that a little signing could have a real impact. I was introduced to Signing Time at a teaching conference. In the seminar we learned how to sign 5 Little Monkeys jumping on the Bed using American Sign Language (ASL) and signing with young children was clarified. I purchased the first 3 Signing Time DVDs before the end of the conference. I did not know what a rewarding adventure I was embarking on. I have been using Signing Time ever since. Signing Time was the only DVDs the kids in my 2 year old classroom would pay attention to during their once a month video time. My assistants would often try and sway the kids to watch holiday cartoons or other videos. The kids would always ask for "Alex and Leah". The benefits of signing were validated with me when the children in my classroom moved up to the next level. The teacher would come to my room to observe and ask why little Johnny or Suzy never seemed to throw a tantrum for me but all they seemed to do in her room was scream. After mentoring, this teacher learned some basic signs and even watched a Signing Time DVD. The screaming stopped. She had finally learned to communicate with her students on their level. I believe that all children learn differently and ASL is one of the tools to help every child become extraordinary. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Signing 101 •

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What is Sign Language and finger spelling –

An individual sign(gesture)is a unit of the Language known as ASL

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An individual word is a unit of the Language known as English

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Just like any foreign Language ASL has it’s own Grammar Syntax, and Morphology.

3 Types of Sign Language –

ASL – American Sign Language

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SEE – Signed exact English

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Pidgin ASL – ASL signs used in English order.

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ASL is a receptive and expressive – Use you entire body

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Right hand or left hand?

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One hand or Two hands? –

No change Cat Happy Laugh Cry

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Change –Play And Yellow

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ASL has sign variations just the same as spoken English has accents.

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How to teach a sign

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Start with 3-5 Signs

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Use Signs Frequently and Consistently •

Sing and sign

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Read and Sign

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Signing Time DVD’s and Flashcards

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Always sign and speak at the same time.

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Be patient

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Look for signs

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Add signs

When you are introducing signs. Think about your back drop. –

Can the children see your hands?

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Are you wearing a distracting pattern?

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Is there a bright light behind you?

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Quick Tips •

It is never too late to start signing

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Sign at every opportunity. The more you sign the sooner you will receive signs back.

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HAVE FUN!!!!!

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Do not require signing.

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Sign Language does not have to be a separate lesson. Pick 1 or 2 words and use them until you are comfortable. Then add more. Use your entire body and facial expressions.

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Where does ASL Fit? •

Sign Language targets several learning styles –

Verbal Linguistic learner – These learners love the process of learning another language

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Kinesthetic Learner – Motivated by moving

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Interpersonal Learner – Loves group activities

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Sign Language creates pathways in the brain, the more pathways the stronger the memory

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Multiple Modalities strengthens recall and enhances development of oral language for reading comprehension

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ASL teaches children through multiple modalities –

Teacher – Say/Sign directions through Auditory/Visual means = 2 repetitions

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Student – say/sign imprinting through auditory/kinesthetic means = 2 repetitions

Classroom Management •

Signing can reduces the entire class having to go potty or needing a drink. If the child signs Potty /thirsty, the only people who know what is going on are the people looking directly at that child.

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Students can be reminded to correct their behavior silently. –

Quieter classroom

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Do not bring attention to children who are challenged by classroom etiquette.

Children will ADD or even children who have trouble focusing can often be pulled into a lesson because of the visual and kinesthetic aspects of sign language

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Positive Reinforcement can be taken to a whole new level. –

Remember to use facial expression, body language and the sign.

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You can “catch” a child doing something right even if you are across the room or occupied.

Please, Help & Sorry – These are great first words!

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Classroom Management Signs •

Please – Circle you flat hand near your heart

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Thank you – Move your flat hand outward and away from your chin

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Sorry – Circle you first near your heart

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Help – Make a fist with the thumb sticking out and help it up with your flat hand.

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All done – Twist your hands back and forth a few times like you’re brushing everything away. Hurt – Push your pointer fingers together over the top of your owie.

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More – Tap your closed fingertips together a few times.

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Eat - Tape your fingertips to your mouth a few times, just like you’re going to eat

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something. • •

Potty/Toilet – Tuck your Thumb under your pointer (Letter t) and shake it. Clean/Wipe – Slide one palm over the other like you’re wiping something clean.

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Flush – Pretend to flush the toilet.

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Wash Hands – wring you hands over each other like you’re washing your hands

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Language Benefits What’s happening in the brain? Sign Language is good for a language foundation, cognitive development and brain

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development. The brain….

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Left Hemisphere is the language center. –

Each new language is stored in it’s own “Database” location »

English and the ABC’s are stored in Database A while ASL and the manual Alphabet are sorted in Database B, Database C may store the few Spanish words from Dora or Sesame Street

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Needs Language to develop and grow

Right Hemisphere is the Visual Center –

This is where Visual cues are processed »

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Facial expression, ASL, Body Language etc…..

Needs Visual Stimulation to develop and grow

What does this mean?

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ASL is a visual language so growth happens in both Hemispheres

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Speaking and signing causes crossing of the brain. Creating synapse, brain connections

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You have 2 paces to look for information If it can’t be found, accessed, or understood from the English database maybe it is in the ASL database.

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ASL is creates and active learning environment. The increased eye movement causes increased brain growth.

Initial processing of ASL is viso-spacial (right side) then moves to the left side of the brain

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for language processing •

Signs provide a physical symbol that helped children earn and understand words that are not nouns or that cannot be expressed. •

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Happy, Feelings, Fast, that

Preverbal children have an easier time expressing their needs and getting them met

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The Visual Cortex of the brain develops before the Auditory Cortex.

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Speech requires the mastering on over 200 muscles in the face and mouth.

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Signing uses large muscles, many of which have been used since birth

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Studies show Children who use sign language have increased communication skills.

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2 year olds talk like 27 month olds (More than 50 words)

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3 year olds talk like 4 year olds

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Studies in 8 year olds show Sign Language MAY increase IQ

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Sign Language encourages verbal communication

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Signs are a visual prompt to elicit spoken responses •

Especially in children with special needs – Downs Syndrome, Speech delays, Autism

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Teaching Sign Language with Speech has been proven to speed up spoken communication

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Imagine being an infant? •

Face to Face bonding

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Shy kids have a way to express themselves in uncomfortable situations

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Improved confidence and Self Esteem, reduce frustration and negative behaviors

Bonus – Feelings signs show children how you are feeling and let them model the feeling when they are signing. This may create more compassionate kiddos.

Feelings Signs Feelings – Brush your middle finger up your chest a few times, right next to your heart

Excited – With both hands open, alternate brushing each middle finger up your chest few times.

Silly – With your thumb and pinky sticking out twist your hand back and forth a few times in front in front of your nose

Scared – with your hands by your chest, pop open your fingers towards each other. Pretend you are really scared!

Grumpy- Scrunch up your fingers a few times, in front of your grumpy face. Sick – Open both hands and use your middle fingers to touch your forehead and your tummy at the same time. It’s like you have a headache and a tummy ache

Surprised – Touch your pointer fingers to your thumbs, right at your eyes. Then, pop them open like you are really surprised!

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

English Language Learners Challenges facing English Language Learners –

Acquisition of a new receptive, expressive and written language

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Pronunciation

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Synonyms and Homonyms

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Grammar/Word order concepts different from their first language ASL can help

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Sign Language is Visual/gestural. •

Sign language is a great “bridge” between 2 languages because you can sign and speak at the same time.

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ASL is iconic and often draws a picture in the air. •

Concepts are acquired quickly when they are paired with iconic signs

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Prepositions – Above Through Between

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Adjectives – Fat, Heavy Tired

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ASL Clarifies words spoken with a accent

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Pairs the same word that sounds very differently from other speakers

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Homonyms – Words that are pronounced that same but may have different spelling.

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ASL can help non native speakers differentiate between the different meanings

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Ant/Aunt, Board/Bored, Cloths/Close, Hare/Hair, Right/Write, Waste/Waist

Synonyms – Different words with the same meaning •

ASL can help link synonyms – ASL is conceptual, one sign van mean many things.

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Happy /glad/cheerful

Silent Period – •

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Early Production •

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Gestures are often used during this stage. ASL provides gestures that are understood. ASL helps to clarify mispronunciation and missing sounds due native differences

Speech Emergence Stage – •

ASL is stored in another “database” in the brain. If the words cannot be found in the native language storage, or the English storage maybe they can be found in the ASL storage.

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Intermediate Language Proficiency •

ASL and English in tandem provide a much richer language base for brain growth and activity. Think about the possibilities for brain growth when adding the child’s native language.

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Advanced Fluency •

ASL is a foreign language. The child is now trilingual. Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Colors •

Brown – Sign the letter B for brown and slide it down your face.

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Red – Point to your red lips and slide your finger down past your chin

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Yellow – Sign the letter Y and twist it a little

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Green – Sign the letter G and twist a little

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Blue – Sign the letter B and twist a little.

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Purple – Sign the letter P and twist a little

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White – Pretend you are pulling the white ruffles on your shirt

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Black – Drag your pointer finger across your forehead.

Rainbow Hokey Pokey You put Color in, You take Color out. You put Color in And you shake it all about. You do the hokey-pokey and you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about! Sign or say the color. You can even say the color in another language.

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Literacy Benefits •

Children with weak Oral language have trouble with the reading process. – ASL Increase vocabulary •

Increased Vocabulary makes Reading Easier

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This increase vocabulary stays with children

– Provides children with a memory aid and teachers with an additional modality to teach in.

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Using Multiple Modalities Increases Retention

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ASL lets you teach with multiple modalities simultaneously

Children who are taught sign language as part of their reading instruction score higher on standardized tests.

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Sign Language helps you teach all learning styles - its fun! – Hear it! – Verbal/Auditory – See it! – Either written or signed/ Visual – Do It! – Children perform the sign/ Kinesthetic

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Signing helps children link symbols with concepts and the spoken word (Encourages an interest in books)

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For many children learning Letter, Sign, Sound is easier than Letter, sound in isolation

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Signing Words and finger-spelling help children retain vocabulary ABC’s sight words and letter sounds – W – Double-you – LMNO – L, M, N, O – Understanding the difference between C & Z or the common reversal of b & d – May help children with dyslexia

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Sign language creates a “picture” of the word.

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Children with dyslexia may be helped – A skill often taught is making a picture of the word. – Dyslexia Paragraph

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A great way to use ASL is to encourage children in a reading to follow along in sign language with the child who is reading out loud.

Bonus – Signing exercises and strengthens muscles in the hands and arms needed for fine motor activities like writing Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Napping House Signs Sleep – Draw your hands down over your face and close your fingertips together while your eyes fall asleep.

House – With flat hands, show the roof and walls of a house Bed – Put your hands together on the side of your face, like you are laying your head on a pillow.

Grandma – Put the thumb of your open hand on your chin. Bounce your hand forward. Child – Tap imaginary child on the head. Dog – Pat your leg, or pat your leg then snap, like you’re calling a dog. Cat – Close your pointer finger and thumb together as you brush them away from your cheek a few times. It’s like you’re stroking a cat’s whisker.

Mouse – Brush your pointer finger across the end of your nose a couple of times. Flea/Bug –Touch your thumb to your nose and bend your pointer and middle finger up and down twice.

Frog – Rest you chin on your fist and flick your first two fingers out a few times, like frog legs hopping.

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Life Benefits •

Aids in focus, attention, retention and retrieval –

Increases bilateral brain processing

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Engages both sides of the brain

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Signing enables children to play with each other and interact with adults.

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Children of all ages love the idea of having a “secret” language.

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Learning a new language can build self esteem

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Sign Language takes positive reinforcement to a new level. –

Make sure to use facial expressions, body language, as well as sign

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This is also a great way to give a child positive reinforcement while you are speaking or engaged in another activity.

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Fewer Behavior problems –

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Silent Classroom Management

American Sign Language is a 2nd language – It is the 3rd most used language in the US –

Exposure to different culture

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Acceptance of special needs

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Encourages Social Interaction

Studies show that children with special needs, such as apraxia of speech, autism, or down syndrome who have difficulty with speech can make great strides in their communication development with sign language.

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Children with specials needs often have brains that need more development or wiring. –

More than ½ of the brain is devoted to visual processing

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ASL starts in the visual cortex of the brain and ten moves to the language processing center.

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ASL may provide the extra visual stimulation to help the brain develop and “wiring” so the child can achieve a goal

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ASL may facilitate attentiveness of social gestures, understanding of facial and body language. (Autism)

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Studies of PECS(Picture Exchange Communication Systems) vs. Sign Language – teaching ASL can lead to increased verbalization in children with Autism

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Signing with children who have Down Syndrome •

Children with Down Syndrome are often visual learners

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Being able to hold signs offers children with Down’s Syndrome more processing time

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Gently helping children form the sign may help

Signing with children who have Autism •

Use concrete motivational signs, use specific signs •

Milk vs. Drink

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Apple vs. Eat

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Signing encourages pairing eye contact

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Gently helping children form the sign may help

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Web Resources •

Free Teaching Resources – SigningTime.com – SigningTimeKids.org – SigningTimeFoundation.org – BabySigningTime.com

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Learn ASL and Dictionaries – SigningOnline.com – Lifeprint.com – SigningSavvy.com – StartASL.com

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Information on ASL Products – Labelandlearn.com

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com

References Glairron, Susan, First Words: Sign Language Let’s Babies SpeakTheir Minds. The Boulder Daily Camera, Boulder CO 2003 Sign Language: Benefits to Children: 2003 www.lifeprint.com/asl101/topics/benifits_of_learning_how_to Using Sign Language and Finger spelling to Facilitate Early Literacy 2004 www.PBS.org/teachers/earychildhood/articles/signlanguage.html Marilyn Daniels, Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children’s Literacy www.signingtime.com/resources/sign-language-research/ Annie Young, M.Ed. and Colleen Brunetti, M.Ed. Using Signing Time with Children Who have Down Syndrome Kimberly Fries MA, CCC-SLP and Brenda Gardner-Jones MA, ECSE/Autism, Using Signing Time with Individuals in the Autism Spectrum Virgina Brown, MA and Robin L Williams, MA Enhance Literacy Instruction Using Signing Time Abbey S Cook MS, CCC_SLP and Kimberly Fries MA, CCC-SLP Using Signing Time with Children in Speech Language Therapy Robin L. Williams, MA and Kyle L Stielow, Using Signing Time in Early Childhood Settings A guide for Educators White Paper on Signing with Babies and Children by Claire Vallotton, PH.D http://c445781.r81.cf0.rackcdn.com/wp_SigningwithBabies&Children.pdf Kyle Stielow [email protected] www.balancedbeginnings.com