I LOVE SIGN LANGUAGE! I really do! It's multi-sensory, engaging, and it keeps those little hands busy. Sign language can also be a great tool if you have children with different language backgrounds, and it provides a new challenge for children who are very bright. It's free, simple, and easy!
My favorite website is aslpro.com. If you go there you can download manual signs for the alphabet letters and use those to make games. You can also use their video dictionary to learn how to sign different words. Click on "dictionary" and then scroll down to the word you want to learn.
Sing and Signs –Teach children signs for letters as they are introduced.
Use this song to the tuneof “Where Is Thumbkin?” to reinforce the concept.
Where is A? Whereis A? (Children repeat each line.)
HereI am! (Holdup the manual sign for A.)
HereI am! (Children repeat and copysign.)
Whatdo you say A? What do you sayA?
/a/ /a/ /a/ /a//a/ /a/
Letter Box –Here’s another song you can use to teach children manual signs forletters. It goes to the tune of “PollyWolly Doodle.”
I wish I had a letter box
To put my A in.
I’d take it out and go (Holdup sign for a.)
/a/ /a/ /a/
And put it back again. (Pretendto put hand back in box.)
Continue singingother letters and making signs for other letters.
Sign and Spell –Use sign language to spell children’s names and other words.
Dismissal – Tell the children towatch your hand. As you make thesign that their name begins with, they may be dismissed to line up, go tocenters, wash hands, etc.
Signing Game – Make different signsand see if the children can guess the letter you are making. What’s a word that begins with thatsound?
*For older children finger spell words andsee who can decode it.
*Play “Simon Says” by signing motions forchildren to make.
Word Wall Words – Learn signs forhigh frequency words. Visit
aslpro.com and click on “dictionary” to seesigns demonstrated.
Hint! Encourage the children to make “strong” letters. As children tighten up muscles in theirhands, they will also be strengthening those small motor skills.
Come back tomorrow and I'll have more ideas for integrating sign language in your classroom!
