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Tips for Incorporating Sign Language into Class Activities for Young Children

Compiled by Mary Sears Children’s Academy

Mary Sears Children’s Academy has provided quality child care and specialized enrichment opportunities for children up to age twelve since our inception in 1964. We believe in keeping up to date with the top research in child development when creating learning programs for our students.

To this end, sign language has proven a valuable tool in various aspects of learning for young children. We have compiled the following tips to aid educators in the successful incorporation of sign language into everyday activities and curriculum.

Put up a sign language alphabet chart. A widely available commodity online and at many teacher supply stores, the alphabet chart provides daily reinforcement of the backbone of American Sign Language (ASL). While teaching students the alphabet, supplement the letter sounds with the appropriate sign.

Add signs to your curriculum, but do not create extra work for yourself. Instead of making signing a separate activity for your students, incorporate signs into whatever it is you are already teaching. 

Stay at least a day ahead of your students. The children in your classroom may ask how to sign certain words when you begin teaching the language, so it is essential to be prepared. This typically means keeping a current ASL dictionary on hand.

Use sign language to accompany songs. The ABC’s are an obvious choice, but many other children’s favorites lend themselves to the incorporation of hand signals. Because children usually already know the words, they can concentrate on the timing and fluidity of the appropriate signs.

Start with keywords. For example, signing words like yes, no, and bathroom and holding up a letter “A” to answer a question provide a strong basis to begin teaching the language. Of course, the sign language alphabet is an essential part of this as well, but it should not be taught exclusively at the expense of teaching important keywords.