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From:
cmf Date: Tue May 4, 1999 2:04 am Subject: Re: introduction | ||||||||
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Deborah, Welcome to the SignWriting list...I couldn't resist responding to your intro since I'm a transplant to New Mexico from New York (which school district are you referring to?...what area in NY?)....and am in the very 'slow' process of introducing SW to public school Deaf and Hard of Hearing students here in the Albuquerque Public Schools. When you visit the Teacher's forum on the SignWriting web...you'll find out more about our projects...our participation in the SW literacy project and my dissertation research project. Both are on 'hold' now, waiting for the final APS research committee approval....."any day now", 'any day now', as the saying goes! I can respond to your question about how long it might take 'you' as an instructor to feel comfortable with SW...I grabbled with that myself and still do. I've ordered all the instruction materials, spend some time on the SignWriting web, met with Valerie and Darline for some individual tutoring(a real luxury of an opportunity) and still plug away on the SignWriter computer program. Once you learn 'a little' you want to learn more. I've gotten over that 'it's so much to learn' hump...and feel I can learn as long as I have other 'learners' with me. I've taken the collaborative approach to teaching/learning SignWriting. I too have seen very young Deaf students and even the very 'cool' middle school Deaf and Hard of Hearing students 'take to' SW very quickly. Some 'read' it without any hesitation....others stare awhile...look at their hands...then sign what they see....others give it a 'blanch of a look-see' shrug their shoulders and say either...'don't know', 'what's that?', 'that's weird!' These 'off the cuff' responses continue to motivate me to keep 'learning' SW and helps me maintain my conviction that Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids...know more about the language they use for everyday communication than we have yet to acknowledge. I think I've sparked an interest in SW for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students literacy development in the three schools where I have established relationships with kids, teachers, parents and administrators. Some teachers express similar responses to those of the kids...'oh this is going to be fun'...or...'wow this is a lot of stuff to remember'...'this might be too hard for some of our kids'....and still more....'you take the lead and we'll follow'! I haven't been able to formally introduce SignWriting lessons yet but do anticipate receiving full approval from the school district to conduct the two literacy projects described on the web. Instructional times and duration of the study is included there. Since I was not able to begin collecting data this spring...the formal study will probably begin and continue throughout the next school year '99-00'. Hopefully we will be able to report on those 'how long does it takes' questions...and respond to 'what is it like to learn SW'? We have only three weeks of school left before summer vacation but I'm all ready for the Fall with the SW reading materials, SW introductory video lessons, SW children stories, six 'old' but 'SignWriter ready' computers, and lots of videotape ready to record student, teacher, and parent affective responses to learning to write using SignWriting. Oh and I'll be doing a lot of SW practicing over the summer too. Good luck with your proposal to begin using SignWriting with NY Deaf students...I'm glad Silent News has 'spread' the good news about the potential of an ASL written literacy. Cecilia Flood Counselor/Teacher f/t DHH UNM and APS | ||||||||
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