SignWriting List Forum| Message 4913 | Previous | Next [ Up Thread ] | Message Index |
|
SignWriting List Forum |
|||
|
|
From:
Valerie Sutton Date: Sun May 6, 2001 2:12 pm Subject: TEACHER TESTIMONIALS | ||||||||
|
FROM Kate Dalton-Lee Teacher of Deaf students Albuquerque Public Schools Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 HELLO HELLO ! I think about you often but I am a horrible pen pal. You may consider it a blessing, judging by your 100's of emails per day, HAHHAH! Anyway, before this school year comes to an end, I wanted to thank you and congratulate you on touching and improving the lives of the young'ns in my room. I have to tell you that SW has really made a difference in the way the students approach writing. I want to share with you two distinct experiences that I observed in my classroom this year. Every day I celebrate their victories but when they realize their achievement...that is a true victory. First, there is Julio. Julio is 8 years old and a gem. This is the first year that I have worked with him and boy, has he grown! When he began school in the fall, Julio answered "YES" to EVERYTHING...even declarative statements. He demonstrated limited language use and limited receptive comprehension. I was really concerned about him. After eight months of school and SW, I can honestly say that Julio has flourished. He is beginning to read (ENG and SW). He is confidently working through math, and understanding science concepts. I feel that much of this growth stems from the visual support of SW and the ownership that he takes in his SW computer experiences. He is able to sit at the SW computer and compose 1/2-3/4 page documents independently. He uses his environment and other students as resources when he needs help spelling. It is beautiful. When he finds a sign, he laughs the most ADORABLE laugh, makes a fist, and bends his elbow, and cranks it into his side as if to say, "YES!" Cute, Huh? He has some trouble independently re-reading his work, but he knows that he is expressing himself and is working independently. With SW and Eng printed below, HE READS. HE WRITES. HE IS BECOMING LITERATE :-) I hope that his teacher next year, if it is not me, uses SW as an avenue to reach Julio. Thank you for what you have done for us. Second, when we returned from Spring Break, I presented a list of 5 tasks for the children to complete that day. On the list was SW. Almost in unison, the kids, filled with excitement, signed "SignWriting" With that, they got up and booted up the computers. Kudos to you for your generosity and being a work horse. Kudos to the kids for their smiles, persistence, and stuffing a whole lot of personality in to such small bodies. Kudos to me for opening my mind to something new, taking a risk, and sticking with my commitment. -----Something happens between childhood and adulthood that makes us less eager to take risks with new things...agreed? Finally, KUDOS to Cecilia and Lorraine for being wonderful everyday and their ongoing conversations and support with SW. They are truly wonderful :-) So, for all of these wonderful reasons, I have wanted to write you. Until next time we chat, take good caree. Tell your folks howdy :) Hugs, Kate -------------------------------------- | ||||||||
|
|