SignWriting List Forum | |||
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From:
cmf Date: Sat Sep 30, 2000 6:37 pm Subject: Re: SW helps to express students thoughts | |
Stefan and Nancy, I've been trying to think of comments about DHH kids 'risking' and expressing themselves using SignWriting. I guess we've been using the computer program more than handwriting to compose texts written in signs with the kids. One example of the 'risk taking' happen this week. It was Deaf Awareness week and we had cut out some pictures of 'famous' Deaf personalities. One of them was 'the Hulk' character from an old TV show. We were going to write a caption for the picture. Andy chose to compose his comment about Lou Ferrigno, the Deaf actor who played that role, on the computer. I thought I was 'facilitating' a signed dictation but quickly was dismissed by Andy. He did not want the sign for 'strong' that we accessed from the SW dictionary. He wanted to 'write' his own sign for 'strong'. He assured me....'bless him'..."I know, I know, I know". He sat in front of the monitor and searched for the symbols that he wanted...the full body figure and added lines to make elbows and shapes for the fists...etc. He wanted to add the facial symbol too but we ran out of time. More assurance from a confident kid..."save, yes !" So...the risk taking, whose is it?....maybe we need to take risks...and let the kids explore and experiment and do their thing with learning to 'write' signs. Cecilia |
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