ASL letters can be used throughout the classroom to aid in reading and language development.
ASL Alphabet Chart
Purchase an ASL alphabet chart from your favorite teaching supply distributor. Carson Dellosa and Trend both make large charts. Check their catalogs or visit a teaching supply store. Smaller ones can be easily located online.
Hang it in a prominent place in the classroom. Refer to it during instruction and allow children to use it as a reference at any time.
ASL Flashcards
Websites such as Enchanted Learning and ABCTeach have printable flashcards available that show the sign language alphabet. Ready-made flashcards are available at many of your local retailers who carry school supplies.
ASL Classroom Activities
Introduce each sign language letter as you introduce each letter or sound to the class. Practice recognition of each sign as you practice recognition of each letter and sound.
Practice spelling names with the sign language letters. Make each child a name card with his or her name spelled out in ASL. As you’re practicing spelling words, practice spelling each word in ASL as you spell it out loud.
When sounding out words, say each sign as you are making the letter with your hand. Any time you are reading a book that focuses on a particular letter or sound, have the children hold up the corresponding sign. When singing songs that focus on letters or sounds, emphasize each letter or sound by making the corresponding alphabet sign.
ASL Games
- Print off the ASL flashcards from the previously mentioned websites. Make two copies and turn them into a memory or concentration game. Make two copies and turn them into three-part matching cards.
- Make a matching game or concentration game of the ASL flashcard with a flashcard of the letter.
- Make a sound sorting activity in which you sort out objects or pictures by their beginning sounds. In place of, or in addition to, the letter, use the sign language alphabet.
- Garlic Press is a company that specializes in making materials for teaching Signed Exact English. However, the SE alphabet is the same as the ASL alphabet. Garlic Press does make a sign language alphabet lotto game that is fun to play.
- Play guessing games in which you up an alphabet sign and the children need to guess what it is. Later, practice spelling words for the children to guess.
- Have children close their eyes and try to guess an alphabet sign based on how it feels in their hands, much like the way Helen Keller learned her alphabet.
ASL DVDs
Educational Insights is a classroom supply company that has a series of ASL DVDs. One of them specifically teaches the alphabet through fun songs.
Young children love to use their hands to communicate. Help them also become better readers as you implement these fun activities in your early childhood classroom.
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