Signs of Progress: My Week of Flashcards, Canva Slides, and Conversations (Part 2)
Weekend Reflections (and a little debate…)
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go to Saskatoon as a replacement councilor for Prairie Valley Teachers’ Association at this year’s Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation annual fall councilor conference. It was a great experience to connect with other teachers across the province and to discuss all educational topics, although at supper one evening, one conversation took a bit of a turn…
Somehow naturally, the topic of my major learning project of ASL was brought up and a few of us started debating whether or not teaching a baby ASL delays their speech. I stood my ground, confidently sharing that it is in fact just a myth. I remembered what Jess had told me in our interview the other week and that using ASL actually supports communication, not delays it. Babies who sign tend to feel less frustrated because they can express themselves before they can talk.
Using Research to Bust the Myth
After that conversation, when I came home I had to do some digging myself. I found a research article by Goodwyn, Acredolo, & Brown (2000) published in Child Development that supports exactly what Jess said. From the abstract of the article, “results provide strong evidence that symbolic gesturing does not hamper verbal development and may even facilitate it” (p. 81). Their study found that babies who used symbolic gestures (like basic signs) actually developed stronger verbal skills later on compared to those who didn’t use signs. So, I feel like I won that argument and that no, signing doesn’t delay speech, if anything, it enhances it!
Reference:
Goodwyn, S. W., Acredolo, L. P., & Brown, C. A. (2000). Impact of symbolic gesturing on early language development. Child Development, 71(2), 231–239.
Looking Ahead
My plan for the next week is to continue building my Canva slides, record a few short video clips of me signing and talking to Blakely and start piecing everything together in my final project video. I plan to keep using BabySignLanguage.com and the flashcards and videos to reinforce my signs and to make sure that everything is accurate and clear, as well as to continue to learn more signs to use with Blakely and in my final project.
This week really reminded me that learning a new language, such as ASL, truly is so rewarding. It’s not just about the signs themselves, but it is about the connections they help build between parents and their children. I am so thankful that Jess was able to show me some of her recommended resources as that has been such a rewarding takeaway that I am excited to keep exploring!
Until next time…
Jordan Schutz
3 thoughts on “Signs of Progress: My Week of Flashcards, Canva Slides, and Conversations (Part 2)”
Awe, this is exciting! As a pediatric community nurse, I have used baby sign a ton and find it very useful for learning what each child is wanting or expressing. The most useful ones I have came across are “more” and “all done” from my interactions, but I am excited to hear what your thoughts are about particular words you are most interested in learning.
Hey Jordan
This is a fantastic post, Jordan! I really like how you combined personal experience with research, it makes your argument about ASL and speech development both relatable and credible. Your reflection on the debate shows confidence and curiosity, and it’s inspiring to see how committed you are to learning and applying ASL with Blakely. I also love how you emphasize the deeper connection that signing builds between parent and child. Your clear plan for the next week makes it easy to follow your journey, and your enthusiasm for ASL really shines through.
Hey Jordan,
I love how your learning project ended up sparking a real-life debate! The things we explore in class often connect to everyday conversations in unexpected ways. You handled the discussion so well, especially by backing up your point with research. The study you found by Goodwyn et al. really adds credibility and reinforces that signing supports, not delays, speech development.
I also liked how you tied this experience back to your broader learning journey. You’re so right—ASL isn’t just about the signs themselves, it’s about deepening connection and communication. I’m excited to see how your final project comes together, especially with the Canva slides and video clips you mentioned. It sounds like a meaningful and heartwarming way to showcase your learning.
Great work! Stay confident and curious!