Using Signs in the Classroom
Recently, I have been hearing about more and more about teachers using sign language in the classroom and the benefits that come along with this. First, I love the inclusion piece it brings into the classroom by valuing a different type of language and introducing students to the deaf and hard of hearing community. Second, it helps a lot with classroom management. Instead of having students constantly coming up to you asking if they can go to the washroom, get water, or that they are finished their assignment, they can stay in their spot and ask these questions using sign language, and the teacher can silently respond with “yes” or “no”
I found an amazing post about how teachers can integrate ASL into their classroom on the website WeAreTeachers. The resources on this post range from popular children’s books in ASL, learning sight words while using ASL, movement breaks that incorporate ASL, and classroom decor/signs that use ASL. I absolutely love this sign showcasing the letters for the words “welcome” written in the ASL alphabet.
(https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/teach-sign-language-everyone-welcome.jpg) 
This week, I had the goal of learning popular signs that can be used in the classroom. I learned: yes, no, maybe, want, restroom, , lights on, lights off, stop, sorry, understand and don’t understand.
Here is a video of me signing these words!
What are some other words that would be beneficial for students to be able to sign in the classroom?
Great post! Its cool that your learning a skill that could end up helping you in the classroom. I think it would be great if all teachers could learn the basics of ASL, it would help out a lot with deaf students.
Hi Stephanie, i love you videos. I think as professors it is important to bring inclusivity to our classroom and this one of the many great ways of doing so. And bring awareness on the students and maybe motivate them to keep on learning ASL
Hi Stephanie,
I liked that link you shared! I think it has really great resources and ideas to start having teachers intergrade ASL into the classroom. I think this should be a skill all teachers should know how to do even if it’s just the basic signs. Especially if there is a student in the school who uses ASL. I am going to add this to my list of good links and things to remember to inter grade into my future classroom!
Hey Steph,
I think ASL is a great idea to integrate into a classroom. I also like your idea of having students sign language their questions to their teacher about using the washroom or getting water. During my pre-internship this semester, SO many students would ask the teacher to go to the washroom during the silent reading or working periods. This often disrupted the class and got students off topic. Using it in scenarios such as that would be perfect and cause less distractions.