Language and Literacy: Our Homeschool Journey

I shared briefly about the decision our family made to pull our son out of the public school system this year. First, let me share it was not a decision we made because we were unhappy.  His teachers were nothing short of amazing.  The school he attended welcomed and worked closely with us as we navigated his diagnosis.  So, why did we pull him out?  Primarily because I, his mama, missed him.  He would come home happy but exhausted.  He has spent his short life in therapies and schools and I felt he needed an environment that allowed some time for him to just be a kid.  I also have homeschooled my daughter since she was in Kindergarten so the idea was not new to our family.  That being said, I waited until I felt I was ready and until I got my head wrapped around one particular concern regarding D/HH kids: READING.

Language and literacy in the world of D/HH kids is a hot topic.  I recently attended the EHDI Conference in San Diego and one of the Plenary Speakers was Rachel Coleman from Signing Time.  I believe she say's it best:

"If you said that about any other group of people nobody would believe it.  They wouldn't put up with it for a minute and it would be on the news every night.  But for some reason, when you say 'I'm sorry, your child is deaf.  They are going to graduate with a third grade reading level', nobody has questioned it.  How sad is that?"

In the State of Georgia, I am happy to share we are questioning this statistic.  Conversations around tables are happening and I as a parent am incredibly grateful.  I also know conversations around tables need time to develop and be implemented.

So today, I want to share with you what is working in our home.  After months of research, I contacted Memoria Press and after many questions they agreed to provide our family with the following resources:

First Start Reading A-D

Classical Phonics

Phonics Flashcards

They are an amazing company to work with and listened as I explained to them the complexities of teaching our kids how to read.  Kellan is bilaterally implanted but has to have sign support.  I am working beside his therapists and for some of his articulation/speech goals to be worked on and mastered he is also learning the basics of grammar.  So, in our house we use English, American Sign Language (ASL), and Signed Exact English (SEE).  I am not an expert in any of these languages.  For the most part, we learn together and keep ASL and SEE vocabulary dictionaries close.

We are finishing up Book C of First Start Reading and are very happy with his progress.  The lessons within the workbook vary.  We began the program with Kellan already knowing the letters and their sounds.  When new letters are introduced we use this time to review and work on articulation.

One of the most beneficial exercises for Kellan is what they term Ear Training.  This practice consists of me asking:  Which words begin or end with /g/:  boat, goat, bug, cup, dog, girl, gift, bag, book?

I have found it works best to have him identify the word and placement of the phoneme and then repeat the word.  This has helped me communicate to his therapist his weaknesses in articulation.  For example:  He will identify 'goat' as starting with a /g/ but will repeat it 'doat' with a /d/.  When we find the letter sounds he struggles to produce,  I pull the phonetic card and we keep it close as he works through the lesson.  

The lessons progress to blending word families and into reading sentences/stories. The teachers manual provides comprehension questions to be asked at the end of each short story as well as things to point out while reading.  For example:  What is the title of the story?  How many paragraphs are in this story?  How do we read sentences that end with an exclamation point?

Dictation is another component and probably the most challenging for Kellan.  The short vowels /e/ and /i/ are almost impossible for him to distinguish.  The phonetic cards have proved to be invaluable and he is making progress.  They also introduce common words (sight words) in each lesson.  I happened upon an ASL secret sight word download on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) and will print the words as they are introduced and we use them to review.

I wanted to include a video of Kellan's achievement and hope it is an encouragement to you!  Daily we spend approximately 30 minutes working through this curriculum.  Also, for those who are wondering, Kellan received his first implant at age two and his second at age three.  This makes his hearing age equivalent to that of a 3/4 year old.

Don't forget to check out Memoria Press!

Also, they have AMAZING book lists.  If you click on any grade level they have Read Aloud Packages with the book lists included.  I took a screen shot of each grade of my kiddo's to have with me when we venture to the library.  Great literature!

Disclosure:  I was provided all the material listed in exchange for a fair and honest review.  No additional compensation was given.

Peter Rabbit: Week 3

This week lets look at ways we can connect this story to the real world.  In my experience, with my own children, I have found this happens most natural when we allow them to lead.  As I shared last week,  my son was fascinated with the word THEIF.  I have been trying to take opportunities throughout our week to point out when he takes things that are not his.  My favorite being when he sneaks in and drinks my chai tea in the mornings.  I now do not hesitate to say, "Stop! Theif!"  We have had many laughs over him thieving my tea!

Let's look at other ways we can connect Peter Rabbit with real life.

1.  Family  (click on the words to learn the ASL signs)
   
     Siblings: What are siblings? Do you have a brother/sister?  How many? What are their names?
     Mother:  Who is your mother (name)? What are other names for mother? How did Peter's mom
     take care of him?  Did Peter listen to his mother?  Do you?
     Father:  Who is your father (name)?  What are other names for father?  Where was Peter's father?
     Widow (finger spell):  What is a widow?

Other books/ideas:
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter
This book extends the idea of family by introducing Benjamin Bunny, Peter's cousin and also old Mr. Bunny, Peter's uncle.

Have pictures available or invite family over for a dinner around the table.  Teach them how to introduce themselves to your child in ASL.  Example:  Uncle Josh

Obviously, discussions about family will become more complex as your children grow.  These are just suggestions to get you thinking!

2.  Garden

     vegetables:  Where do vegetables grow?  Name some vegetables?  What's your favorite
     vegetable?
     dig, plant, grow:  How do you plant a garden?  What do you do first, second, third (order)? What
     will it need to grow?  Where does the water come from?  What if it doesn't rain?
     cook:  What can we do with the vegetables?  How could we cook them?
     eat: Do you like them raw or cooked?  What could we dip them in?  What could we put them on?
     healthy:  What does it mean to be healthy?  Why are vegetables considered healthy?

Other books/ideas:
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
They have a You Tube read aloud (unfortunately not in ASL) you can find by clicking HERE.

In addition, if you have not visited Georgia's Pathway to Language and Literacy site they have a blog Forever Free.  They have uploaded VOCABULARY CARDS:  Food Your Child Should Know.  They are printable and there are numerous ways to use them.  For example:  sort vegetables, healthy/unhealthy, print duplicates and play memory, etc.

Have a great week!
Sara

Peter Rabbit: Week 2

I hope you had fun reading with your littles during our first week of reading Peter Rabbit together!  If you have not yet done so, please take time to read the following:  15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children. Last week we focused on the first 2 suggestions this article articulates.

1.  Deaf readers translate stories using ASL.

2.  Deaf readers keep both languages visible.

If you did not get a chance to watch the ASL Storytelling I highly suggest taking a few minutes.  In our home, one story led to an hour of my son watching and listening to books being read.  Which translated into me having a few minutes of quiet time to catch up on "mom" things.  

This week we will be reading and re-reading the story.  Why do we do this?

"These rereadings coincide with the way children learn. Like their parents, they are most comfortable with the familiar, and when they are relaxed, they're better able to absorb. The repetition improves their vocabulary, sequencing, and memory skills. Research shows that preschoolers often ask as many questions (and sometimes the same questions) after a dozen readings of the same book, because they are learning language in increments not all at once. Each reading often brings an inch or two of meaning to the story." Trelease (1995)

Also,  follow your childs lead.  For example:

My son gets excited when he sees/hears exclamation points in the text.  When Mr. McGregor is running after Peter he exclaims "Stop theif!"  As I read to him, the tone and pitch of my voice change and I exaggerate my signing.  He points to the words in the book and asks...what is that word.  He is pointing to THEIF.  We discuss the word and move on.  The next day we were not able to finish the book because we again stopped on this word and we begin dialoguing about what it means to be a thief.  

What was Peter taking that was not his? 

Is this good or bad?  

Is Peter in trouble? 

Are you a thief?

Another cool outcome from this dialogue occurred while we were in the car.  We are currently listening to The Lord of the Rings as we drive to and from therapies.  We do this primarily for my older daughter and these CD's are available at the library for free.  One day, as we listened Kellan said, "Mommy what did he say?"  I was not sure what he was talking about so we backed up a few pages and sure enough we hear..."Stop thief!"   Then the questions begin:  

What did he take?

Why did he take it?

What is a ring?

You have a ring, are you a thief?
Why did daddy give you a ring?

What does ring mean?

This friends is how language develops!  It does not have to be complicated.  It does not cost money.  If I am being completely honest, I never in my wildest dreams even thought as we listened to books in the car that he was listening or could hear the story.  The car is one of our most difficult places to communicate.  He simply heard ONE WORD that now had meaning to him due to our time spent with Peter Rabbit.  Never underestimate the power of one word, one book, or one afternoon or evening cuddled on the couch communicating with these amazing babies we've been given.  Enjoy every minute with them!

Sara

GBYS Read Along

Welcome to our first GBYS Read Along!

Peter Rabbit

by Beatrix Potter

I chose Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter because of its rich language and its ability to be used with kids of all ages.  This week we will read and watch/listen to the story being read in ASL.  I have included a list of words that are linked to an ASL dictionary for us to learn together and words that can be investigated if your children are older.  

Please take the time to read the following: 15 Principles for Reading to Deaf Children.  These are strategies that will help you, the parent, as you journey with your child into language and literacy.


Week One:  Read the story and watch/listen to story in ASL

ASL Storytelling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCOMxxdhLnk

Learn ASL Signs:

rabbit
mother
father
garden
frightened
finger spell: Peter

Are your kids too young?

Read to them regardless.  Remember the importance of getting language in and then keep things simple. Train yourself to be intentional in the early days and start to slowly build a library for your children at home!

Are your kids older?

Discuss the following words:  mischief, naughty, thief, frightened, sob, implored, exert, tremble

Look up their meanings and discuss synonyms that could be used in their place.


Download Book Here:  http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14838
**the EPUB (with images) was downloaded to iBooks
**Kindle (with images) was downloaded to Kindle 

Enjoy this time with your kids and remember these everyday small investments add up!
Sara

Dog Blog-Things to love: Puppies and Reading

 Happy New Year,
        My name is Scarlett Giles. I am a Parent Guide with Georgia Hands & Voices. Our Guide By Your Side Program has been up and running for a year now. Below is a new post I wrote to our blog. We have a Facebook group, website (www.gahandsandvoices.org/Guide_By_Your_Side.html), and pinterest account as well. Check out our program in the new year. Let us know if you or someone you know needs our guidance and resources for their Deaf/HOH child.

 It's a post all about Dogs...and reading too!

My Family

Giles Kids

            We welcomed into the family not one, but two puppies this past September. Brindle-coated brothers, Hairy and Blue. Trouble and love all wrapped into one. We got two from the rescue litter so that when our older dog, Jasper, passes they will still have a playmate. The puppies annoy Jasper sometimes, but she has gained weight and perked up since they arrived. Puppies are harder than babies ...yeah I said it.  The first week, I didn't want them to go, but I didn't want them to stay.  I powered through with 6 kids (3 human, 3 dogs), because of one gift I knew I would get at the end of the struggle: Unconditional Love. Dogs are the only ones that give this type of love. Humans are too flawed and complicated to extend this pure love. Introducing our handsome boys:

Meet Hairy -Hairy was named after University of Georgia's Mascot- Hairy Dawg. His middle name is J.J. after our first born dog-Jasper. We first called him "trouble", but he has turned out to be the most loving and loyal guard dog. He follows me everywhere.

     Meet Blue- Blue was named after our oldest child Colin's nickname "Boy Blue." Blue's middle name is  JaJa after Jasper.  Blue looks "blue" with his shy and sulky eyes, but tends to be the instigator underneath. He's like the teacher's pet. Everyone thinks he is so perfect, but he has an evil side. He loves to get Hairy in trouble.

           This post is not just me proudly showing my new puppies. I wanted to tie the dogs with an important topic, reading. In the new year, make sure you make time to read to your kids, especially your HOH/Deaf children.  Literacy is so important. Language is so important. I wanted to share some info from Georgia Pathway to Language and Literacy Program, which was established in 2010. This program is made up of professionals and parents, in the state of Georgia, whose mission is to increase literacy in Georgia's D/HOH children. Their goal is to achieve grade-level reading proficiency by the end of third grade for all students with hearing loss. Check out their website for great resources and tools to help your child.  http://www.georgialiteracy.org/

            Dogs and reading, how do they go together? My mother-in-law bought a children's book on hearing loss when we first found out about my youngest Amelia. The book is,  Elana's ears or How I became the best big sister in the world by Gloria Roth Lowell. It's about a dog (Lacey) that reminds me of our first dog-child Jasper. I imagine Lacey having a dog birthday party or wearing baby gap clothes as did our Jasper. The book starts off introducing the spoiled dog who even has a raincoat in her wardrobe. Lacey's biggest hobby was barking. She started to notice her human mom's belly was getting large. The dog recalls one night in which her owners, for the first time ever, rushed out and didn't even say goodbye. When they came home Lacey in her words says, "Yes, they had gone and had a baby on me!" The next few pages talks about how Lacey's privileged life changes, because of that baby. She was jealous, but then she tries to form a friendship with baby Elana. She shows off her favorite hobby, barking, but Elana never responds. Lacey tries to get her owners to see over the next weeks that Elana is not responding to sound. Then pages 14 and 15 of the book come. The pages that choke me up everytime....even six years later. It transports me back to the room where three month old Amelia laid with electrodes hooked up all over her head and ears for the ABR(fancy for a test that determines if your brain is hearing sound.) The words that the audiologist spoke that day were words I knew were coming. "Amelia does have hearing loss."

And the book reads-Part of page 14,"Finally(moms and dads can be kind of slow sometimes) I heard them talking about Elana's ears, and the very next day they took her to the doctor. That was the second time in my life they didn't say goodbye." Page 15, "When they came home, both of my parents were upset. You know how you can always tell whey your parents are upset. I heard them call Grandma Renee and Grandpa Al to tell them the news I already knew in my heart. Elana's ears weren't working. Elana couldn't hear."

The dog starts thinking of how she would help Elana. "I would be Elana's ears..I would be Lacey, the first ever hearing-ear dog." Elana goes on to get hearing aids and Lacey explains her excitement when Elana hears barking for the first time. It is a wonderful book and I hope you will go read it.  I wanted to tell parents that there are children's books written on the topic of hearing loss. It could be used to help your family member understand. It could be used for you to journey through your emotional process, or  introduce your child and/or siblings to stories of others like them. In the new year, read, read, read.

          While on the subject of books and dogs, I wanted to tell you about one more book, Kayla the Amazing. The Adventures of a Super Dog by Kara Gagnon. The author, my friend Kara, wrote this children's book.  It is about her beloved dog Kayla who recently passed, but was a superdog in real life. The book is not about hearing loss, but it's another good book to read to your kids. Kara's family has been by our side through our hearing loss journey, so I wanted to share her book info.  Here is the link to check it out: http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000942841/Kayla-the-Amazing.aspx

Remember everybody loves puppies, but get your child to love reading this year too. -Scarlett Giles

It's story time!

I homeschool both of my children.  This is the first year Kellan has been home with us and I love every single minute of it.  He has a love for reading books.  He will line his work up for the day and lay out the books on the floor by his desk that I will be required to read to him once his school work is complete.  Please do not tell him reading is actual school work.  Often he will grab a toy that goes along with the story and he will play while I read.  If you have not yet looked at   >> T H I S <<  there is great information to help as you read to your babies-- I mean big kids.  I am now being informed he is not a baby.  Womp! Womp!  My very favorite is how he will stop me and act out the story line.  So stinkin' cute!  Speaking of cute...check out the signed stories from ASL Nook.  This little lady is PRECIOUS!

I wish you each a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sara

How the Grinch Stole Christmas in ASL
Your very own Deaf Cindy Lou retelling the story of how the Grinch stole Christmas in sign language. AND it will make your heart grow 3 sizes!!
Posted by ASL Nook on Monday, December 7, 2015

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in ASL
With the holidays, there's no stopping us from doing ONE MORE story. This time around Shaylee does Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
Posted by ASL Nook on Thursday, December 10, 2015

The Night Before Christmas in ASL
Let's ring in the holidays starting with "The Night Before Christmas" video:
Posted by ASL Nook on Tuesday, December 1, 2015