Language and the deaf session 7

Language and the deafsession 7 Jessica Scott, Boston University, February 29, 2012

Food for thought • “But as far as my work is concerned, I see no impediment, and various advantages, to being deaf.” • Stephanie Beacham

Agenda • Discussion • Teaching Reading and Writing • Break! • CI Corner • Practice: Working with books • Housekeeping

Goals for the Session • To understand the various skills that are necessary for reading • To consider how these skills relate to writing • To consider modifications to literacy instruction for Deaf children • To think about using text interpretation, as Livingston suggests, as a teaching methodology

Discussion: David!

Discussion Board Interlude • One main point that Livingston stresses again and again is to focus on meaning and motivation. I agree with her that grammar is not a very interesting, meaningful, or motivational topic for students. Picking reading material that makes students want to read is better than picking beginning "readers" only for their grammatical simplicity.

Discussion Board Interlude • There are great examples for different interpretation strategies: explicitness, reiteration, background knowledge, relating text to children’s experiences, picture reference and deletions. I could visualize myself doing those things during reading aloud. But actual doing it, can I do well? I think it would be good idea if we each have a children book and practice doing it, and the audience could give constructive feedback.

What is reading? • RDIAENG. • Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingshuinervtisy, it deosn'tmttaer in wahtoredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olnyiprmoetnttihng is tahtfrist and lsatltteer is at the rghitpclae. The rset can be a toatlmses and you can sitllraed it wouthitporbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raederveylteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe. • So… reading can’t just be about decoding, thankfully

What is reading? • “The procedure is actually quite simple. First you arrange things into different groups depending on their makeup. Of course, one pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is to do. If you have to go somewhere else due to lack of facilities, that is the next step; otherwise you are pretty well set. It is better to do few things at once than too many. Remember mistakes can be expensive. At first, the whole procedure will seem quite complicated. Soon, however, it will become just another fact of life.”

What is reading? • “The procedure is actually quite simple. First you arrange things into different groups depending on their makeup. Of course, one pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is to do. If you have to go somewhere else due to lack of facilities, that is the next step; otherwise you are pretty well set. It is better to do few things at once than too many. Remember mistakes can be expensive. At first, the whole procedure will seem quite complicated. Soon, however, it will become just another fact of life.” Bransford & Johnson (1973) WASHING CLOTHES

Think*Pair*Share • THINK for one minute about how you learned how to read. What was helpful for you? What was not helpful? • PAIR with a person or two sitting close by • SHARE your thoughts on your own reading development

Thinking about the reading • Livingston had excellent suggestions for teaching reading: • Text interpretation • Explicitness (adding information to make the story clearer) • Reiteration (emphasizes important ideas) • Background knowledge (to tell students what they need to know to understand the story • Relating text to children’s experiences (talking about what students know makes it meaningful) • Picture references (pictures often contain important info) • Deletions (sometimes there is info not needed to understand) • What do you think about these strategies?

Literacy and Deaf Students • We know that Deaf children have different needs than hearing children in terms of learning to read • Do they have Deaf parents? Do their parents sign? Do they have a strong foundation in ASL? • However, lots of lessons for teaching Deaf children to read have come from literature on hearing children (See Schirmer & McGough’s article on the National Reading Panel and Deaf children) • I have seen Deaf Education classrooms using guided reading, literature circles, and writer’s workshop

So with that in mind… • We will talk through these instructional approaches, while thinking about modifications that might be necessary for Deaf students… • …As well as talking about approaches that have been designed specifically for Deaf students!

Guided reading: General • Small groups of children (3-5) • Flexible grouping • “Instructional Level” text • Which the student can read with support, but could not read on his or her own • With scaffolding from the teacher

Guided Reading: General • What does a guided reading lesson look like? • Book introduction • Short description or reminder from last time • Vocabulary introduction • Of words that may trip them up • Comprehension strategy instruction • Which skill are you working on? • Independent reading with conferences • With a running record • Discussion or Extension activity

Guided reading: General • The goal of guided reading is to provide enough support that children are able to practice word reading and comprehension skills in an appropriately leveled book

Guided Reading: Modifications for Deaf Students • One on one, rather than small group • Most classrooms are already quite small, students may be reading on very different levels • Should ask students to read silently, rather than orally, as signing word-for-word will not maintain meaning • Have you seen guided reading sessions with Deaf students? Were they successful?

Messy Hair Club • Kristin DiPerri • A short piece of text (sentence up to a whole paragraph, depending on the ability of the student) is displayed for the class • Student stands with his/her back to the audience and read silently • Student turns around and signs it in ASL • Other students and teacher give feedback • Encourages translation and separation of languages

Literature circles Students have a say in the book they will read Students do NOT read during group meeting time, they read either at home or at another time in the school day Student driven – the teacher is a discussion facilitator, who after a little while should be able to say almost nothing

Literature circles • Procedures: • Establish roles (or not) • Discussion facilitator, illustrator, connector, summarizer, word wizard, figurative language finder (Daniels) • Students discuss book – using roles, or more independently • Minimal support or guidance from the teacher • Set goals for next time • How much to read, goals for discussion

Literature Circles • How do you think these might work in classrooms with Deaf children? • What problems might you foresee in implementing such an activity? • Could Livingston’s strategies be helpful here?

Teaching Writing • Fluency is important! • We want students to feel comfortable getting their ideas out • We don’t want them to feel like they cannot write because they can’t spell every single word • Experimenting is important • Students should know that writing is to communicate ideas, and try out different ways to do so

Teaching Writing: Writer’s Workshop • Writer’s workshop is extremely popular in general education as a writing approach • Takes students through the entire writing process (brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, publishing) • Students work at their own pace • Mini-lessons are designed to target student needs • Do you think such an approach is feasible in a classroom with Deaf children? Why or why not? What modifications might need to be made?

Teaching Writing: Modifications for Deaf Students • Kristin DiPerri (and Todd Czubeck?): Quick writes • Students are shown a picture or other prompt • Students write for 15 minutes, silently • Students use hand-shapes from ASL to stand in for unknown English words • Have you seen this strategy in classrooms in the past? What did you think of it?

Break!

CI Corner • Effects of Cochlear Implants on Children’s Reading and Academic Achievement • By Marschark, Rhoten & Fabich • 2007, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education

Selected Abstract • This review, however, reveals that although there are clear benefits of cochlear implantation to achievement in young deaf children, empirical results have been somewhat variable. Examination of the literature with regard to reading achievement suggests that the lack of consistent findings might be the result of frequent failures to control potentially confounding variables such as age of implantation, language skills prior to implantation, reading ability prior to implantation, and consistency of implant use.

What did they do? • Looked at research on cochlear implantation from a number of studies • What are their important findings: • Children with implants and strong oral language still may struggle in the classroom • Cochlear implants do not guarantee high levels of achievement • Even those with early implantation

Practice: Thinking about books • You will receive a picture book • In groups of three, consider Livingston’s discussion of text interpretation • How might you read this book with Deaf students? • How would you use Livingston’s strategies during reading? • explicitness, reiteration, background knowledge, relating text to children’s experiences, picture reference and deletions • Volunteers will read their book for the class to get feedback

Agenda • Discussion • Teaching Reading and Writing • CI Corner • Break! • Practice: Working with books • Housekeeping

Assignments Housekeeping • The second essay is now posted to the wiki • It is due by class time next Wednesday • Either via e-mail or hard copy

Assignments Housekeeping • Your final paper proposal is due between March 21 and April 11 • Flexible dates to give you time to consider what you want to research • 1-2 pages • Discussion of what topic you are interested in researching • A broad outline • Some possible references

Questions?

Housekeeping: General • Next week we will start our discussion of Vygotsky • Remember to switch to the Vygotsky book (We will finish up REDS later) • No student discussion next week!

Have a fantastic week!

Language and the deaf session 7