Students become teachers

For the past years, the ASL 2 class has taught basic sign language to elementary schoolers in the Derby school district. The students cover topics like the alphabet, basic communication signs, colors, animals and academic signs.

The high school students spend a total of three days at each school. They are split up and assigned a group in the grade they prefer to teach.

In preparation, the high schoolers spend most of their time in class at the high school creating lesson plans and finding fun games to play with their students.

So far this semester, they have taught three days at Wineteer and now are preparing for their second day at Swaney. The final school they will teach at is St. Mary’s, where they will be paired with kindergarteners, first and second graders.

This unit in the ASL 2 curriculum provides the high school students with the ability to become teachers themselves, which gives them a unique and fun way to practice and help remember their signs.

The younger students are always excited when their high school teachers come to visit, and they are eager to learn and use the new signs.

Sometimes the teaching goes further than just signing, however. The older elementary students are often interested in Deaf culture and ask a lot of questions about it. Since the high schoolers are educated on this topic, they are easily able to answer the kids. This helps the elementary schoolers understand Deaf culture and why they should respect it.

High schoolers teaching sign language to young students is beneficial for both parties involved. It is a great way to get different grade levels to interact in an academic and enjoyable way.