integrating SW in school curriculum???

[James Shepard-Kegl, Esq.]

It is too early for anything besides anecdotal, I suppose.  I dunno ...just
musing at a possible opportunity.

-- James





on 10/21/06 11:13 AM, Valerie Sutton at sutton at signwriting.org wrote:

SignWriting List
October 21, 2006

Hello James!
Thank you for this phenomenal story! Your dedication as a parent is
impressive, besides your skill with Nicaraguan Sign Language and
SignWriting!

What kind of serious follow-up do you want from us? Do you want us to write
to the interpreter and teacher, to ask them for their anecdotal experiences
on how SignWriting has helped their student?

or are you asking for someone to research this specifically, with the goal
to show that SignWriting helps Deaf students learn more?

What next step do you suggest?  Val ;-)





On Oct 21, 2006, at 6:45 AM, James Shepard-Kegl, Esq. wrote:

As some of you may be aware, earlier this year my wife and I adopted a
Nicaraguan Deaf teenager (now age 16) and enrolled her in the mainstream
program for Deaf students at Portland (Maine) high school.  Our daughter,
Yuri, is not the only Deaf student in the class, but she is the only one who
can read SW.  This means, at least to a small degree, one may compare and
contrast the achievement level of a SW reader who is Deaf versus none SW
readers who are Deaf in a high school program of this nature.  (The class is
intended for immigrants from many nations and speaking many languages.  Most
of the students are hearing.  Deaf students are included because they also
are lacking in English abilities.)

The teachers, of course, do not understand SW, or, for that matter, ASL.
The school accommodates Yuri with an ESL (English as a second language)
teacher who signs (somewhat) and an ASL interpreter who signs natively.
Neither read SW, but they wish they could.

Why?  Because I spend a lot of time translating Yuri's school assignments
(all in English) into Nicaraguan Sign Language using SW, she has an
opportunity to learn that others are denied.  Her teachers and interpreters
have noted it.

Do they think this helps a little, or a lot; are they thoroughly impressed
or only half-convinced?  I don't know.  Someone ought to ask them.  In fact,
someone ought to do some serious follow-up.

The ASL interpreter is Regan Thibodeau:  eitar at tmail.com

The teacher/interpreter is Tracey Frederick:  traceyf at tmail.com

I will let them know I authorize their responses.

-- James





Val ;-)


Valerie Sutton
Sutton at SignWriting.org

1. SignWriting
Read & Write Sign Languages
http://www.SignWriting.org

2. SignBank
Create Sign Language Databases
http://www.SignBank.org

3. SignPuddle
Create Sign Language Dictionaries
http://www.SignPuddle.org

4. SignText
Create Sign Language Documents
http://www.SignBank.org/signpuddle/signtext

5. SignWriting List
Technical Support: Ask questions to the List 
http://www.SignWriting.org/forums/swlist

6. DanceWriting
Read & Write Dance Movement
http://www.DanceWriting.org

7. MovementWriting
Read & Write All Body Movement
http://www.MovementWriting.org

8. SymbolBank
International Movement Writing Alphabet
http://www.MovementWriting.org/symbolbank

9. Non-profit Organization
Center for Sutton Movement Writing
http://www.SignWriting.org/forums/sponsors

SignWriting Literacy Project
The DAC, Deaf Action Committee
Center For Sutton Movement Writing
an educational nonprofit organization
P.O. Box 517, La Jolla, CA, 92038, USA
tel 858-456-0098   fax 858-456-0020
D-Link Videophone: 66.27.57.178
Skype Name: valeriesutton






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