What are some ways you can teach vocabulary presented within science and social studies?
There are many ways to teach the vocabulary of science and social studies. I remember copying the definitions from the glossary, that is not everyone's favorite but it works for some. You can show videos or look at pictures that help represent the concepts being taught. For sign language users, many science words and social studies words are only fingerspelled. This can take away from the sign context clues that may help the student remember the vocabulary word or give a hint to its meaning. Pictures or flowcharts or hands on presentations of a concept or word are always the best but sometimes there isn't any available. I like the idea of having like a matching game in class to help review the vocabulary. I think games that are fun help solidify learning.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Reflection Journal #7
The authors noted the lag in development of mathematics concepts is due to delays in language development, lack of exposure to life-based problem solving, and inadequate preservice teacher preparation in the area of mathematics. Do you agree or disagree? explain your answer.
I do agree with the authors statement about the lag being attributed all the areas mentioned. A language barrier is something that has to be addressed before teaching the math content. Math is very vocabulary based whether working on word problems or otherwise. Early math can be supported with manipulatives and visual representation. That will be a lot harder as the math concepts become more abstract. A strong language base is needed for not only deaf children, but hearing children as well. Another area of need mentioned was a lack of exposure to life-based problem solving which is often a problem with deaf and hard of hearing children. When children have to be directly taught, as opposed to gaining knowledge incidentally, sometimes it is easier to do things for them watch them struggle and become frustrated. Our job as teachers is to help develop those problem solving skills by giving them opportunities to use and improve those skills. I do agree that the training for teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing lacks content based instruction and that we have to be resourceful to learn subjects on our own. This sometimes can lead to a lack of preparedness on the part of the teacher. I believe, as teachers we have to accept that we are not strong in all areas and to reach out to others to help us with difficult subjects. This could mean working with the regular education teachers to get a better grasp of the content then modifying it for our students.
What areas do you feel need you need to develop to teach math?
The first thing I need to do is to develop a better knowledge of math sign language. That will be a must. Also, I feel I need a better understanding of how to teach both concrete math concepts and also the more abstract. Math is a daunting subject to teach in general, but add in a language delay abstract thinking and it can be overwhelming. I am a little nervous about this subject and will be seeking out a lot of outside development to build my confidence to teach this subject.
I do agree with the authors statement about the lag being attributed all the areas mentioned. A language barrier is something that has to be addressed before teaching the math content. Math is very vocabulary based whether working on word problems or otherwise. Early math can be supported with manipulatives and visual representation. That will be a lot harder as the math concepts become more abstract. A strong language base is needed for not only deaf children, but hearing children as well. Another area of need mentioned was a lack of exposure to life-based problem solving which is often a problem with deaf and hard of hearing children. When children have to be directly taught, as opposed to gaining knowledge incidentally, sometimes it is easier to do things for them watch them struggle and become frustrated. Our job as teachers is to help develop those problem solving skills by giving them opportunities to use and improve those skills. I do agree that the training for teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing lacks content based instruction and that we have to be resourceful to learn subjects on our own. This sometimes can lead to a lack of preparedness on the part of the teacher. I believe, as teachers we have to accept that we are not strong in all areas and to reach out to others to help us with difficult subjects. This could mean working with the regular education teachers to get a better grasp of the content then modifying it for our students.
What areas do you feel need you need to develop to teach math?
The first thing I need to do is to develop a better knowledge of math sign language. That will be a must. Also, I feel I need a better understanding of how to teach both concrete math concepts and also the more abstract. Math is a daunting subject to teach in general, but add in a language delay abstract thinking and it can be overwhelming. I am a little nervous about this subject and will be seeking out a lot of outside development to build my confidence to teach this subject.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Reflection journal #6
Research the CAEBER (center for ASL/English Bilingual Education and Research). How would you incorporate some of these techniques into your classroom.
One of the things I like best about CAEBER is the inclusion of deaf studies into the classroom. I always want to promote successful deaf individuals to my students to show through hard work, you can accomplish your goals. Also, I want my students to know the history of deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their struggles and accomplishments. I want to use their ideas of professional development to keep current on statistics and data to better teach my students. I think that we are gaining better knowledge of how to educate D/HH students and also technology to help our students be successful in life. I know that sometimes we are the only deaf educators in the district. If I were in a school where their was more than one deaf educator, I would hope to incorporate the planning committee and keep a consistency for our students. I know the communication modality the student uses is whatever works best for them; however, I would hope to be able to teach them about ASL and sign and would be knowledgeable enough to know what sign systems will work best for the student, if any. Incorporating cultural and more than one language is hard, but if you start young, I believe, it can be achieved and beneficial to the students.
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