IN THE CLASSROOM -- Teaching the universal language

Deirdre Newman

Most kindergartners know the sound the letter “t” makes. Carol

Jewell’s students at Andersen Elementary School, however, also know the

letter “t” in sign language and can sign a host of words that start with

that letter.

Jewell uses sign language to enhance learning of the alphabet, phonics

and number sense. Because children absorb information in different ways,

sign language provides another opportunity for understanding, Jewell

explained.

“We learn visually and auditorily, and all children are kinesthetic,

so incorporating sign language is like another avenue to their brain,”

Jewell said. “At the same time, they are participating instead of tuning

out.”

Jewell, who has been teaching kindergarten at the Newport Beach school

on and off for the past 12 years, said using sign language is also

extremely beneficial for students who don’t know English.

“The other children don’t know it either, so we’re all learning it

together,” Jewell said.

With a sign alphabet chart on the wall for reference, Jewell spells

out a word in sign language and asks her students to figure out what it

is.

Then she moves on to the phonics portion of the lesson, going over

words that have the same vowel sound.

To increase number sense, she brings out a number chart, signs a

number, then asks her students find that number on the chart.

“They say if [students] don’t get a sense of numbers by kindergarten,

for the rest of their school careers they will struggle with it,” Jewell

said.

All of her students seem to enjoy the chance to learn letters and

numbers in a different manner, and many see the practical value in

knowing sign language.

“It’s really fun,” student Kacie Kline said. “Then you can talk to a

deaf person in sign language. I have a deaf person who’s my cousin, and I

feel happy when I can talk to her.”

Parent Michele Woodward, whose son Clayton is another sign language

aficionado, said she is impressed with Jewell’s incorporation of sign

language as a learning technique.

“I love it,” Woodward said. “I think it’s important for children to

have as many modalities as possible.”

Woodward added that Clayton teaches her and her husband sign language

and sometimes automatically responds to questions with sign language at

home.

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot education

writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus within the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District and writes about her experience.