Hello fellow bloggers,
I teach high school students who read at as low as 1st grade level. A number of adolescent students fell through cracks in a variety of educational settings and they are conveniently labeled as ‘hearing-impaired’ and they bear the brunt of burden for their failure. My job is to help them become more confident readers, particularly as adolescents without demeaning schoolwork.
I have a group of adolescents who are placed in my classroom and their reading levels are at least 6 years below the Oregon standards and we are working together to remain optimistic with what we can do. They see themselves as trees that may appear the same in few months yet they know they are growing.
I also have a fascinating group of deaf but avid readers. They can opt to go to any public school with sign language interpreters, but they choose to come to our school so their vivacious hands can freely share their intellectually and emotionally rewarding reading experiences. (They speak in American Sign Language, ASL.)
I am their teacher who strives to understand who they are and where they come from. Now, my new chapter in life is blogging, a totally new world for me.
See you then,
I salute you, RJ. Having worked with lower-ability students before, I can identify with the joy and challenges that come with the territory.
ReplyDeleteAlso, isn't ASL amazing to watch? I feel so clumsy when I sign with deaf or family members of deaf people. They are lightning fast in ASL. :)
Hi RJ,
ReplyDeleteIs that what you like to be called? I have always wanted to be able to sign. Can I learn even if I'm left handed?
Anyhow, good for you for working with great kids that want to learn. Be sure to respond to the assignment questions on your blog so others can read about what your thinking. I"ll be sending the syllabus by email as it's too big for the blog. Do you have the text yet? Let me know. Looks also like your love the outdoors. Are you a hiker?
Sue
Anyone can sign PEACE, being left handed. Smile. I have two kids writing left handed, however, they have no trouble signing.
ReplyDeleteThe textbook is a God-given treasure. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but really, it gives me a 'young adult literature' lens, reflecting on my experiences with adolescent students. Also, I appreciate its user-friendly approach that gave me a sigh of relief.
Last summer my family traveled across the country, camping at various state and national parks. My daughter snapped a photo of myself on the rock. I smiled because I enjoyed my quality time with kids. They spent so much time hooking up with technology so I made a point to take them outdoors, technology-free.
-RJ
The lower-ability students smile and laugh as all other adolescents do. The real challenge teaching them is to make them smile or laugh intelligently. For instance, when they don't recognize basic vocabulary through reading, I recycle target words as 'Facebook chat vocabulary' and they laugh, wanting to practice using them in authentic contexts.
ReplyDeleteDon't hearing people speak lighting fast, as well? It is as clumsy lip-reading what they are saying. :)
Sue, I'm left-handed also. The basic alphabet was actually the trickiest for me at first, but when I used to work with the deaf population, I could sign the alphabet with both hands. Otherwise, I'm afraid I was a bit inconsistent with which hand I signed with.
ReplyDeleteRJ, a lot of my lower-ability experiences have also involved people with "behavioral issues"... I was teaching some basic social skills and learning how to dodge punches very quickly. :P