Teaching Sign Language to My Deaf-Blind Son Through Books

Submitted by Liamsmom on Apr 16, 2013

Before I create a book for my son, Liam, I purposefully think of two things: what interests my son and what do I want to teach him through this book. A recent book I made for Liam was a 'Bible' to put in his Easter basket.

Explanation of the book:

My son is almost 4 years old, and recently became deaf-blind (a little over a year ago). He is rapidly learning sign language (ASL) and I look for every opportunity to teach him new signs! What better way than through literacy:)

Crosses:

I added crosses of different textures that I knew he would like. I teach him the word "cross" and the phrase "Jesus loves me" when we 'read' the cross pages. It didn't take him long before he was signing "Jesus loves me" on his own as he read the pages! The page that has 3 crosses, we practice our counting as well. Jesus loves you

Boat page:

The page with the boat and the animals represents Noah's Ark. The boat is glued onto the page but the animals are velcroed onto the page so Liam can take them off and put them into the boat. Liam learned the word 'boat' through his new 'Bible' and now signs it every time he 'reads' the Noah's Ark page. He now is able to sign 'boat' when he finds toy boats in his toy box. Liam also learned the word 'in' as in put the animals 'in' the 'boat'. (see picture of Liam reading the Noah's Ark page:)

Baby Jesus Page:

Liam already new the sign for baby (he has a baby brother) but I taught him the word bed (for manger). The baby Jesus is attached to the page with Velcro so Liam can take Him off and put him in the bed (manger). Today, when we read the book, he even told the baby Jesus to go to sleep in His bed, all in sign:)

Liam's "Bible" is one of Liam's new favorites. He now asks for this book by name, calling it either the Jesus book or the boat book. :)

Materials:

hot glue gun
textured crosses
braille words
a blank book that is three holed punched (lays down flat nicely) I buy mine at Michaels.
Velcro
objects of choice

Procedure:

The child can be included in the creation of the book, by helping to tell the story and to choose the objects to illustrate each page.

Read the book aloud, giving the sign for each object.
Ask the child to repeat the sign.
Point out the words in print and/or braille, and call the child's attention to the object or tactile illustration.
Ask the child simple "wh" questions -- who, what, where, when
Have the child tell the story back to you.