Web Report #2
SignWriting Publications
We want to improve our publications. We need your feedback and
suggestions.
The following publications were donated to your classroom.
Please give us your opinions, which we value. Write as much as
you wish.
From: "Michele Lewis" <jslewis@gte.net>
To: "SignWriting" <DAC@SignWriting.org>
Subject: Re: Web Report #2
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 1998 10:09:03 -0500
1.
Goldilocks & The Three Bears
SW Level 1, Workbook & Coloring Book
Did your students like this book? Were they eager to open it
and use it? Did they color in it? Did they write rows of symbols
and signs? Was the information clear? Were there specific questions
that were hard for you to answer?
Yes, they liked the book. They are very enthusiastic about
their school work in general! They completed the book exactly
as it was presented.
The only problem I am having is teaching them the individual
parts of the signs. They were not making much progress learning
Sign Writing until I figured out that they do much better learning
the sign as a whole. (The flashcards are what helped me come
to this conclusion! They could remember the signs with no problem
after working with the flashcards.) I think that they are too
young to understand the mechanics of how Sign Writing is put
together. I plan on focusing more on them memorizing the individual
signs first, and as they get older, I will start breaking the
signs down into their parts. Maybe I need to explain that a little
better. When I show them a new sign, I do show them the individual
parts but I am not drilling them on the individual parts. I think
what I am trying to say is that I am having more success teaching
them to read Sign Writing than I am teaching them how to compose
Sign Writing. I hope this makes sense.
What improvements would you suggest? Would you add or subtract
anything?
The the one thing that I would suggest is written lesson plans.
I think I would be doing a better job if I had a teaching outline
to go by; what should be covered, how much time per session,
what sequence etc. Since I am learning Sign Writing as well,
I would benefit from an experienced Sign Writing teacher's guidelines
and suggestions.
Did you use the accompanying flashcards and what did you
think of them?
Yes! The flashcards made all the difference in the world. They
have an easier time remembering the signs as a whole. They were
having a hard time remembering the individual parts of each Sign
Writing word. I would highly suggest MORE FLASHCARDS! By the
way, I am planning on making up my own flashcards of sorts using
the Sign Writing computer program. I have been sort of a holding
pattern because I have been hoping for the release of the Windows
version! (DOS and I just don't get along very well!) Do you know
when the Windows version will be released?
Do you want more copies of this book, and the flashcards,
for your future classrooms?
No. My other two children are not old enough yet :)
2. Goldilocks & The Three Bears
SW Level 2, Basic ASL Storybook
Were your students ready for this book, when they finished SW
Level 1? If not, what was lacking in their knowledge, that made
it too advanced for them?
Actually, they are doing better with this book than the first!
I think it is because the signs are written in sentence form
and they are no broken down into their individual parts.
How did the students react to reading complete sentences in ASL?
Was it hard for them, or was it an easy experience for them?
It was not difficult. It made more sense to them than dissecting
the individual signs.
Did your students use the dictionary in the back? Did they have
problems finding a sign in the dictionary?
They do not understand how to look up the signs by the Sign-Symbol-Sequence
method yet but the dictionary is short and they were able to
skim through to find the word. Most words they could phonically
decode. There were only a couple they could not figure out.
At SW Level 2 we gave you a storybook with sentences, but we
did not give you a workbook. Would you like a workbook at Level
2 as well? Would a workbook teaching the writing of sentences
in ASL be useful?
Yes, I would like a workbook. My kids seem to do better if
they process information in a couple of different ways, (reading
and writing). However, my children are still having problems
with breaking down the signs into it's individual parts so I
don't know if they would be ready for that type of workbook.
What improvements would you suggest? Would you add or subtract
anything?
The only thing that I would suggest at this point is teacher
lesson plans. The student materials themselves are excellent.
Do you want more copies of the storybook for your future classrooms?
I only need one for our family.
3.
Sutton's American Sign Language
Picture Dictionary For Children
Did your students like this dictionary? Were they eager to open
it and use it?
They did much better with the dictionary because it presented
words in it's entirety. I think I made a mistake by trying to
teach them the individual sign parts instead of whole words.
They did like going through it and figuring out the signs!
What did they think of the pictures? Did the pictures help?
I think the pictures helped a lot. My children are quite young.
They are on a 1st grade reading level so the pictures were more
meaningful to them than the text.
Was the Sign-Symbol-Sequence clear? Did you have problems finding
a sign in the dictionary?
It took a while to get the hang of it but I'm okay now :)
The kid's don't get it yet though.
Would you want us to expand this dictionary to include more signs?
If so, what are some of the signs you would like us to add?
Yes of course! As far as what signs......... I would probably
include words that occur during the course of every day conversations,
words that are high frequency words and words that are of particular
interest to children.
Do you want more copies of this dictionary for your future classrooms?
Since we are one family, one dictionary is enough for us.
4. Lessons
In SignWriting
Video Series & Booklets
Did teachers and parents view these videos? What did they think?
Was it useful for them?
I enjoyed the videos. They were very clear. It made it easier
to go back to the book and understand what was presented.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements of this video
series?
It would be nice for the series to be expanded to cover all
of the lesson in the SignWriting Manual.
5. Lessons
In SignWriting
Textbook
Have you referred to this textbook to answer specific technical
questions?
Yes. I am working my way through it to learn everything but
I also refer back to answer specific questions.
If so, what were some of the questions you needed to answer?
I am in the process of learning how to fine tune the signs,
adding the appropriate facial expressions.
What part of the textbook have you referred to most?
Now that I have the basics down, I would say I refer to the facial
expressions part the most.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements of this textbook?
Do you feel it is a useful tool for the school to have for reference?
I really can't think of any improvements. The book is very
thorough and it is easy to understand. Yes, it is VERY useful.
6. Do you want to receive new, different materials?
Yes, now that I have figured out how to teach Sign Writing
to the kids, they are learning it faster!
If your answer is yes, what would you like to receive first,
second, third, fourth?
___1st___Cinderella, SW Level 1 (Beginners)
___2nd___Cinderella, SW Level 2 (Beginners)
___3rd___Goldilocks & The Three Bears, SW Level 3 (Intermediate)
___4th___Goldilocks & The Three Bears, SW Level 4 (Advanced)
How many copies of the above publications do you need, and when
will you be ready for them?
I only need 2 copies as my two younger children are too young
yet. I am ready whenever you are.
7. Overall, what is your general impression of our materials?
Do you feel they have been a positive influence on your students
and their parents?
I am very impressed with the quality of the materials! The
student materials are colorful, interesting and well done. The
Sign Writing Manual is very thorough and easy to understand.
My kids absolutely love the Fairy Tale video tape. They have
watched it many, many times!
Michele Lewis
jslewis@gte.net
November 1st, 1998
Covenant Christian Academy
Homeschool, Plant City, Florida
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