A-Z Phonograms with ASL (SWRForum.com Sample Video)
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This video was made at the request of students in a Basic Seminar toward the end of 2021. Several of said students learned a language other than English as their first language. Forming the sounds of English was challenging to them. Trainer Rhonda Bedee of Wise Spelling had shown me how she uses a mirror to demonstrate how phonogram sounds are formed. I combined that idea with also showing the American Sign Language (ASL) hand shapes for fingerspelling.
Using the ASL alphabet is a fantastic multi-sensory approach to engage your students while they practice phonogram sounds. I have seen "Wiggly Willys" suddenly sit still when their hand is given something to do as they are orally practicing the phonograms while watching their teacher flip through the cards.
If the SWR Forum & Resource Center is funded, I plan to make more videos using the ASL alphabet combined with phonogram sounds. The order would be different in each video so you would be able to use the videos with your students for reviewing the phonograms.
Picture yourself driving down the road and someone in the back seat enthusiastically petitions you to help her review the phonograms (we are dreaming, right?). You have your phonogram fingers with you always and can eagerly oblige!
When students forget which letters are in a multi-letter phonogram, it is a faux pas to tell them the letter names that make up the phonogram. Instead of taking the time to shuffle through the stack of cards to find the correct one to show them, you can demonstrate with your fingers!
Besides engaging kinesthetic learners, knowing the ASL alphabet is advantageous in life. Imagine being in a book store or at the zoo and a deaf person needs help communicating. If you know how to finger spell, you can help!