Assistive Listening Devices and Emerging ASL into the Classroom

In my first grade classroom, one of my students is hard of hearing. During my lessons, I use an assistive listening device that helps send sound waves to her hearing aids as I am giving a lesson to help her hear me better. This is used throughout the day.

While my students have been exposed to their classmate that has hard-of-hearing, they will encounter various people with differences in their lifetime. As their student teacher, I made it it my goal to introduce them to the abilities they have to adapt and accommodate to the d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. In our class, I began teaching them how to communicate in American Sign Language by introducing the ASL Alphabet with our pre-existing knowledge of letter sound. Together, we have learned to spell our names using ASL.

Justification:

• understands communication theory, language development, and the role of language in learning among elementary students
• understands how cultural and gender differences can affect communication in the classroom
• anticipates possible student misunderstandings
• uses a variety of media communication tools, including audio-visual aids and computers, to enrich learning opportunities
• provides clear directions and procedures
• expresses self well in oral and written forms
• communicates using standards conventions
• uses appropriate and effective questioning and discussion techniques