Language will enrich life for any child, deaf or hearing. Effective language learning is fun and active. Here are some teacher-tested learning styles strategies you can also use at home.
I once taught a deaf child so shy at age 5 that she entered my classroom hidden behind her mother's leg. A few years later, counselors at summer camp created the "Who-What-Why-Where-When" award to recognize her neverending curiosity and nosiness. Now she is 17 and busy with life: boyfriend, college plans, and numerous complaints — for talking too much! What could turn a shy preschooler into a talkative youngster who would win an award for asking too many questions? She learned the power of language; a power that all children of different learning types, deaf or hearing, should be encouraged to develop.
Expanding Vocabulary and Speech Language Development
Children first need to express their preferences and needs through learning styles activities. So I like to teach my students — deaf and hearing alike — the word, “favorite,” and I encourage them to use the word with zeal: "Is pizza your favorite food?" "Spiders are not my favorite!" I modeled their technique by questioning the students; then they began questioning me. Soon they wanted to know everything about everybody, and questioned all visitors about their favorite foods, weather, animals … you name it. Shyness gave way to strong opinions.
Children who are actively using their minds need increasingly more complex vocabulary. Formal lessons and informal chats gave the students bigger and better words to use in their mission to get their questions answered. We had no time for worksheets; we had a mother-tongue to learn! We had time-lines to build, and kin to count. We talked all morning and we talked all afternoon. Everyone had expected a deaf class to be silent, but not ours. Effective language learning is fun and active. "Tell three meanings for the word spike! Yes, spiked hair, shoes with spikes, a railroad spike!" We were wild and noisy, and it was wonderful to watch young minds open, and personalities develop.
Expanding Minds with Education Learning Styles
Once you have a child thinking … and using vocabulary … and building a larger word bank … you need to broaden the child's knowledge and concept base. I accomplished this with carefully chosen children's books, which I read aloud. We began each day with story time, and read at least one book, often more. The children experienced at least 180 stories a year, with the people, plots, surprises and experiences that the stories introduced.
These stories presented hundreds of questions to ask; and hundreds of thoughts to think. "Who was your favorite character? Which was your favorite book this week? Why did you like that book? What happened when the father came home? When did the characters feel sad? How did they solve their problems?" Minds, vocabulary, ideas, thoughts, concepts and questions grew around these fun, and seemingly carefree activities. The children thought they were just having fun; I knew they were finding power in language.
Ready for School, Ready for Life
My little shy student is a good example of just how curious and outgoing you can help a child become. If you will do these three things and your child will be very ready for school:
- Encourage your child to think for herself and to express opinions.
- Help your child build an extensive vocabulary by using questions, conversations, explanations, drawings, and pictures.
- Provide many kinds of experiences -- books, trips, activities, museums -- through which your child can learn to understand life, people and the world.
But be prepared, for you may never have another moment’s peace as your child takes to asking, “Who? What? Why? Where? When? … and How?”
Linda Schrock Taylor is a freelance writer and teacher. She grew up in a home with a brother who was hearing impaired. She writes about ways to help all children learn.