Teachers' DEN: Language Rich Environments

 Language Rich Environments …            
The other LRE to consider for your DHH students

The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is most likely the term that you are familiar with as it is one of the vital components developed in a child’s IEP. The least restrictive environment ensures your student has the necessary access in and out of their classrooms. However, have you, or your case conference committee, considered if your Deaf and Hard of Hearing student’s least restrictive environment is also the one providing language rich opportunities?

Check the below infographic to see if these situations are being covered in their classroom(s). If they’re not already in place, we encourage you to reach out to your school team to facilitate these opportunities. That way you can make their Least Restrictive Environment is truly a Language Rich Environment. 

Please link and share this information with your colleagues!

Language and Literacy Corner: The Art of Narrating your Day

 

TACKLIN' Assessment

Investing in Your Child: A Penny for Your Thoughts

Multiple studies have shown that hearing children typically hear 30-40 million words before kindergarten. In a study by Hart and Risley (1999), the amount of listening experience necessary for adequate language development was investigated. In their longitudinal study of children from birth to age 4, they documented the number of person-spoken words heard by this population. The study did not include electronic words heard on the TV, books on tape, or the computer. On average, talkative families spoke 2100 words per hour while quieter families spoke only 600 words per hour. Parents who talked a lot provided more varied vocabulary, complex ideas, subtle guidance, and positive feedback ended up with children who also talked a lot.  Conversely, parents who rarely talked ended up with 3-year-olds who talked a little. These findings can be applied to all deaf and  hard of hearing children regardless of communication methodology. For example, it can be implied that parents who sign more to their child will have children who use sign more than those parents who sign only a little.  Strategies for increasing communication interactions and increasing your word count with your child at home in everyday situations is provided below.

Strategies to Increase Word Count

· Be a “sports commentator” and describe  every detail as your child is doing.  Make your words/signs match not only what the child is doing, but also what they are thinking and feeling. 

· Use self-talk to narrate what you are doing when playing and/or engaging in daily routines with your child.

· Find opportunities throughout the day to read aloud to your child. If you have an older child, you can engage them in partner reading and/or book discussions.

· Sing familiar songs with your child and/or make up your own song to accompany a daily routine.

Check out the Thirty Million Words initiative from the University of Chicago!

 Activities

· Brushing your teeth.                   

· Playing with playdough.           

· Making a snowman.

· Baking cookies.           

· Setting the table.        

· Building an indoor fort.

· Play board and card games.

Create an experience book with photographs or pictures of you and your child doing any of the above activities. Hearing First offers more information on experience books here.

 Cole, E.B. & Flexer, C. (2007). Children with hearing loss developing listening and  talking: birth to six. San Diego: Plural Publishing, INC.

Hart, B., & Risely, T.R. (1999). The social world of children learning to talk.  Baltimore: Brookes.

 

 

Language and Literacy Corner: How Can Children Be Social While Social Distancing?

Children learn language best from other children. Peers can provide opportunities to learn new ways of play, resolving conflicts, sharing, problem-solving, creating, and so much more. Peers will also provide immediate feedback to your child if their  communication (sign, speech, or augmentative/alternative) was understood and effective. With social distancing still encouraged, here are some ideas for ways your child could still interact with peers and continue to develop language and literacy.

Outside Play Dates:

When the weather allows, some outside activities can be completed while still social        distancing. Just be sure to encourage your child to keep their hands away from their face and wash their hands as soon as they are done playing. How about trying:

· Riding bikes (with helmets!)

· Playing catch or frisbee

 Neighborhood Activities:

If you live in an area that has a way through social media for neighbors to communicate, you could try to organize:

· I-Spy scavenger hunts where neighbors hide specific things in yards for children to spy on a walk

· Putting up theme pictures in windows for parents to talk about when taking a walk with their family

· Sending messages to neighborhood friends using sidewalk chalk

 Video Calling:

Yes, we all may be sick of the video call, but have you tried these activities?

· Create a theme for the peer meeting. Plan ahead of time with the caregivers to have similar toys that children are playing with during the video call such as building blocks, arts and crafts, or action figures/dolls. Caregivers and children could engage in parallel play with adults modeling some social language for the children.

· Older children can take turns playing a song for everyone to dance to. Younger children may benefit from a caregiver playing the songs the children choose.

· Think about watching a movie together to take pressure off your child to entertain friends.

· Try simple science experiments (baking soda volcanos, glitter sensory jars, salt on water color paint).

· Have a rock-paper-scissor championship.

· Take a livestream museum tour together.

· Let your older children do school work with their peers through video.

 Other Ideas:

What if video chatting is not for your child? It may create anxiety, make them feel overwhelmed by all the visual and verbal cues on the screen, not catch their attention, or remind them that they cannot play with their friends. Try these activities to connect with peers:

· Write letters or draw pictures to send to friends

· Film a short video for friends such as saying hello or making a silly face

 

 

Teachers Den

Summer is a great time to enrich your child’s skills. Here are some great ideas to take advantage of summer weather and build family memories!

Preschool

Hearing Device Maintenance

>Have your child help with changing batteries and basic cleaning.

>Have your child indicate if the battery is working.

 Auditory Development

>Have your child identify sounds in and outside of the house.

>Have your child practice turning  their head toward someone  speaking to them .

Language Development

>Talk about the things you see, hear, taste, and smell inside and outside.

>Read books together and talk    about the pictures.

>Make a no-bake cookie recipe together; talk about each step.

Academics

>Count objects, touching/pointing     to each one.

>Use magnetic letters or cut out letters for your child’s name; have them work on putting the letters together.

>Have your child trace their name.

>Have your child find things from a category that you name—specific colors, toys, kitchen things, etc.

>Talk about the shapes of objects  that you see on a walk.

 

Elementary

Hearing Device Maintenance

>Monitor your child as they check/change batteries and clean their devices.

>Have your child learn when to use    a dehumidifier.

Auditory Development/Assistive Tech/Emergency

>Have your child identify sounds inside of the house or outside.

>Investigate closed captioning options: TV, streaming services,  DVDs, video games, websites.

>Create/practice an evacuation plan in case of fire.

Language Development

>Talk about the things you see, hear, taste, and smell inside and outside.

>Have your child complete a simple craft; have your child explain to a friend or family member how they made the project.

>Play a board game.

>Discuss your day.

Academics

>Have your child take pictures of activities they did and write about that experience.

>Have your child read books for at least 20 minutes daily.

>Have your child practice math facts on the sidewalk with chalk.

 Middle/High School

(all activities are independent)

Hearing Device Maintenance

>Complete daily device maintenance.

>Make a contact sheet for ENT and audiologist.

>Document hearing device make/model/serial numbers and battery requirements.

Assistive Tech/Emergency

>Investigate assistive devices to use  in the home (fire alarm, alarm clock, phone, other alerting devices).

>Create/discuss emergency plans for fire, weather, accidents.

Career/Employment

>Take career assessments:

skills, interests, values. Look at the  top 10-20 careers/jobs listed under each assessment; compare trends.

>Research career/job interests, skills, schooling needed.

>Research other options for training and requirements for training opportunities.

Academics

>Read/research topics of interest.

>Read books for enjoyment.

>Keep a journal documenting your summer experiences, thoughts, and feelings.