|
The first time we met Vicki she taught us a few basic signs like
hello, how are you, fine, my name, and what's your name. We also practiced signing the alphabet a couple of times.
For homework we had to practice signing my name is Heather, but we had to finger spell our name. When we met last week
we talked about hearing loss. I learned that one out of three people has hearing loss and that thirty school children
out of one thousand has hearing losses. Hearing loss can be caused by sickness, certain medicines, loud sounds, trauma
(head injury), child abuse, sports (boxing), and kids who have numerous ear infections. Vicki explained to us that
there are three types of hearing loss. Sensory Neural which is choclea nerves are damaged. Conductive where something
is between the choclea and the entrance to the ear (earwax) or the eardrums are damaged. Then there is a combination
of both. We got to listen to a tape that really showed me how aggrivating people can get, especially in the classroom,
when they have a hearing loss. After listening to the tape I will definitely make sure that if I ever have a student
with a hearing loss, I will make sure their needs are met.
The last day that Vicki Bruno visited our class she gave us some websites
for future references and she gave us several handouts. The handouts contained what to do in the classroom for students
with hearing losses, how sign lanuage helps hearing children in many different ways, and how signing can help hearing children
learn to read. She also gave us handouts with the signs for numbers, the Pledge of Allegiance, sign language that can
be used in the classroom, the signs for the colors, and several other basic signs to communicate better with students with
or without hearing losses. Towards the end of class we played bingo, and the cards only had the signs on them.
It was very interesting to play bingo that way, and sometimes the signs on the cards were hard to recognize. However,
it was a good experience and I liked having the chance to play. I really enjoyed having Vicki in our classroom, and
I appreciate her willing to give us her e-mail so that we can contact her if we have any questions. I enjoyed learning
a little sign lanuage, and I still hope to learn more in the future. I believe that sign lanuage can be good for students
with or without hearing losses.
|
