Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children's Literacy (Paperback)

by Marilyn Daniels (Author) "This book is about sign language and how sign language can be used to improve hearing children's English vocabulary, reading ability, spelling proficiency, self-esteem, and..." (more)
Key Phrases: receiving sign instruction, typical hearing children, sign language instruction, United States, American Sign Language, Prince George's County (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Dancing With Words not only constitutes an important addition to this existing literature, but also opens the door for very different kinds of discussions about sign language....Highly recommended for researchers, faculty, practitioners, and professionals.”–Choice

“Dancing with Words is an extremely powerful publication. Dr. Daniels provides the reader with the benefits of and basic procedures for incorporating signing into the instructional program. This reader friendly text highlights how signing helps students retain sight words, extend their vocabulary, and improve spelling. As an elementary school principal and part time assistant professor I am thrilled that Dr. Daniels wrote such an informative, meaningful document. I am eager to share Dancing with Words with current and future teachers.”–Cynthia Bowen Principal Berkshire Elementary School Assistant Professor College of Notre Dame

“Dr. Marilyn Daniels, the most prolific researcher in this field, has methodically and painstakingly molded an effective argument for enabling children with normal hearing to become full participants in language and communication with their families and peers at a younger age through the use of sign language, citing benefits in reading, spelling, self-esteem, and expression of emotions. I heartily recommend Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children's Literacy, a fresh innovative perspective on a communication modality that can extend most effectively beyond the traditional educational realm of its deaf and hearing impaired beneficiaries.”–W. Winfield McChord, Jr. Executive Director American School for the Deaf

“From an entirely original perspective, based on ten years of solid research, Daniels presents an exciting adventure into the dynamics of language acquisition. Teaching sign language to hearing students brings into focus the visual and spatial components of communication and conceptual thinking, creating at the same time a spontaneity of fun in learning. Teachers who have introduced even minimal skills in ASL into their classrooms are reluctant to return to former methods of teaching. There is an enchantment, too, in Daniels' descriptions of classroom situations where various forms of comprehension are brought into play. One wants to observe the richness added to these classes where young mental activity is fermenting, acuity sharpened, self-confidence abloom, unself-conscious emotional expression evident - an inherent element of the language of ASL.”–Hannah Merker author of Listening: Ways of Hearing in a Silent World

“Dancing with Words is a valuable contribution to the literature on the use of signing with hearing children. This carefully documented text explains how to implement signing in the home and school and why every parent and teacher should consider it. Dr. Daniels has brought this unique and highly effective teaching technique to the next evolutionary level. Every teacher training program in the country should have a copy of this on their shelf.”–Jan C. Hafer, Ed.D Associate Professor Department of Education Gallaudet University

“Dancing with Words will become the basic text for teachers and parents interested in teaching sign language to their hearing children. The well written text and thoroughly documented contents will be pleasing to parents and teachers. Readers can select chapters to read and chapters to ignore since each chapter stands alone. I am sure that sooner or later all will want to read all of it. This is a book I wish I had written.”–Robert M. Wilson Professor Emeritus University of Maryland, College Park

“Marilyn Daniels's book helps teachers and parents develop yet another pathway to increasing children's literacy: the use of sign language. She provides solid evidence that training children in sign language contributes to their ability to visually focus and attend when reading. This book is essential reading for early childhood educators.”–Anthony J. Coletta Professor of Early Childhood Education William Paterson University

“Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children's Literacy is an excellent contribution to the field of enhancing learning. As a physician, I was impressed with the clear understanding and presentation of the way the brain is organized to process and store languages. The heightened cerebral activity sparked by the involvement of the visual cortex when sign language becomes part of the communication signal is so impressive that one feels that by NOT being able to sign, one is handicapped. Dr. Daniels' enthusiasm and knowledge is expertly put forth and is a convincing argument to learn and to teach sign language.”–Joan Lundeen, M.D.

Product Description
One of the foremost authorities on the use of sign language with hearing children provides a guide for teachers and parents who want to introduce signing in hearing children's language development. Marilyn Daniels provides a complete explanation for its use, a short history of sign language and its primary role within the Deaf community, an identification of the steps to reading success delineated with suggestions for incorporating sign language, and the results of studies and reactions of children, teachers, and parents. She shows how sign language can be used to improve hearing children's English vocabulary, reading ability, spelling proficiency, self-esteem, and comfort with expressing emotions. Signing also facilitates communication, aids teachers with classroom management, and has been shown to promote a more comfortable learning environment while initiating an interest and enthusiasm for learning on the part of students.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Bergin & Garvey Paperback (October 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897897927
• ISBN-13: 978-0897897921
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #513,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A really great book on WHY sign language is for ALL kids..., February 28, 2001

By A Customer

I started using sign language while teaching kindergarten years ago just for fun. The kids loved it. Now I know why! This book is great for teachers and parents. If you have a young child having trouble with spoken or written English, GET THIS BOOK! Also get it just for fun, to learn with a best friend, to communicate with someone who is deaf, to enrich your knowledge of human iconography, symbolism and to learn about the history of language. A great book, easy to read, perfect amount of detail, lots of references. (This book is for adults - and includes lots of ideas to use with kids...)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Children Should Be Exposed To Sign, December 28, 2000

By A Customer

Dr. Marilyn Daniels has written an exceptional book which should be read by parents/guardians of young children, want-to-be parents, day care providers, and teachers of the young. As the foremost researcher on Sign's benefits for hearing kids, not only does she write about her own research, but the research others have done with Sign and hearing kids too. The book's title seems somewhat limiting, because it also mentions the many other benefits Sign has been found to have for hearing kids - even if they never use it with the deaf. Daniels also points out that parents and teachers who teach kids Sign often feel they, the parents and teachers, benefit too. And the book has a chapter on how teachers can easily learn Sign to teach their students, and a chapter on how parents can easily learn Sign to teach it to their kids.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why aren't we encouraging our schools to teach ASL?, March 25, 2002

By	"jimkim777" (Rochester Hills, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dancing with Words: Signing for Hearing Children's Literacy (Hardcover)

I have just finished reading this book and I cannot wait to get it into the hands of my kid's teachers (and administrators). I am currently learning sign and so are my kids. Although none of my children are ADD or ADHD I know that some of their classmates are. The book suggests that sign encourages a healthier classroom environment as all the children are ACTIVELY participating in the learning process. The ADD/ADHD kids are actually calmer and all students are learning more. (Less wear and tear on the teachers!) By learning ASL we are also encouraging communication with the Deaf. The Deaf cannot hear, so why do we exclude them and expect them to learn our language? We have the opportunity to begin to change the world our children live in, one sign at a time. That is something to think about.