How can you make reading to deaf children fun?
Use American Sign Language (ASL) to “tell” the story.
There is no need to sign each word! Just describe the story: tell who is in the story, where they are, what they are doing, and what they are saying.
After you read the story together several times, you might want to focus more on some vocabulary. Sometimes you might want to fingerspell a word.
Make sure that the child sees both the signing and the words/pictures.
What does the child want to read? Let the child choose.
What if the child wants to read just one part of a book, then move to another? Go ahead!
Some parts of a story might have a “hidden” meaning that is hard to figure out. If the child is interested, add explanations.
Sometimes sign on the page, sometimes sign on the child, and sometimes sign near the book.
Be dramatic. Play with the signs and use facial expressions to show different characters.
Connect the characters and story events to the child’s real life.
Tap lightly on the child’s shoulder or give a gentle nudge to keep the child’s attention.
Look at the child while reading.
You and your child might want to act out the story after you have read it.
If the book repeats a phrase over and over, vary the signs you use.
Encourage the child to share ideas about the story!
Read, read, read!
Back to the Read with ASL home page: Read with ASL (englishbyeye.org)