perspectives in Education and Deafness

Clerc Center Launches Training
Initiatives Related to Literacy

Pre-College National Mission Programs (Clerc Center) is launching two major new training initiatives as part of its national mission to improve the literacy skills of deaf and hard of hearing children. The first, Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults, is the training companion to the book and video by the same name published by Pre-College National Mission Programs in 1997. It is a workshop that teaches parents, caregivers, and educators the important skills for reading to deaf and hard of hearing children using sign language. Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults workshops are being conducted at select locations around the country and are being offered to individual schools and programs upon request. The second training initiative, How to Implement the Shared Reading Project, will provide schools and organizations with the essential elements for establishing the highly successful Shared Reading Project at their own sites. (For more information about SRP, see Shared Reading, Shared Success, Preview, Fall 1996; and Reading Together, Preview, Spring/Summer 1998). Currently under development, the training program will be made available through regional institutes coordinated by the Gallaudet University Regional Centers (GURCs) and Clerc Center beginning in the year 2000. (Contact information can be found at the end of this article.

"The two training programs are intricately related," states Janne M. Harrelson, director of the Office of Training and Professional Development at Clerc Center. "Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults provides the core content, useful immediately, and the Shared Reading Project provides a mechanism for that content to be fully realized."

Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults provides direct instruction in the 15 principles for reading to deaf and hard of hearing children. The principles were developed from research studying effective communication strategies deaf adults use when reading to children. It has long been known that deaf children with deaf parents achieve higher levels of English literacy than do their peers who do not have deaf parents. David R. Schleper, literacy coordinator at Clerc Center, used this knowledge to review the literature and study the approaches used by deaf adults. From this research, the 15 principles of reading to deaf and hard of hearing children were identified. Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults teaches the 15 principles and encourages their immediate use in school and at home. Taking the 15 principles a bit farther, How to Implement the Shared Reading Project provides schools and programs with a structure for assisting families in developing these skills and providing ongoing reinforcement so that families do begin to read more often and more successfully with their young deaf and hard of hearing children.

"Feedback from families who have been involved with the Shared Reading Project indicate that the approach is very successful," reports Dr. Jane K. Fernandes, vice-president of Pre-College National Mission Programs. "Families who participate in the project and use the 15 principles when reading with their deaf and hard of hearing children frequently report that the children's attention during book-sharing has improved. In addition, some parents find that their sign language skills also improve, as a side benefit of the project."

"We receive a large number of requests for information about the 15 principles and the Shared Reading Project," Fernandes added. "By conducting these workshops, Clerc Center is fulfilling its Congressional mandate to improve educational results for deaf and hard of hearing children by directly addressing one of its national mission priorities-improving literacy among these children."

Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults
Trainers, Content, Scheduling Information

Reading to Deaf Children, Learning from Deaf Adults workshops are conducted by professionally trained educators with specific knowledge of how to guide parents, caregivers, and educators in effective strategies to use when reading books to deaf and hard of hearing children. "The trainers bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to every workshop," said Harrelson. "Whether or not the participants have previous experience reading with children, the trainers can develop or sharpen their skills, answer questions, and address their concerns."

The workshop addresses key questions, such as why reading is important, how to use sign language when reading books, how to keep American Sign Language (ASL) and English visible while reading, how to arrange placement of the child and book, and other issues.

At the workshop, participants will:

• become familiar with the 15 principles of reading to deaf and hard of hearing children;
• apply the 15 principles when reading books with deaf and hard of hearing children; and
• learn about important communication and cultural issues specific to deaf and hard of hearing children.

The workshop is offered in a three- and six-hour format, and consists of an introduction to the 15 principles, video clips of deaf adults reading to deaf and hard of hearing children, and related activities. The six-hour workshop also includes more opportunities for participants to apply the principles and receive coaching from the trainers.

Hosting a Reading to Deaf Children:
Learning from Deaf Adults Workshop

Any parent or caregiver group, school, or organization can host a Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults workshop. There is generally no honorarium or professional fee paid to the workshop presenters or to Pre-College National Mission Programs. The host site is responsible for covering the expenses of the workshop and handling all local arrangements, including:

• presenters' expenses, such as travel, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and meals;
• organizing the site for the workshop, arranging publicity, handling registration, and arranging for and paying interpreters, when necessary;
• purchasing a Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults videotape and manual for each participant (approximately $10.00 per person, plus shipping); and
• providing refreshments and/or a meal for participants on the day of the workshop.

In addition, CEUs are available from Gallaudet University for an additional $10 fee per person.

Two Upcoming Reading to Deaf Children:
Learning from Deaf Adults Workshops

Many workshops are already scheduled at schools and programs around the country. Two workshops are planned in conjunction with regional and national conferences being held this summer: the Intermountain Special Studies Institute at Idaho State University, and the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf 59th Biennial Meeting in Los Angeles, California. "We are excited to be able to offer Reading to Deaf Children: Learning from Deaf Adults at these prestigious conferences this summer," said Harrelson. See Reading to Deaf Children Workshops below, for dates and contact information.

How to Implement the Shared Reading Project
Description and Scheduling Information

The Shared Reading Project is a program that sends deaf tutors into family homes to teach parents and caregivers how to read to deaf and hard of hearing children. Tutors visit homes weekly, and during each visit share with the parents a book bag containing a children's book, a videotaped interpretation of the book in sign language, and an activity guide. The tutor coaches the family in how to read the book using sign language, incorporating the 15 principles discussed earlier. The family uses the book bag during the week and reads the book with the deaf or hard of hearing child. The videotape is available for reference and to reinforce the parent in his or her sign language use.

The Shared Reading Project started in Hawaii and was then implemented at the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, in Washington, D.C. During 1997-98 it was expanded to five pilot sites around the country. Because of the success of the project, the level of interest around the country, and the number of inquiries Clerc Center receives concerning assistance in setting up sites, the training program, How to Implement the Shared Reading Project, is being developed.

Participants will learn how to:

• use the 15 principles to read to deaf and hard of hearing children;
• recruit, hire, and train deaf adults to be tutors;
• market the Shared Reading Project to families;
• work effectively with parents, caregivers, educators, and tutors; and
• plan for and manage the budget and personnel needs of the project.

Regional training programs will be offered through Clerc Center and the Gallaudet University Regional Centers (GURCs). People who are interested in participating may contact Clerc Center or the GURC in their respective region and request to be placed on the mailing list. Further information will be sent to those on the mailing lists as it becomes available.

Contact Information

To learn more about the training programs or to make arrangements for your own site, contact:

Office of Training and Professional Development
Pre-College National Mission Programs
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
Phone: (202) 651-5855 (V/TTY)