Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Without Missing a Beat

One of my favorite management tricks is sign language, and the cool thing is that I don't even hardly know sign language and it still works wonders.  Pretty slick.

When out of the corner of my eye I spot something that shouldn't be going on, I can send a sign language "no" that direction without even missing a beat or saying a word.

If I'm reading with some readers during a book club and someone walks up, let's me know with sign language that they need to use the restroom, I send a sign language "yes" their direction, and my group wasn't the least bit interrupted.

While sitting in an assembly and a bottom forgets to sit on its pockets, without being disruptive I can send a "sit" in sign language even though I'm ten feet away.

Although I teach various signs throughout the year, the following are the few tried and true managerial signs that I use most often.  

restroom

sit

stand

walk

I might suggest trying these out if you don't already.  They're great, simple, and effective tools to add to that managerial toolbox.  It can never get too full!

19 comments:

  1. I took sign language over 20 years ago and YES & NO are about the only thing I can remember! Great idea to use them... I wonder why I never thought of it. lol

    First Grade Delight
    imgoingfirst@gmail.com

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    1. Delighted, it must be time to put those over 20 year old sign language skills to work. :)

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  2. Great management tips! Any tricks for less class disruption is great!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, thanks for consistently dropping by!

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  3. love it! Kids do too, don't they? Thanks for sharing this!

    Kelli

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    1. Kelli, yep the kids love it. They love teaching their families sign language too.

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  4. Oh my, love it! What an AWESOME tip! I am teaching my littles these signs TOMORROW!

    Natalie
    TeacheryTidbits

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    1. Natalie, they'll love it I'm sure. It's easy to teach and easy to learn.

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  5. One of my colleagues and I started taking sign language this year (I've always wanted to do it!). We share what we learn with the kids and they LOVE it! We do most of our morning meeting in sign language and we use all the ones you showed. It's a great thing to add to any classroom!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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    1. Sara, thanks for coming by and commenting. The kids sure to love learning them don't they? They feel so smart being bilingual!

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  6. I love love love using SL in the classroom. I started learning some signs from an app on my iPhone... I was teaching my daughter to sign (baby sign language). She loves it and so do my kids! We consistently use the ones you talked about! My favorite is sit because I can do that sign and they immediately know what to do!! This past summer, I took a sign language class through my district and learned a lot more signs and I am incorporating them daily!!! :)
    I would love to take college level classes, though! Maybe one day!!! :)

    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First
    sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com

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    1. Sandra, it's a fun tool to use and like you said, the kids love it too. Hopefully you'll get the chance to take those college classes. Thank you for coming by.

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  7. Are there multiple signs for bathroom? I've never taken a class, but I have my kids show me when they need to use the bathroom by making like the letter T and shaking it. Is that wrong?
    Squirrel-Bottom Diaries :o)
    sarahmarianj at gmail dot com

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    1. Sarah, I'm pretty sure your t is just as acceptable. I believe it means "toilet." Thanks for coming by.

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  8. I teach at the Indiana School for the Deaf - we use American Sign Language all day, everyday since our students are all Deaf or Hard of Hearing. :) I love ASL and it's fun to see other people enjoying it too! If you're looking for a good resource to learn more signs, check out this website: www.aslpro.com. It's nice because it has videos that show the signs instead of pictures with arrows that can sometimes be hard to figure out.

    Sarah: Yes, that is another sign for bathroom. We actually always use the shaking "T" sign for restroom/bathroom. :)

    Best of luck to you all on your signing endeavors!

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    1. Thank you Stephanie for the info. It's a wonderful skill you have.

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  9. I love signing and will have a hard of hearing child in my room this year along with her interpreter. I'm so excited for the year to begin. I have always taught the alphabet, the Pledge, America the Beautiful along with the management signs you mentioned.A great way to improve your signing is life print.com Check out items in my TpT store http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fran-Sauer I have some signing items available if you are interested. The 'silent' language IS a great management tool.... agreed!

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    1. Fran, I'm glad you have found the benefits of sign language in your room too. Great stuff!

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