Curriculum Focus for AAFCS National Teacher of the Year 2015. Use sign language with hearing children in an early childhood center. Curriculum for high school and adult students in an Early Care and Education program.

1. Sign On
for Early
Success!Mary E. Carver
Early Care & Education Instructor
Canadian Valley Technology Center
Chickasha, OK
mcarver@cvtech.edu

2. What is
Sign On for Early Success?
 Learning materials, activities and projects for
high school and adult students in an Early Care &
Education program that focus on using American
Sign Language with infants, toddlers and
preschool children in a child care center.
 Students work through 8 learning modules over
topics such as “Meals & Snacks, Music, Play
time, Aggression Intervention, Toileting &
Diapering, Transitions, Animals, Health and Safety
and create projects that can be directly taken in
to our child care center lab and used with young
children throughout the day.

3. Why Sign On for Early Success!
 Language is stored in the left brain. By using
movement and visual cues the brain has to
process the information on both sides. The
increase in language activity stimulates the
development of the brain by stimulating the
formation of more synapses.
 Using sign language and spoken language
together provides a much richer language basis
for brain activity and brain growth and
development.
 Research shows that children exposed to ASL or
symbolic gestures improve in reading ability,
speaking language proficiency as well as
develop a positive self image.

4. So Cool for Children!
So what about Students?
 One to one interaction and collaboration
which stimulates positive relationships
between children and students.
 Reinforces in class learning – early brain
development, language, positive
guidance, nutrition, motor development,
etc.
 Students love learning and using sign
language with young children.

6. Students use
Sign On for Early Success!
Throughout our county and state by
providing training and speaking
opportunities at their home school,
public Pre-K programs, FCCLA
district, state and national
competitive events as well as
sharing with legislatures during
Family and Consumer Sciences Day
at the Oklahoma State Capitol.