New colouful story based book helps pupils and teachers actively participate in the joy of learning through sign language
Many parents will be looking for new ways to participate in National Storytelling Week which runs from 31st January to 7th February, to try and give a new twist to story time at home.
Now, they can create a story that combines elements from another language, not a spoken language, but one that uses the hands, body and facial expressions to add interest, emotion and expression to the story, at the same time changing the children from being passive listeners to active participants. Sign Language!
Using sign language to sign the keywords in the text of a story can transform an ordinary story session into an exciting, interactive experience that stimulates the children’s interest in both the story and the signs being used together with raising their awareness in alternative forms of communication.
The new Learn to Sign with Olli book, written by Garry Slack, offers an original approach to learning sign language as it doesn’t just reply on photographs and descriptions of the signs. Instead, the signs used in the book have been specially selected to be relevant to teachers and pupils and once learnt, are then woven into a series of stories, with text appearing in a different colour when corresponding with a sign already learnt. The signs featured in the books are all sourced directly from British Sign Language. The characters of Olli, the little monkey, and his family and friends, are used throughout the book to teach signs and help parents and children remember them.
The book costs just £12.99 plus postage and is available to order online at www.signwitholli.com. or at Amazon.co.uk
About Sign with Olli
Sign with Olli is the brainchild of Garry Slack, a fully qualified communication Support Worker for deaf people. The Learn to Sign with Olli books aim to teach sign language to parents and professionals working with young children in an easy and fun way by featuring the character of Olli, a little monkey who prefers to communicate by using his hands rather than his voice. The signs featured in the book are all sourced directly from British Sign Language. The book features forewords and contributions from broadcaster Sian Lloyd, and Janey Lee Grace, co host of the BBC Radio2 programme, Steve Wright in the afternoon.
There are many benefits to learning to sign with children including:
- Because sign language is a visual rather that a spoken language, many children find it very easy to learn, and are able to quickly acquire quite a large vocabulary of signs
- Signing helps children to improve their memory, concentration and fine motor skills because signing requires them to focus their attention to watch how the signs are formed and then use their hands to reproduce the signs for themselves.
- Introducing signs into a story can help children who may have difficulty in articulating things verbally to put across the mood and atmosphere of the story. For example, just by using different strengths of a downward movement of the arms it is possible to indicate whether rain is falling as a light shower or a full blown rainstorm!
- Because all of us use gestures, body language and facial expressions in our day to day communications with one another we are all familiar with non verbal communication. Sign Language helps children to build upon that natural skill and think and express themselves in a more pictorial way.
