EDCIX505.EDUCSIGNING - IEA Summer Institute 2026 - Educational Signing: "Handy" Ways ASL Signs Enhance Learning
Course Description
Educational Signing shows teachers how to insert select ASL (American Sign Language) signs into existing curricula and programs to enhance learning. It includes empirically-based, data-driven strategies that have been shown to improve phonemic awareness, memory of spelling sequences, number sense, and comprehension. Also, interest, engagement, self-esteem, and behavior have been positively influenced by the implementation of these strategies. Educational Signing adds a visual and kinesthetic aspect to any curriculum, sparks interest, performance, comprehension, and retention, and enhances Special Needs and inclusion programs. Finally, signing is every child's first language, so learning these strategies is actually a whole bunch of fun!
Course Outline
Course Details/Requirements:
- Attend and participate in the full-day Educational Signing class.
- Complete an evaluation of the class.
- Learn the ASL (American Sign Language) manual alphabet and the numbers 1-30 and teach them to at least one other person.
- Choose five classroom management and five class culture signs that would be most useful in your educational setting and learn them (using a physical or online sign language dictionary, or fluent ASL signer).
- Write a 1-2-page reflection on your experiences completing the required tasks. Include what you found most enlightening about Educational Signing and what you foresee will be most challenging about implementing the strategies in your classroom
Submit coursework to Leslie Briggs at lbriggs@ctlidaho.org.
Prerequisites
You must register for and attend the 2026 IEA Summer Institute BEFORE you register for this credit. THIS IS A FULL-DAY ONLY CREDIT.