Words, words, words
House on Red Corner · 2007-08-27
The other day, while I was reading the news, or writing silly blog entries or doing something on my computer in general ( and really what else am I ever doing?) EJ was sitting on the floor- not because we don’t have any chairs, but because that’s the comfortable height for a 2 yr to sit) reading a book. She was reading it in her own special language, but when I sat down and began to read with her, we started learning things like counting, letters and Analytical Geometry.
When we got the section of words that dealt with opposites, we spent a good amount of time with HOT- COLD, HAPPY- SAD. And we made the appropriate ASL signs for these words. She got pretty good on that morning at making the right sign when I pointed to it. Now all we need to do is begin the memorization of all the standardized tests she’ll ever take!
Anyways, tonight she was reading Mommy’s magazine, when I decided to test her on the progress. She remembered COLD right away, and when she says “cold” and does the sign, she is also acting out the feeling too. When she does HOT, it’s pretty much a matter of fact statement- just like when I tell her the stove is hot. But HAPPY and SAD truly get the emotional commitment that is demanded of such important works.
Current incarnation of this couplet involves getting the audience to participate in the two act play. First ACt, pointing to one audience member (Mommy) the Little Bug is saddened while she says “Sad” and makes a sad face while waving the sign language word- Sad sad sad sad sad. This is repeated with the second Audience member (Daddy) Then as soon as these is completed, the show switchs gears and everything is bubbly, bouncy and brilliant. She beams, and brightly burst out loud, “HAPPY Happy Happy” while waving the sign about exuberantly. “Happy happy happy” Sometimes the play returns to the first act but occasionally it have shivers and chills as it finishes with “Coooolllldddd.” “Cooooolllllllddddd”.
NOTE: I am not going to attempt the phonetic spellings which mimic her pronunciations
but she is pretty close to enunciating these words correctly. I believe that the sign language also helps her further reinforce the learning.