Article 4

Title:
Sign Language: An Effective Strategy to Reduce the Gap between English Language Learners Native Language and English

Link: http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED507994 

Summary:

This article discusses the struggles of classroom teachers in their attempts to communicate with ELL students of various ethnicities with various cultural backgrounds.  It is stated that research has shown that ELL students that incorporate their native language in addition to English do not suffer from a delay in their English language skills as a result of this integration (Samway & McKeon, 1999).  This article suggest that sign language is an effective way to establish a connection between different languages that will benefit all students no matter what language they speak. (Nicholson, Sheryl, Graves, Emily, 2010)

Reflection: 

As I have discovered, English language learners are among the fastest growing groups of students within this country.  The article, Sign Language: An Effective Strategy to Reduce the Gap between English Language Learners Native Language and English, discusses the benefits of incorporating a student’s native language into instruction. Within my teaching I am excited to test this theory by using sign language to create a bridge between Spanish and English. I'm hoping that as a result this strategy will help to facilitate academic growth amongst my students.

References: 
Nicholson, S., & Graves, E. (2010). Sign language: An effective strategy to reduce the gap between English language learners native and English. Online Submission