How to give a spelling test to Deaf children?

Question

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to give a general spelling test to Deaf students (early childhood)? I assume since ASL/fingerspelling would not work simply because in some cases I would be spelling the word. Also not everyone can lip read especially at young ages. If you could direct me to some books or websites that would be helpful too. Thanks for your serious replies. (I apologize for putting this in special education, but I didn't know if anyone in the primary/secondary section would know)

Answer 1

Hi,

My guess would be to show them pictures of what you'd like them to spell (i.e.: pic of tree. Spell "Tree."). After making them understand how the game is played, of course. Good Luck.

Answer 2

You need to either show them a picture of what to spell or make the test multiple choice, but both tecniques do create some minor problems.  The problem with the visual method is that a picture is worth a thousand words.  If you display a picture of a house in instruction to spell house, the student could as accurately write building or home.  The problem with the multiple choice method is that it creates an opportunity to guess, and it doesn't necessarily prove that the student knows how to spell the word.  Knowing the word is correct when you see it and spelling it correctly are two different things.  I personally would go with the visual method because any good teacher can recognize excusable confusion by examining the test results.

Answer 3

If you use the ASL sign, most don't include the letters, so then the kids can spell it. Because ASL is it's own language, it doesn't match up to English spelling. Good luck.

Answer 4

Sign the words. Every word has a sign, with an exception to some. After signing the word ask the kids to spell it out. Here is a website you could probably use:

go to google and type in:  ASL Browser

A bunch of websites come up. Click on the one that shows you the sign, the meaning of the sign, and how to do the sign. It will have a mini video of how to do the sign. All the words are in alphabetical order

Answer 5

If you want to give a spelling test to deaf children, the best way is to establish signs for the words.  As you probably already know,  ASL doesn't always have a corresponding sign to a lot of English words, sometimes you have to make them up.  For example, if the spelling word is "wheel barrel" then use a classifier to show the wheels then another classifier to show either the handles or the "barrel".  Tell your students that you are making up signs so that they can take the spelling tests.  It is best to involve them in making up the signs as you are introducing the words.  However, it is very important that you explain to them that these are made up signs and they may not see them in the real world, these are just signs that they will use for the spelling tests and that typically a lot of these words would be fingerspelled in the Deaf World.

If you are looking for ways to teach spelling, I would look at visual/kinestic methods such as block spelling (students draw blocks around the letters and learn the words via the shape of the word) rainbow spelling (students write the words over and over with different color crayons creating a rainbow) or if you are adventurous I would try using shaving cream.  Have students spray shaving cream on their desks and write their words.  This also cleans their desks.  Although learning how to spell words is important, the most important thing is understanding the meaning of the word and how to use them in their writing.  Spelling lessons and spelling tests are meaningless unless the children can generalize them to other parts of the curriculum.

Answer 6

you do the sign fro the word

for instance-dog is tapping the leg

I simply went to google and searched online sign language dictionary

http://www.dictionaryofsign.com/

there are also signlanguage dictionaries available fro purchase

Answer 7

There must be a special school for children with needs in your area!

Answer 8

how early childhood are you talking?  I didn't think kids had spelling tests until 1st grade or 2nd grade?  At that point, you're doing simple verbs and nouns, so I agree pictures should work.

Answer 9

Try pictures.

For example, find a picture of a monkey and write "How do you spell the animal's name that you see in the picture?"