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Sign pros
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The students of McConnell's second-grade class have learned the signs for the song "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie." Destiny Foltz (second from right) helps out her fellow students because she has been learning sign language since kindergarten, after she became friends with a deaf student.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Susan McConnell's second-grade Team Two students give up one recess a week to learn American Sign Language with their regular spelling and vocabulary words. During Team Two meetings, they look to each other for help and guidance with signs.
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Casey Wert (front) showed off her skills in sign language during a solo she performs during the song "Peace on Earth."
By SARAH FOOR
If it’s been a little more quiet than usual in the second-grade classrooms at Robinwood Lane, it’s not because it’s nap time. The students are talking — they are just doing it with their hands.
Thanks to instruction from teacher Susan McConnell, the second-graders are learning to communicate through American Sign Language.
Student Lily Jones said the project has taught her the importance of language.
“If we ever meet a deaf boy or girl, we’ll be able to talk to them and become friends. We will always be able to talk to anyone. That’s my favorite part.”
After her own son, Robby, became deaf at a young age, McConnell became an interpreter and then expanded into teaching.
“I’ve been signing with my kids for so long, that I know kids learn visually,” McConnell explained. “I added a few signs in my lessons and soon the whole grade said they wanted to learn how to sign as well. So, Team Two was born.”
Now in its 10th year, Team Two is more popular than ever with 60 members. The program consists of second-graders who give up one recess a week to learn American Sign Language with McConnell. She uses signing along with the students’ vocabulary and spelling work, and they have also learned how to sign to the songs “Tomorrow,” “Peace on Earth,” and “Silent Night.”
As a treat, McConnell’s son will be visiting from Washington, D.C. at the end of the year to sign with the second-graders.
“Are you excited to meet Robby?” McConnell asked her students.
The students responded by shaking their fists up and down — the sign for “Yes.”