🤟 American Sign Language (ASL)
At The Hill School, learning to communicate begins before children can even say their first words.
One of our favorite parts of the THS ASL program begins with our youngest Hedgehogs in the Infant Program. Beginning as early as approximately 6 months old, babies are introduced to simple, developmentally appropriate signs that allow them to communicate basic wants and needs before they are able to express them verbally.
Through consistent repetition with their teachers, infants begin learning signs such as milk, more, hungry, all done, sleepy, please, thank you, help, and “I love you.” Families can also use these same signs at home, creating consistency between school and home while giving our youngest students another way to communicate with the adults who care for them.
As children grow, ASL grows with them. Toddlers and preschoolers expand their vocabulary through songs, movement, classroom routines, and interactive activities. Elementary students progress into the ASL alphabet, numbers, conversational vocabulary, phrases, songs, and increasingly complex communication.
Students are given opportunities to practice signing with teachers and peers, incorporate ASL into music and performances, and use their skills throughout the school day.
Beyond learning another language, ASL encourages communication, visual learning, memory, fine-motor development, confidence, empathy, and an appreciation for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. It also helps our students understand from an early age that people communicate in different ways—and learning how to connect with others is an important way to demonstrate kindness and respect.
From a 6-month-old signing “milk” to an elementary student communicating an entire song with their hands, ASL is another example of how learning at The Hill School grows right alongside our students.
Little hands can say big things. 🤟💚