SPI K-3 Literacy Project For Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

SPI Adds ASL Interpretation to K-3 Online Stories

Story Preservation Initiative is excited to announce a new literacy-based project developed for young deaf and hard-of-hearing children, grades K-3. 

SPI has added American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation to five of its audio folktales in the K-3 Storytelling Learning Lab site.  Bringing together the spoken word story, music, and sound effects, with ASL signing and written word captioning, the project promises to open up a world of wonder to young deaf and hard-of-hearing kids. Perhaps the pièce de résistance, the project will also feature an artist working in real-time, creating original works of art that depict scenes from the stories. Children will be able to watch the art take shape as the stories unfold, adding a captivating visual performance element for both deaf and hearing children. All involved with project production are deaf or have significant hearing loss.

Stories in SPI’s K-3 collection include African and African-American folktales, bi-lingual (Spanish and English) folktales, original tales of enchantment, and stories from around the world, including Denmark, Russia, and Italy.  SPI will be adding Native American folklore to the collection later this year.

SPI’s new ASL literacy project supports the parents and teachers of deaf students and is a fun way for deaf and hard-of-hearing kids to learn vital literacy skills.

The project was developed to foster literacy, ASL proficiency, and social and emotional learning.  SPI will supplement the stories with original materials for teachers and parents.  These materials include recommended and theme-related books, writing projects, and collaborative art projects.

While the K-3 Storytelling Learning Lab helps young people connect to universal concepts, their own life experiences, different cultures and customs, and other stories that they know, most of all, it’s designed to instill in kids a love of story, which translates to a love of language and reading!

This project is made possible with funding from the Frances R. Dewing Foundation. 

All SPI educational materials are available free of charge. To view the SPI K-3 Literacy project, go to www.storypreservation.org