Finger Spelling Reinforces Spelling Skills

My daughter and I have a great way to communicate using finger spelling. We share secrets, snicker at inside jokes, and can communicate across a crowded room with it. What began as a fun way to reinforce spelling skills has evolved into a fun bonding experience as an added benefit.

Finger spelling, also called the manual alphabet, is used by people who are hard of hearing and those who are deaf to spell out words that cannot be conveniently or clearly signed using American Sign Language. Finger spelling can be used by hearing students as a way to reinforce spelling.

Any child can benefit from learning to sign to reinforce reading and spelling. Students with auditory processing deficits, language processing problems, dyslexia, and hearing loss or impairments that affect specific frequencies can sometimes benefit from the approach because it is a multisensory method that allows use of tactile senses and fine motor memory to teach spelling.

Resources to Teach Finger Spelling:

• Sign Language Fonts
• Finger Spelling Downloads