View Full Version : Suggested reading list for signing time group
taylorcamel
11-09-2005, 04:58 PM
From the yahoo group. Books that have been suggested by many different people. Please add any others you have found helpful.
Suggested books
Train go sorry by Leah Hager Cohen
For hearing people only by Matthew S. Moore and Linda Levitan
Deaf in America by Carol Padden and Tom Humphries
A place of their own by John Vickrey Van Cleve and Barry A. Crouch
At home among strangers by Jerome D. Schein
Dr. Marilyn Daniels' book "Dancing With
Words, Signing for Hearing Children's Literacy"
Kids books
Moses series by Isaac Millman
A really great way to reinforce ASL word order and learn new
signs is through a comapany In PA. Visit http://www.talkinghandsasl.com/ click on the
tab that says "SPECIALS" and order their ASL book gift pack.
andrealynnj
11-10-2005, 03:51 AM
For a chance to practice reading signs, I suggest Bonnie Kraft's video "Tomorrow My Dad Will Still Be Deaf" It is laugh out loud funny. Just turn off the volume as you watch. Since I am still a beginner, I watched it with the sound once then with the sound off. Great practice and so enjoyable!
aligreat
11-14-2005, 02:09 PM
I recently picked up the book Deaf Daughter, Hearing Father , and this Wednesday (Nov 16) the author is going to be lecturing at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. I believe it starts at 7pm if anyone is interested. He is a freelance writer, who was living in Toronto but moved to Fremont so that his Deaf daughter could go to school there.
Lezliej
11-14-2005, 04:12 PM
I'd like to suggest "Deaf Like Me" It is a great book from the view point of a dad of a deaf daughter. It talks about all they went through in finding out that she was deaf and the best way to educate her.
amiller
11-14-2005, 04:15 PM
Also read "Deaf Like Me" by Thomas Spradley. It is the real-life story of a family in the 60s with a Deaf child, who was not allowed to sign until later in her life and their trials as they were guided through the oralist method, so prevalent at the time. It is by no means an 'oral bashing' book, but shows instead the resilience of the human spirit and the benefits of sign in a very positive way. I loved it!
Devlyn16
11-19-2005, 09:12 AM
An Interesting read is "A Loss for Words : The Story of Deafness in a Family", by Lou Ann Walker. It shares some information on growing up hearing in a Deaf family.
Kei_as_in_K
11-21-2005, 03:24 PM
The Best Worst Brother It's the follow-up book to We'll Paint the Octopus Red.
It's about a young girl who has a little brother w/Down syndrome. The Best Worst Brother covers using sign language.
amiller
11-27-2005, 01:58 PM
Light From Heaven, but Jan Karon
This is the last in a series (but can be read without all the background of the previous books) and has a wonderful character who is Deaf, and the community rallies around him to learn ASL and there is a WONDERFUL passage which definitely describes my feelings about ASL as a communication bridge! It is a beautiful book and I think all members of this group would love it!
fairejour
12-05-2005, 05:35 PM
I loved "Deaf like me". I also read "When the Mind Hears" and "Magnificent Benevolence" they are oral bashing though so beware!
amiller
12-19-2005, 05:50 AM
What is oral bashing? Certainly Deaf people can't fault hearing people for having their own language?
aligreat
12-19-2005, 11:37 AM
What is oral bashing? Certainly Deaf people can't fault hearing people for having their own language?
Oral bashing is not bashing hearing people for having their own language--quite the opposite. Oral bashing is bashing those who don't want deaf people to have their own language. Strict oralists do not allow deaf people to use sign language at all, tying children's hands to their sides or using corporal punishment for the use of sign language.
amiller
12-19-2005, 07:40 PM
Yeah, I have heard that, but I am just bewildered at the whole idea of NOT allowing a child to communicate in Sign Language if they need to. I mean, if I had a child who was unable to walk and needed a wheelchair, nobody would say "She needs to learn to walk or she'll never be normal" and insist I take her out of the wheelchair and stand her on her legs to walk - that would be considered cruel! Yet that is exactly what people are doing by FORCING Deaf people to use a hearing language!
amiller
01-02-2006, 03:41 PM
Found 3 new good ones today:
Train Go Sorry by Leah Hager Cohen
What's That pig Outdoors? by Henry Kisor
and a fabulous helpful resource:
The American Sign Language Phrase Book by Lou Fant - lots of ASL grammar help!
jenml
01-02-2006, 05:28 PM
Oral bashing is not bashing hearing people for having their own language--quite the opposite. Oral bashing is bashing those who don't want deaf people to have their own language. Strict oralists do not allow deaf people to use sign language at all, tying children's hands to their sides or using corporal punishment for the use of sign language.
Quite a sad phenomenon... and actually, a Deaf child (person) was considered a FAILURE if he/she was unable to cut it using the oral method. Some people are good at it. Some never ever could be. Many Deaf folks were considered "mentally retarded" because they were unable to "be oral".
It's a philosophy that they show briefly in the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus" (the doctor was adamant that the mom and dad NOT learn sign or respond to their Deaf son's "gestures"... imagine!!!!). Unfortunatly, I know many many "oral failures" who were victims of the times they live in. Smart, great people who are unable to benefit from any residual hearing... Thank goodness "Oralism" in it's strictest sense "as the ONLY way" is not the reigning thought governing the education of Deaf children today.
Many books people have mentioned discuss this struggle in he history of Deaf education.
sherry3995
01-30-2006, 01:16 PM
a book, that is required for my class of ASL 101 at Ohlone College.
The book is entitled For Hearing People Only, By Matthew Scott Moore & Linda Levitan, published by Deaf Life Press.
I am only into the 16th chapter, but have found the information very interesting. So far there has been information regarding the begining of ASL, its relationship to other Sign Language (BSL & FSL etc.) and now it is going into Deaf/deaf culture and how and why things are the way they are.
The book is written in a question/answer format and contains 130 chapters, most chapters are no more then 3-4 pages.
Sherry
c01dunlap
01-30-2006, 03:52 PM
Sounds very interesting! I will have to see if I can borrow or check out a copy myself.
Thanks!
amiller
02-01-2006, 05:16 PM
I have read that book; it is a very good reference on Deaf Culture.
I have been deaf my whole life, and i am not sure
what oral bashing is. please explain.
Also, a good book is The Story of My Life, Helen Keller.
"I observe, I feel, I think, I imagine."
Times have changed for deaf people. Remember
"Deaf President Now", at Gallaudet University. Also,
the current protest for electing a woman president
who was not deaf enough. Read about them and you
will see that deaf people today are not having their
hands tied by oralists. Read about the laws protecting
their rights as citizens. We need to move forward
with our thinking.
sherry3995
07-18-2006, 10:28 AM
starting to read
a book called
Mother Father Deaf, I forgot the author and the book is at home.
the books focus is on children whose parents are deaf. The author interviewed many CODA's (Child of Deaf Adult).
He collected the feelings of the kids (who are now adult) and the impact of family life.
Hi Sherry,
The author is Paul Preston.
Also, try to get Random House American Sign Language
Dictionary. It is the newest edition by Elaine Costello.
Try Barnes and Noble. I wouldnt get he Lou F. Book.
MadreBug
07-21-2006, 08:52 PM
Is there something wrong with Lou Fant's book? Or is it just not as good as the Random House American Sign Language
Dictionary?
Is there something wrong with Lou Fant's book? Or is it just not as good as the Random House American Sign Language
Dictionary?
I don't know Bill's opinion but I checked out Lou Fant's book about 6 months ago and was not impressed at all. In fact I skimmed the entire book in about 20mins and realized there was very little in there that was new and there are other books that are better for the beginner.
KatiesMom
09-07-2007, 05:23 PM
Too Many Hands by a second grade class at the New Mexico School for the Deaf.
It's about a deaf dad who wakes up and discovers he has an extra set of hands.
CODA_DAD
03-25-2008, 10:49 PM
I might also suggest
Seeing Voices by Oliver Sacks
A journey into the DEAF-WORLD by Harlan Lane, Robert Hoffmeister, and Ben Bahan.
Hi, everyone! I was wondering if there was an ASL Dictionary out there that people preferred? I just started shopping around, and there are a lot to choose from! Any input you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!