Count in Sign Language

Learn how to sign count in ASL (American Sign Language) and then use the sign to help develop early math skills!

1. Bring one hand up about chest height, palm up, hand flat.
2. With the other hand, lightly pinch pointer to thumb (as if you were holding something between your fingers), leaving remaining fingers slightly extended.
3. Draw your second hand back and forth over the palm of the second hand.
4. This sign looks like you are holding a pencil and working out some math problems! Use this visual to help you remember the sign.

Teaching Tips – to learn how to sign count in ASL

• Create number learning games by giving children different familiar items to count, such as race cars, dolls, markers, stickers, etc. How high can you count to? 10? 20? More?
• Count things in your neighborhood. How many cars are on the street? Or how many trees and buildings? Sign count and say, “I can count ______ cars!”

Transcript

This is the sign for count. Count!