FY 2008 Annual Report of Achievements - Gallaudet University

Shared Reading Project Book Bags and Bookmarks
National mission priority area: Literacy
Principal Investigator(s):
Puzio, Danielle
Other Investigator(s):
Hanyzewski, Carla
Page, Leslie
Suiter, Richard
Valcourt-Pearce, Catherine
Project description
The Shared Reading Project is designed to teach parents and caregivers how to read to their
deaf and hard of hearing children using ASL and how to use strategies to make book sharing more
effective.
Culturally diverse deaf readers were filmed as they used ASL to read fun, predictable
children’s books. Because children love seeing these books read over and over again, the parents
have repeated opportunities to practice. Deaf tutors visit the families’ homes to demonstrate how to
sign the stories and provide instant feedback to family members. The families use the DVDs of deaf
readers signing the story to reinforce the new signs after the tutor has left.
Shared Reading Project book bags are made available at cost for purchase by parents,
teachers, libraries, schools, and professionals throughout the United States. Bookmarks describing
principles for reading to deaf and hard of hearing children are available free to any parent, caregiver,
or teacher. These bookmarks are popular and are available in English and in the following
translations: Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Hmong, Inuktitut, Korean,
Navajo, Portuguese, Russian, Somalian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Development
Prior years. In FY 2004, a new series of book bags related to the world of work was
published. A grant from the United Parcel Service supported the production and shipping cost, and
1,168 World of Work book bags were sold. In FY 2005, the Clerc Center identified and developed
books related to emotional intelligence (EQ) as outlined in Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional
Intelligence, including awareness of self and others; management of emotions; motivation,
perseverance, and responsibility; empathy; and social skills. In FY 2006, three new series of book
bags were identified, including Curious George books, Arthur books, and other books related to
EQ. Permission was granted to videotape the 30 new books. In FY 2007, production on 15 book
bags with Arthur books began. A grant from Wachovia Bank supported production costs.
FY 2008 activities and/or product(s).
• Video production was completed for the full Arthur series.
• The new DVD format was established, reviewed, and revised through feedback from
professionals, teachers, and parents. A new introduction was developed, scripted, and
filmed for the DVD.
• The Arthur activity guides were developed, edited, and printed along with the DVD sleeves.
• Each of the 15 Arthur titles was translated into Spanish, and those translations were
printed and cataloged.
• The project marketing plan is under construction, and a product launch is being planned.
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