Learning to read: strategies for deaf and hard of hearing children

In this on-demand presentation, Dr Amy Lederberg explores reading theory and frameworks to support early literacy development of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Dr Lederberg discusses some of the complex skills that underpin how children learn to read, to improve understanding and application of reading theory when teaching children who are DHH.

The presentation highlights some of the core concepts that influence early literacy development in children, including instructional practices. Dr Lederberg demonstrates the importance of using different instructional goals, depending on a student’s access to spoken language. The presentation explores what evidence-based practices are available for teachers of children who are DHH and Dr Lederberg illustrates effective instructional practices derived from her research and development of the Foundations for Literacy program.

Foundations for Literacy is an early literacy intervention program that was developed specifically for children who are DHH who have access to spoken language, with or without sign. Targeted learning objectives include vocabulary, alphabetic knowledge, spoken phonological awareness, and reading decodable words and short connected text. Research suggests that young children make educationally meaningful gains when teachers use Foundations for Literacy. 

VDEI recommend the use of Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (Macintosh users only) as the preferred web browsers to seamlessly register and access this learning.

Please note – Victorian Department of Education staff can access this professional learning offering free of charge. Enter your @education.vic.gov.au email address during the registration process to ensure the registration fee is waivered.

 Participants will be able to:

• Understand the complex skills involved in reading
• Describe how reading changes with age and ability 
• Apply reading theory to children who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Learn how to implement the instructional strategies used in the Foundations for Literacy program

Dr Amy R. Lederberg is a Professor in the Department of Learning Sciences at Georgia State University in the US. For over 35 years, she has conducted research about children who are deaf of hard of hearing (DHH), including how hearing loss effects interactions with mothers, peers, and teachers.

Dr Lederberg is the Director of the federally-funded Centre on Literacy and Deafness (CLAD). CLAD has developed five educational interventions to improve language and literacy outcomes for children who are DHH. Some interventions are for children who are DHH who use spoken language, while others are for those who use sign language.

Two interventions, Foundations for Literacy and Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading, were tested through two large national randomised-controlled studies that showed that they were effective in improving targeted outcomes. They both are currently being used by teachers throughout the United States, as well as teachers in the United Kingdom.

Download on-demand flyer

This On-Demand presentation  is delivered in spoken English with captioning

Participants who successfully complete this On-Demand Presentation will receive a certificate noting 3 hours of professional learning.