How can educators create language-rich environments that support the diverse needs of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students? Drawing from research, observations, and input from language planning committees and beta testing groups, the Language Abilities & Approaches Wheels (LAAWs) framework was developed to guide educators in addressing language development gaps and fostering balanced growth in signacy, literacy, and oracy.
Research highlights the limitations DHH students face in environments prioritizing English, often inaccessible to them. Inspired by frameworks such as the Balanced Literacy Diet (OSIE, 2024) and Dr. Charlotte Enn’s Language and Literacy Framework (2006), LAAWs separates language pathways by modality, as advocated by Anderson (1993) and Nover et al. (1998). This framework features six wheels targeting input and output for signacy, literacy, and oracy, enabling educators to develop intentional language plans.
First tested at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES), LAAWs demonstrated the importance of focused, modality-specific language instruction. Feedback from educators and administrators has been positive, underscoring its potential to transform classroom practices.
While ongoing research explores its broader impact, LAAWs is already empowering educators to create authentic, language-rich environments tailored to DHH students’ unique needs.
Learning Objectives- Participants will identify four key frameworks addressing language deprivation in deaf and hard of hearing children and articulate the language development gaps these students commonly face.
- Participants will differentiate between signacy, literacy, and oracy within a language-rich classroom and demonstrate how the LAAWs framework supports the intentional design of effective language environments for deaf and hard of hearing students.
Zoom link:
Topic: CEASD 2025- Creating Language Rich Environments...
Time: Apr 11, 2025 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83538271617?pwd=ZiXbkHysgkb3Q7de8INaPnJW4E3dK1.1
Meeting ID: 835 3827 1617
Passcode: 184326
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