Hands That Speak: Bringing ASL to Our Classrooms

What does it look like when students learn to communicate in more than one way?   In this episode, your host Katie LaPira talks with Lacey Spring Elementary principal Tammy May and JMU professor Melissa Nguyen about bringing American Sign Language (ASL) into elementary classrooms. They share how even young learners can begin building communication skills through movement, expression, and visual language. Melissa and Tammy also share about how ASL supports inclusion, confidence, and meaningful connections across the school community.   From supporting reading development to helping students connect across classrooms, and even across different abilities, this conversation highlights how ASL is opening new doors for RCPS students.    Families will also hear simple ways to practice at home and how this initiative could grow in the years ahead, making communication more accessible for everyone in our community.   Mentioned in the Episode: Nyle DiMarco’s TED Talk: Making Education Accessible to Deaf Children