Hello! I hope everyone had a great week and is ready for another exciting entry of Ms. G’s free inquiry! Over the past week, I have been considering what ways you can implement ASL into other subject areas. As you know, languages naturally fit into language arts as they part of communication. For today, I have decided to look into how ASL can be used when teaching mathematics.

Last week, I introduced the concept of numbers #1-20 and thought how can we use signing to teach math. Through my research, I found a website called the ASL-STEM Forum that lists math terminology with words from “add” all the way to “Transcendental Number”. Most of these signs are above and elementary level but can be a useful resource for students in the future. What I liked about this website is that it provided a dictionary definition of the various words as well.

Here is a list with links to some of the words you may use in an elementary classroom:

In sign language, when you are signing an equation, it is phrased slightly different than if you are speaking. For example, if you were signing “4+3=?”, you would sign the number 4, plus, the number 3, and the sign how many? In ASL, when you ask a question, the question word goes at the end of the sentence. Math sentences often as a question to a problem, which is why you ask the word how many at the end. 

For more information, check out the textbook Naturally Signing or head to the youtube page below to watch videos on other mathematical ASL lessons.

– Ms. G 🙂