How to Teach: Verbs

There are a few phases to teaching the signs for verbs. In this lesson, we’ll find out what they are.

Phase One

Step One

Sign “What am I doing?” or “What are you doing?”

Step Two

With your eyebrows in neutral, statement position, point to the person who is doing the action and sign the corresponding verb.

After you do this for a week, start phase two of teaching. In phase two, the steps are as follows.

Phase Two

Step One

Sign “What is that?”

Step Two

Make them point to the person doing the action and then sign the word for the action.

Step Three

Give ascent. To reinforce the idea, point to the person doing the action and then sign the word for the action.

This is the final phase. This begins after the child regularly signs in response to the signed question and, hopefully, uses that sign independently.

Phase Three

Step One

Sign “What am I doing?” or “What are you doing?”

Step Two

Wait till they sign it before smiling and giving Indian head-bobble ascent.

This can be a positive, game-like activity. You could teach the kids to play this as a game with each other.

For a list of verbs go to the category “Sign Language Dictionary – topical” and then the subcategory “verbs”
Or click here.