Examining Activities Concerning the Use of Words Encountered in Content Area Courses in Writing by Children with Hearing Loss

Abstract

Improvement of vocabulary constitutes an important part of the literacy practices. Children with hearing loss experience difficulties in using newly encountered words in verbal and written languages due to the delay they experience in linguistic skills. The objective of the present study is to investigate the course of applying a balanced literacy program, that allows the words encountered by the children with hearing loss during informative lessons, to be used in their written expressions. The study has been designed as case study.  The participants of the study consisted of 6 students with hearing loss educating at the 4th class of elementary school, a class teacher, and the researcher. The data source of the study included the field observations, records of the validity meetings, lesson program, and the materials obtained during the course of practice; additionally the diary of the researcher was reported, and the students’ yields and the audiological documents were investigated. The study results have been discussed in light of the activities which improve vocabulary by using picture, by using text and by using words, sentences, and the techniques used during these activities.

Keywords: child with hearing loss, vocabulary, writing skills, balanced literacy, literacy activities