The Language Arts Handbook: A Total Communication Approach (review)

Reviews QUESTION—Does anyone syndicate foreign language films for TV stations to use? I realize that many educational films are captioned and can be used on television under certain conditions . But there are probably thousands of foreign language films, with captions, that the hearing-impaired and general public would like to see on television. I wrote to a local television station asking them if they would be willing to show captioned foreign films. After a lengthy delay, I got a reply saying that they were unable to find anyone syndicating such films. It is quite possible many ordinary television stations and cable systems would be interested. Roy Lechtreck University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL Reviews Saving Our Planet ($47.50 with cassette, $31.50 without cassette) and Discovering the Powers of Nature ($67.50 with cassette, $47.25 without cassette) filmstrips , National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, 1981. The National Geographic Society did an excellent job on developing these captioned filmstrips and showing realistic pictures of the environment . Cassettes are included, and booklets provide supplementary notes in addition to each captioned frame. Saving Our Planet introduces the causes of environmental damages and ways that people can preserve the land, water, and air. Two filmstrips , "Saving Our Land" and "Saving Our Air And Water," are included under this title. Discovering the Powers of Nature introduces the natural forces that change the earth's surface and atmosphere. Three filmstrips are included: "Earthquakes And Volcanoes," "Weather And People," and "Forest Fires And Flood." Rita A. Spencer, M.Ed. Maryland School for the Deaf Frederick, MD 21701 The Language Arts Handbook: A Total Communication Approach, Joanne Greenberg, M.Ed., McCay Vernon, Ph.D., Jan Hater DuBois, M.Ed., and Jan C. McKnight, 145 pp., $19.95 paperback, University Park Press, 300 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201, 1982. Taking the strategies of fingerspelling and signing often used in the education of hearingimpaired individuals, these authors apply them to the education of hearing individuals. Their case for adding these strategies to existing ones is made well in the first chapter, and followed by a review of research and theory in the second chapter. Thirty-nine specific lessons are provided . They range from readiness activities to advanced comprehension skills. The focus is directed mainly to the study of words and spelling. The ideas offered in this book should not be readily dismissed because of their novelty. An examination of the content will reveal sound lessons presented with a great deal of creativity. In addition to 39 lessons, the book is an excellent resource for additional information starting on page 93. My own rearch confirms the claims these authors have made for the success one might expect when using these approaches. I consider the book to be a breakthrough and one that can make substantial differences in the education of many children. The authors are to be commended for their effort and insight. Read it and enjoy. Robert M. Wilson, Ed.D. Professor and Director of the Reading Center University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 Total Communication: A Signed Speech Program for Nonverbal Children, Benson Schaeffer, Arlene Musil, and George Kollinzas, 263 pp., $9.95, Research Press, 2612 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign, IL 61820, 1980. Total Communication presents a carefully developed , comprehensive language program. The sequence begins with the selection of the nonverbal child's first signed word and ends with sight reading and number skills. The emphasis is upon spontaneous language. The goal is to foster rather than to teach language. Molding and successive approximation are used in 300 A.A.D /June 1984 ...