ASL Students Participate in Global Read Aloud

The Global Read Aloud (GRA) program works to demonstrate how one book can connect the world.  Currently the GRA program is connecting a Washougal High School class with middle school students in a French speaking part of Ontario, Canada.

For six weeks, starting October 6, participating classrooms across the world read a book, different for each grade grouping, aloud. Each week has designated chapters to be read.  Students then share their thoughts about the book and its characters with their distant partner classrooms through a safe social media platform.

Tami Grants classroom is reading “One for the Murphy’s” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  Her teacher partner is Serena Thatcher who teaches at Duke of Cambridge School (French Immersion Centre) in Bowmanville, Ontario in Canada. “Her students are using this experience to practice writing in English,” Grant said. “This is forcing my students to use proper grammar in order to help their counterparts learn.”

"We are helping them with their English, and in a way we are learning from them as well," said WHS senior, Jenny Wilson.  And because the Canadian students are in middle school, Wilson added that it’s requiring them to be more mature when they discuss the emotional and relationship themes in the book.  “It’s requiring us to be more mature when we talk to them and dealing with hard emotions like adults do,” she said.

A global collaboration such as this shows students that they are part of something bigger than just themselves.  It demonstrates that other kids are like them, even if they live far apart and in different countries. “My ultimate goal is for these students, when they leave high school, that even if they have not traveled that they have an appreciation for people with different cultures,” Grant explained.  “I hope they begin to realize there are many similarities between them and people who live in a different part of the world. I hope they see that it is not so scary in the world once you make connections.”

The GRA project believes that reading books can be a very personal experience, and there is a tremendous impact when students understand that the experience they have with a book may be similar to an experience another child had in another place.

Although the focus is for students to share their thoughts on the book’s characters and plot, the project and discussions go far beyond that. “It is fun to meet new people and help them to learn about Washington State,” said WHS Senior Matt Grant.  “They are very intrigued by Mt. St. Helens and asked us about living next to a volcano.  But it is really no big deal to us.”

WHS Senior, Madisen Baldwin agrees. "I really like how we can talk to people in Canada and be able to discuss mutual things like the book.  It’s also interesting that things we don't think about may be a major concern for them.  The students always ask us questions about Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood and if it’s scary living next to a volcano.  This helped me realize that we live in a completely different culture but we are all connected in some way.”

The class collected Washington items to send to their new Canadian friends which includes Mt. St. Helens ash and photos, sand from Cottonwood Beach and apples. “Students are also feeling a new appreciation for what they have here in the Pacific Northwest,” Grant added.

“Having book discussions online is very interesting and lets you see what everyone’s thinking,” Matt Grant said. “And we see that kids are just kids where ever they live.  It shows how literature can really bring people together.”

Tami Grant Earns Interpreter of the Year Award for Sorenson Communications

Tami Grant, Washougal High School American Sign Language (ASL) instructor, was recently recognized as Sorenson Communications 2013 Interpreter of the Year for her significant contributions to the deaf community

“Sorenson Communications is the largest employer of ASL interpreters.  I work for the Western Region that stretches from the West Coast to Chicago,” Grant explained.  “I was nominated by my co-workers, a fact that humbles me beyond measure. I work with some of the best interpreters out there, so I am still in shock that I won this!”

Chris Wakeland, Sorenson Vice President of Interpreting, announced Grant as the winner saying she was chosen in part for her extensive commitment to the deaf community in and outside of her work at Sorenson. “She is a full time ASL high school teacher, where her students respect and admire her. She directs four ASL productions a year, giving students the opportunity to show off their skills in ASL to the community.” He went on to point out that several of Grants former students work for Sorenson now and she has proven herself a leader inside and outside of the center.

Grant said she feels grateful that she can share the career aspect of the language with her high school students.  “I think it is cool that we are teaching a technical education not just a world language with ASL.”  Her interpreter job also gives her the opportunity to provide students with insight into the industry and a chance to learn about the very latest technology in use to assist the deaf and hard of hearing.

“I can also bring back real examples of the importance of team work in a job,” Grant explained.  When severe winter weather shut down east cost centers, and school was canceled at Washougal, Grant got a hotel room and went to work to cover for those centers not able to open.  “Everyone has a right to communication even when the weather is bad and it is difficult to provide the service,” Grant said.

Adding to this honor, Grant is the first interpreter from the Northwest Region, with more than 30 centers, to win Interpreter of the Year.  Along with her certificate, Grant was awarded a travel voucher and plans to take her family on a well deserved vacation.  “They are so supportive and so helpful to me, that taking them on vacation is something I am thrilled to be able to do with the help of my award!”

Ginnelle Dowdy, Sorenson District Manager, was unable to attend the ceremony, but sent her congratulatory message to Grant via a prerecorded video, and added “it’s kind of a big deal!”
Sorenson Communications uses a Video Relay System to empower the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to communicate with both, deaf and hearing family, friends or business contacts. This free, 24-hour service empowers users to place and receive calls with a professional ASL interpreter via a videophone and a high-speed internet connection. In addition, the services enable hearing callers to contact deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals as well.

Jonathan Terpak, Operations Coordinator; Denise Allen, Director of Interpreting Portland Center; Tami Grant, Interpreter of the Year; Tammy Frost-Welburn, Assistant Director Portland Center.