Happy Hands School: Innovation helps children learn

The Happy Hands School for the Deaf has welcomed their latest arrivals, six additional deaf primary school children. The school has now grown to 30 children, and Shicol conducts research on alternative educational practices together with the International Institute for Sign Languages and Deaf Studies.

The main cornerstone of education at Happy Hands is the use of sign language, the natural and accessible form of communication that every deaf child can fully participate in. The entire school is run by deaf adults, and classes are led by deaf peer tutors who have been trained through the research project. Children learn to read and write in English, which is explained to them through Indian Sign Language, along with other subject knowledge.

In this upcoming school year, the research will focus on two aspects: using interactive games to teach the structures of English grammar, and experimenting with a “flipped curriculum”. This is a new method where the curriculum is not given at the beginning. Instead, tutors decide with the class on something interesting to pursue, be that constructing a model house, or inventing their own stories. Learning is cross-checked only at the very end against standard curricula. This ensures that classes are meaningful and engaging for the children – having written your own story, you will never forget the words you used.

To support the school in its current efforts to build new classrooms, see the fundraising appeal here.