RIS Culture Arts Program Brought Motivation And Excitement To Students

By Tanjua Damon

David Parker’s infectious smile and exuberant energy caught hold of his audiences of fifth and sixth graders April 30 to follow as he showed them words and phrases in sign language.

Mr Parker brings a message of self-esteem, diversity, leadership, creativity, and opening the mind to try something new through his hourlong program that blends music, movement, and humor with sign language.

During the two performances, Mr Parker began interacting with the students as they settled into their seats. He would point at them or make a face getting the students to respond back by pointing or making a face as well. He even got students to do the wave.

Once he had their full attention he began his program of teaching the students words and phrases in sign language, teaching them something new as he added to the some of the skills the students displayed like memorization and following what he did while on stage. He often repeated the signing actions allowing repetition to help with their remembering certain signs such as friend, hamburger, love, and thanks.

“It’s a wonderful way to teach, entertain, and build a community of learners and to reinforce to them they are important,” Mr Parker said. “It gives an opportunity to share and give people an opportunity to learn and try something they can succeed at and succeed as a group.”

The students crowded around Mr Parker after the assembly to learn more and talk to him about what he had shown them through sign language. The students learned how to sign phrases of songs like “Lean on Me” and “God Bless the USA.” Mr Parker selected students from the audience to help him sign portions of the songs.

Mr Parker encouraged the students to seek out those they do not know to increase their understanding of all the students in the school. He explained that students can learn from each other because everyone is different.

The PTA cultural arts committee sponsored the program at the school.