MOUNT VERNON — Malachi Thomas loves sign language. Either studying, practicing or teaching others, sign language is his second form of communication.
While at Pleasant Street Elementary, he asked his fellow second-grade students if they want to learn sign language as well.
He repeatedly asked his teachers and Pleasant Street social worker Amy Bings if sign language would be taught to interested students. It was in December 2022 when Thomas asked Bings if a sign language club could be formed.
Thomas’ reason behind wanting to start a sign language club was because his sister is hearing impaired.
Bings and Thomas met and created Pleasant Street’s first sign language club, where roughly 15 students meet twice a month to learn new words and phrases in sign language.
Originally, Thomas wanted to teach sign language himself at the end of his classes, but the club format provided to be the best option.
“I’m all for kids advocating, I think that’s really awesome,” Bings said. “I’m like, ‘OK, this is a great idea.’ Let me give it some thought and figure out how we could maybe make this happen.”
Thomas’ mother Kayla Hughes leads the sign language club, which typically meets around 12:15 p.m. at the school’s library during the second graders’ recess.
“Malachi went around to each of the three second-grade rooms and we kind of invited everybody,” Bings said. “We started out with a huge group. Way too many more than we wanted.”
Hughes listens to the club members and sees what they want to learn and find interesting about sign language. During the club’s meetings they’ve learned signs to use during school, general greetings and food items like peaches and grapes.
“In the eight meetings throughout the year, we’re never going to be able to teach them conversation in sign language,” Hughes said. “So what I decided to do was just introduce them in a fun way to where they can learn more at home when it’s their own interest.
“And Hughes has given them supportive learning materials to take home to continue to learn at home,” Bings added. “We have some kids that are just amazing how quick they’ve picked things up.”
Students are given the opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned toward the group too, Bings said.
Club member and second grader Ayden Byrens joined the club because he wanted to learn sign language for people who are deaf, he said. He doesn’t have any deaf family members but is glad he’s able to sign in case it’s needed.
Thomas hopes to grow the club in the coming years, expanding to different grade levels like kindergarten and first grade. Right now the club can only handle so many kids due to only having one volunteer, Bings said.
Thomas says sign language is a useful way to talk if there’s somebody that is deaf or far away.
“I really love sign language,” Thomas said. “On the bus I like talk to myself in sign language.”
