What does the Rochester Method of Instruction combine?

The Rochester Method of Instruction is centered around the combination of fingerspelling and speaking simultaneously. This approach emphasizes the use of the manual alphabet for spelling out words while simultaneously voicing them, which supports the development of language skills in deaf and hard of hearing students. The method encourages the integration of visual and auditory modalities, enabling students to connect the visual representation of words with their spoken counterparts. This simultaneous communication can enhance comprehension and facilitate better language acquisition, making it an effective pedagogical strategy in educating deaf learners.

Other methodologies may focus on different aspects of communication or prioritize one skill over the other, which is why they don't align as closely with the principles of the Rochester Method. For instance, combining signing and writing doesn't inherently support the simultaneous nature emphasized in the Rochester Method, and while singing and signing or reading and translating involve manual and spoken forms of communication, they lack the specific focus on fingerspelling aligned with vocalization that defines the Rochester approach.