Sign of the Week

The Sign of the Week for last week was the letter "b". I wonder what it will be this week?

Graduate T-Shirts

There are many special benefits to teaching your child to sign. So many in fact that extra perks really aren't needed...

but...

If you take a class from a Signing Time Academy certified teacher there is a chance you may be able to get this super cute shirt! We offer them to all the kids who complete our Baby Signing Time ☆ Sign and Play ☆ classes at Hana House.

On the front is says "Signing Time Academy Graduate" and on the back "I can talk with my hands... Can you?"

On iTunes

Did you know that Signing Time is on iTunes?

Just go to iTunes and do a search for "Signing Time" to see what is currently avalible! I don't have an iPhone but the applications from Signing Time look very useful! I would download them if I could...

Hopkins Deluxe Playtime Kit

The Signing Time Academy has a special limited time offer on a U-Play mat, flashcard and Signing Time products set in their store. When I saw it I instantly had so many ideas about how we could use it! Here is a post on my other blog about some ways to use the mat.

I'm really excited about the possibilies for using the mat with the Signing Time and Baby Signing Time flashcards.

The cards pictured here are from the U-Play company set but you can get the idea...

One thing I've noticed in the Baby Signing Time classes that I teach is that the babies love the flashcards - sometimes a little too much! I can see the teacher sitting in middle with the moms and babies on the outside. The clear pockets could help protect the cards from too much baby love as well as prevent the cards of disappearing during the lesson. :-)

One possibility would be to match objects to the cards while teaching the sign for each object. Another would be matching the "Rachel" signing side of the card to the picture side. Oh, and when it is time to sing a song like "Pet's I Love" having the cards in order in the pockets would make it easy to point at which sign is coming next!

As you can see I'm excited about the U-Play mat and especially think that the Signing Time Hopkins Deluxe Playtime Kit is a great deal for use at home as well as in class!

Sign of the Week

Wouldn't you like some cookies to snack on? Well, since it's the Sign of the Week you'll now know the sign you need to ask for cookies!

http://www.signingtime.com/blog/2010/05/sign-of-the-week-cookie/

Babbling in Sign

This would make a lot more sense if I had a video... please try to hang in there through the explanation!

Signing babies often "babble" with their hands in the same way that speaking ones make those adorable baby noises. My son did it too but now at 2.5 he can usually sign or gesture what he wishes to communicate. On Sunday though I caught him babbling again - and it was so cute!

At our current church the services are translated into JSL (Japanese Sign Language) for members who can't hear. In the past month my son has really picked up on the idea of signing as real communication for a whole group of people. One of the main interpreters is also his Sunday School teacher so he's been learning some JSL from her.

The picture here is from a special cemetary service last weekend. That's my son perched on a stone immitating the interpreter. One the surface the difference between ASL (American Sign Language) and JSL may not appear to be much but if you've studied one or the other then they are clearly different languages.

While my son knows they are different he doesn't know enough JSL signs yet to copy what is being said but he has caught on to the basic hand movements enough to babble!

Oh, and he was so proud of himself for being able to babble... :-)

Sign of the Week

B-A-L-L you can spell it but can you sign it?

http://www.signingtime.com/blog/2010/05/sign-of-the-week-ball/

ASL on Glee

Ok, so we are a few seasons behind in Japan for most US TV shows... but if you catch Glee on Fox Japan this week you'll be in for a treat. The episode features a signed version of the song "Imagine". You can see a clip here.

Just another reminder that people who use sign language may be closer than you realize!

Sign of the Week

I'd like to share a sign with you, it's the sign for "share".

http://www.signingtime.com/blog/2010/05/sign-of-the-week-share/