Welcome!

The blog has moved to: http://kotobaandsign.blogspot.jp to be under the name Kotoba & Sign.
Feel free to look through this "old" blog as well as hop over to the "new" one!

In this blog you will find information and stories of our experience with signing. Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments! このブログでは、私たちのサインを使った経験からの情報や体験談を紹介します。お気軽に質問やコメントを残してくださればと思います。どうぞよろしくお願いします。

Why Sign? どうして手話(サイン)なの?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Garlic Press Sign Books

In a recent box from Grandma and Grandpa my son found a couple of sign language books from Garlic Press. If you go to their homepage you can find a nice selection of ASL-based books with useful signs.
Of particular interest to us are the "Signing At Church" and "Signing At Sunday School" books. They include basic greetings which are commonly used at church as well as things like the Lord's Prayer.
I now have my eye on some of their other books including the signed songs books. My son loves to sign as he sings and has been known to make up his own signs for songs!

Friday, July 16, 2010

1st Hana House BST Graduates Play Group

Recently we had the first play group / reunion of Baby Signing Time graduates at Hana House. It was so great to see all the progress that everyone has been making!

To start out we reviewed an old, favorite song "Pets I Love" from Baby Signing Time DVD 1. Then, we learned a "new" song and the names of many colors. Here is a previous post about the song "Box of Crayons".

To tie together the pets theme with the colors we read the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" by Jr. Bill Martin and Eric Carle. We used the bilingual edition called "英語でもよめる くまさんくまさんなにみてるの?".

For some help in remembering (or learning) the color signs you can go to http://www.squidoo.com/american-sign-language-colors!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Summer Activities Page

Are you looking for some extra fun things to do this summer?

How about some activities that can travel with you?

Check out the Signing Time blog for ideas and resources!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Sign Language ABC - a Sesame Street book

I have to admit that I am addicted to books. When I hear of a really good book I'll stop at almost nothing to hunt it down. Thanks to Amazon and the used books that are sold I can get my hands on just about any book within a month. This one though nearly escaped my grasp!
As you can see it's used but a good book is worth it even if it is a little beat up!
What I love is the simple layout, familiar characters and choice of useful vocabulary that is taught.
My 2.5 yr old took to the book right away. I may need to either hunt down another copy or laminate this one!!!
Sesame Street Sign Language ABC with Linda Bove by Sesame Street
ISBN-10: 0394975162
ISBN-13: 978-0394975160
ISBN-10: 0394875168
ISBN-13: 978-0394875163

Another Little Signer

This link was shared by another Signing Time Academy instructor. She posted on her blog a video of her son's experience riding in a car with the top down. Thanks to sign language He's able to "talk" about it with his parents in the next car!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Sign of the Week

"Look at me, I'm on a ______."

Can you complete the verse from the song "Here I Go" on Baby Signing Time DVD Vol. 2?

Saturday, July 3, 2010

4th of July

In just a few hours it will be the 4th of July so to help those of you who celebrate...

Friday, July 2, 2010

If you have any questions I can be reached at heidi@signingtimeacademy.com

Please e-mail me if you live in Japan but are not in a location where classes are offered. I can help you get started with Baby Signing Time and/or Signing Time.

日本に住んでいて、近くに手話のクラスがない場合などは、メールをくだされば、質問に答えたり、皆さんが Baby Signing Time や Signing Time を始めるのをお手伝いできると思います。

heidi@signingtimeacademy.com

MixiとFacebookとYoutube

MixiにSinging Time ファンのグループあります。
Join the Signing Way Facebook group!
Don't forget to stop by the 手話の道 Youtube site!