Books that Enhance

One of the great things about using ASL (American Sign Language) as the basis for signing with children is the wealth of "extra" books that you can use.  Since it is a real, full language there are new books constantly being made and many great ones already published.

The Baby Signing Time, Signing Time and Potty Time Board Books are currently hard to get your hands on in Japan.  However, I can take orders for them.  The other books can be purchased via Amazon.co.jp

The main books that we use in the baby class are, of course, the Baby Signing Time Board Books!

1. Time To Eat! 

2. Good Night, Alex and Leah 

3. What Do You See Outside? 

4. Will You Be My Friend?

Potty Time Board Book: Hopkins Uses the Potty

Signing Time Board Books - These coordinate with the first 6 volumes of the Signing Time Series 1 DVDs & Flashcards

1 My First Signs

2 Playtime Signs

3 Everyday Signs

4 Family, Feelings & Fun

5 ABC Signs

6 My Favorite Things

Below are some of the other books that we have used in class.  These are not from Signing Time but are based on ASL, the same as Signing Time.

Words by The Handful - a box set of small board books great for babies & toddlers  (see blog post)

Sign and Sing Along Series - Illustrated by Annie Kubler -  Popular English Children's songs illustrated with ASL signs.  Please note that there is also a BSL version (British Sign Langauge).
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Incey Wincey Spider 
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

Sign About Series -Illustrated by Anthony Lewis -  Like little board book picture dictionaries.  Great for expanding vocabulary beyond what we cover in class.  Please note that there is also a BSL version (British Sign Langauge).
Getting Ready
Going Out
Play Time
Meal Time

Mullberry Bush サインで読める絵本

There are many books that you can read even if you know just a few signs.  One of the favorites at our house is Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush from the Child's Play Classic Books with Holes series. 

サインで読める絵本

Here is a video clip of Mega reading the page with bath and brushing teeth.  She is 21 months old in this video and uses ASL signs along with spoken words.  Since she is still young her pronunciation is not great but thanks to the signs it is easy to know what she is saying!

Sign Your Memory Work

In the mornings at our house the kids and I have "school" time. As part of our learning challenges we memorize a Bible verse each week.  Recently we started using Sign & Say Bible Verses for Children.  Since the book uses ASL vocabulary the kids already know some of the signs.  Both Zilla (4 yrs.) and Mega (18 mo.) are enjoying learning their memory work this way!

Signing memory work is also a great way to spent some of the "extra" energy that little boys always seem to have stored up!

Words by the Handful ASL手話の絵本

One of the things we do at home is read books which have included ASL vocabulary into the stories.  The series Words by the Handful by Mimi Brian Vance blends in well with the vocabulary taught in Baby Signing Time.

Each of the board books is just the right size for small hands.  The stories center around a little boy who can't speak clearly yet and his teddy bear who encourages him so use signs to communicate.  It is nice that these books each contain a story with the signs in an everyday context. Presenting the signs in this way not only teaches about how to make the signs but also gives an idea of when to use them.
Reading these books are another way that you can spend quality time with your child!

A Look At Classes

For the past 2 years I have been teaching Baby Signing Time " Sign and Play" classes as a Signing Time Academy certified instructor.  Here is a peak into the classroom:

 The Bricks classroom has a variety of items used for the various classes offered at Hana House.  We use some of them for the Sign and Play classes when they compliment the lesson.

Here is another view of the Bricks classroom. 

This is the original Hana House classroom.  The Advanced level of classes (Lesson 9-16) are often held here so that we can step outside for the lessons with outdoor themes. 

In this picture we are learning words such as "cloud" and "sun" before going outside to practice using the signs in an everyday situation.

During classes the songs we will sing are posted on the walls. 

These are some of the books which we use in class.  

Each lesson includes a story book which reinforces the signs of the day.  We also use 1-2 of the Sing and Sign Along books during our reading time.  The Signing Time board books are always sitting out ready for kids to look at or for parents to look up a new word or two.

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!

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!

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

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

In class we use the Sign and Sing Along book "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear". Here is what happened at home one day after class!