Signing Time Academy Launch

From: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClickandSign/message/7283

Well it looks like we are heading into the last two weeks before we officially launch the Signing Time Academy. If you have not filled out your pre-app, please go to http://www.signingtime.com/classes, and fill out the info so that you will be among the first to get your application. The rewards are going to be great and I am sure all of you will enjoy sharing with other families what a wonderful program this is. I am including the message that has been going out to interested candidates, so if you think this is something you would like to do, fill out the application and let's get you started.

Thank you so much for your interest and enthusiasm in becoming a Certified Instructor through the Signing Time Academy! The details of this program are being finalized at this time and are not yet ready for public release. However, to give you a head start, we strongly recommend that you begin gathering a few items that will most likely be required as part of the application process:

- a short paragraph detailing why this opportunity appeals to you
- proof of graduation from high school (or GRE) at a minimum, and any other higher education (for more advanced levels of certification)
- your resume (make sure it highlights your teaching and sign language abilities!)
-we will most likely be requiring all Instructors to have completed at least one ASL course. If you haven't taken any, you may want to consider getting started at www.signingonline. com. Their courses can be applied towards the certification requirements
- a letter of recommendation from someone who can attest to your character
- documentation of any ASL classes (such as college transcripts) or a description concrete, consistent life experience with ASL

Please do not submit anything to us until we release the official application. We will add you to our special Signing Time Academy email list to make sure you stay on top of the details on this program.

Thanks again!
Gwen Cox
Instructors Program Director
Signing Time Academy
gwen@signingtime. com
www.signingtime.com

New books about to be released...

I heard about these books on one of the signing forums. They look great! Buy them individually or all eight as a set. Encourage your local library to get them in!

Story Time with Signs & Rhymes

From Amazon.com:

Product Description
Story Time with Signs & Rhymes presents playful stories for read-aloud fun! This rhythmic tale invites readers to chant along and learn American Sign Language signs for colors such as red, blue, and green. Bring a new, dynamic finger-play experience to your story time!

From the Publisher
Story Time with Signs & Rhymes offers a variety of rhythmic, playful stories for read-aloud fun. American Sign Language (ASL) signs are incorporated into the book design, inviting children to sign along with the story. The result is a literacy-based, finger-play experience sure to engage students and teach signing! Looking Glass Library is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Publishing Group. Each Looking Glass Library picture book features art matched with the subject matter, leveled text for reading success, glossary, fun facts & activities, and reinforced library binding. Grades preK-3. Features: Illustrated Handshapes for the Alphabet, Numbers 1-10, and Signs from the Stories * Age-Appropriate Art * Glossary * Fun Facts * Activities * Further Reading * Reviewed by Content Consultants

About the Author
Dawn Prochovnic, creator of SmallTalk Workshops, earned her MA in Organizational Communication from Marylhurst University and is a certified Sign2Me(tm) presenter. Dawn has spent the last 15 years teaching people how to improve their lives by improving their communication. Story Time with Rhymes & Signs is her first children's book series.

BU Event - Gesture-Based Search Tools for ASL

Event Details

Event Title:	The Road to Sloogle: Gesture-Based Search Tools for American Sign Language
Date:	May 14, 2009
Time:	7:00PM
Location:	College of Arts & Sciences, Room B12 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Description:	Join Stan Sclaroff, professor and chair of computer science, and Carol Neidle, professor of French and linguistics and head of the linguistics program, for a presentation of their cutting-edge research to develop technology to allow users to search ASL materials by simply gesturing to a web camera on their computer. Discover human language as manifested in the visual-gestural dimension. Learn about the research project and its challenges. Explore possible solutions and their potential to open up access to the full range of ASL media. Program will be followed by a light reception. Sign language interpreters will be available. Discoveries, a lecture and learning series that taps the strength of the BU faculty to give alumni a deeper look into issues affecting the world and their lives, is brought to you by Arts & Sciences at Boston University and Arts & Sciences Alumni Relations. https://secure-alumni.bu.edu/olc/pub/BUAR/events/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=2226233

Update...

So, the training didn't happen in January obviously. Hopefully I'll be able to conduct a class at some point in the future! Please contact me if you are interested.

But, I did want to write about how M is interested in signing again. She was an avid signer until about 17 months and then lost interest as she began to speak more and more. But, around 2 years, she became interested again!

Here is what I wrote back in February:

When M started speaking, she really started speaking, and signing quickly died away.

This was around when she was 17 months or so.

She has quite the spoken vocabulary now but part of me wished I had kept up the signing with her. And then...

She is a big Sesame Street fan (who isn't?) and one of her favorite episodes has a short segment with Linda (oh, how I loved Linda growing up!). Linda is signing friend to a little girl.

And M picked it right up. We had never taught her friend (at last count these were the ones she could sign: eat, milk, more, cookie, cheese, all done, book, please).

She just started signing friend while she was on the changing table yesterday (and saying it).

So, we popped in the Signing Time VHS I had upstairs and she loved it! (she wanted mommy to sign it first and then she would sign it - good practice for me!)

So, I think we are going to start doing more Signing Time and equiv. videos now. I would love if she would start to sign more again...

We have two Signing Time videos and she asks to watch them all the time. I wish that show would come back on the air (see Rachel's post about it here)!

So, if you have a signing baby that seems disinterested when they learn to talk, don't give up - they may want to sign again when they become active toddlers. It is always a fun way to learn and talk with your toddler and beyond!