Monday, September 19, 2011

Sign of the Week - "Bicycle"

This weekend was my husband's first motocross race of the Fall season. My 19 month old son, AJ, has loved dirt bikes I'm pretty sure since he was still in my tummy. :) We've been taking him to races since he was just a few months old, and one of his most clear words that he says is "Bike". At the races this weekend, he kept saying "Bike! Vroooom! Bike! Vroooom!"

The sign of the week is "Bicycle" (Bike)




Monday, September 12, 2011

Sign of the Week - "Remember"

In honor of all of those effected by the 09/11 Tragedy, this week's Sign of the Week is "Remember"

It reminds me of the sign "Brother" - but rather than using your "L" handshapes - you use "thumbs up".

I couldn't get this video to embed into my blog - so please click on the link below to see how the sign is made.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sign of the Week - "Rash"

I know...you're wondering why in the wild world of sports (this is my husband's saying) would the Sign of the Week be "Rash"???

Well, it's because my 19 month old son, AJ, came down with the chickenpox last Saturday! He hadn't received his vaccination yet, and was exposed to it somewhere, and here we are.

We are in the final days of it, because it seems like it's already starting to clear up. And thank GOODNESS all of the girls had been immunized already, and didn't get it.

So, if you were ever wondering what the sign for "Rash" is...Here you go!
It's the sign for "Red" and then it shows the rash moving up your arm.


Monday, August 29, 2011

Sign of the Week - "Swim"

This week's sign is "Swim"!

Phoenix has been under an 'Excessive Heat Warning', so our kids have been spending a lot of time in our Pool!

The sign for "Swim" is an iconic sign - meaning that the sign looks like the word it is representing.

Happy Signing!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Sign of the Week - "Teacher"



Keeping with the Back To School theme, this week's sign is "Teacher"

This sign contains a concept called "the person sign".

This means, "the sign that you add to something when you want it to be a person." It is also called the "person affix" or sometimes the "agent affix." Regardless of what you call it, this sign is added to certain other signs to create a new concept of "a person who does."





Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Sign of the Week - "School"

Hello!

Since it is Back to School Time, I thought that it would be appropriate for this week's sign to be SCHOOL!

As of this year, I have a 9th grader, a 4th grader and a 2nd grader!! My how the time flies!

Hope everyone is having a great year so far!




Thursday, June 30, 2011

Five Baby Sign Language Myths Dispelled

Great Article from www.babysignlanguage.com!


If you are here on our website you are probably one of many parents, caregivers and educators aiming to learn and implement a baby sign language program for your child or children. You have probably already started and have spotted several friends and acquaintances at the playground or at church signing with their pre-verbal hearing babies.

On a daily basis we get a significant number of questions on our baby sign language Facebook many questions are straight forward and aimed at learning teaching methodology, figuring out what is the best timing and format and finding a supportive community. A few questions however are full of doubt and concern often rooted in misinformation and myths about early language development. Each time these questions arise we take the time to personally address each one knowing that each baby is unique and uniquely important.

Because we know you want the best for your child and you want to give them early communication tools to reduce frustration and increase bonding we want to share with you the most common myths you will face as an advocate of this communication system to appease your personal concerns and equip you with the right responses to advocate with family members, educators and friends that may not have a misconstrued understanding of this method of communication.

Myth #1:

Sign Language For Babies Delays Speech

Gesticulation is a natural and complimentary action to speech. Research has demonstrated that Baby Sign Language in fact accelerates the acquisition of oral skills. Babies exposed to sign language will often speak earlier than babies that have not received this type of learning stimulation.



Myth #2

Signing With your Baby is an Illusion of Well-Wishing Parents

Baby sign language often encounters a great deal of incredulity and disbelief. After all it is pretty special and almost miraculous to see a six-month-old baby express a need, want or feeling. However it is proven. Babies sign contextually and communicate pleasure and satisfaction once their need is met.



Myth #3

Baby Sign Language is Fad

The history of baby sign language is almost 100 years old. It has been proven, studied and applied in many cultural contexts always with very positive results in terms of accelerated communication and increased cognitive abilities. Gestural communication is inherent to human behavior. BSL is just a way to optimize its application to enhance the quality of life of infants and parents.


Myth #4

Baby Sign Language is not endorsed by Educational Institutions

More & more, early child development centers, Montessori schools and private caregivers are incorporating BSL to their chore curriculum. A high percentage of university-sponsored daycare centers have been using BSL with infants and toddlers since the 90’s. Most educators with a background in language acquisition consider BSL essential when it comes to early childhood education.


Myth #5

Teaching BSL Takes Too Much Time & Effort

Babies are little sponges. If used contextually and consistently baby sign language will require little effort and will yield quick results. Six to nine old-month babies often learn a sign within two weeks of introduction.



We know these questions will come up again and again as we raise new generations of babies. Please feel free to share this link in your blog, website and with friends and family via email and let them know we are here to provide support, guidance and clarification in all matters related to baby sign language

http://www.babysignlanguage.com/2011/06/five-baby-sign-language-myths-dispelled/