Welcome Back.

We are back in business, back in town, and back to work. Our family has been off on an adventure and we are ready to dig into the world of baby signs and family sign language classes.

I have learned so much about the need of incorporating Sign Language in the lives of families with children who for many different reason use Sign Language as a way to communicate with those around them.

As our son gets older he is now 4 1/2 whenever entering a new situation, school, play groups, etc he is able to use his sign language along with his voice to communicate his needs and keep down the tantrums.

Sign Language Class - No summer classes

We will begin a new session in late August. Please check out our blog for the new dates. Post your questions, needs and concerns.

Thank you,

Come Sign With Us Family!!!

Audism - prejudice against deaf community

I think if we are gonna take the time to learn sign language we should also learn about the deaf community and respect it. Communication is a two way street. Although as you read more about Audism you will learn that a huge number of people who are in the deaf are forced to live in an even more silent world in their own homes with their own family and friends and communities. Do you know someone who is deaf? How do you say hello? Can you fingerspell your name? when you enter their room or house do you communicate with your voice or by using Sign Language.
Let me encourage you, if you have a family member who is deaf or hard of hearing and they go to school and use sign or attend college and use Sign or work and use sign. As their family member or friend you too should take the loving time to learn and use sign.
Question: if you were sitting in a group of friends laughing and catching up on old times and your cousin who is deaf sits in the group however no one is signing to him. He could think you are talking about him. Include him face him while you talk, make sure you pull him into the conversation even if no one knows Sign. He will appreciate your efforts. Ask for help with simple signs. Before you know it you will learn more. Most important your cousin does not feel left out or rejected by you and your hearing friends. Think Outside you Comfort Zone...

Why a sign language Class

I started this class out of my own personal need. I have a child who has been diagnoses with a severe speech disorder and from the age of 12months I was told he would need to have an alternative way to communicate. Sign Language was given as an option. The speech therapist felt it would help keep down the frustration and tantrums. So, the journey began as we looked for classes or books on how to teach our son sign language. And at first it was very easy because it seemed like the stylish thing at the time was to learn "Baby Sign". Eat, Milk, Banana, Drink, Apple... all the cute basic stuff. I took a class with my son at the local community center. And the teacher was very helpful. We visited a deaf school and their program for children my sons age, but we were only allowed to observe since my son is hearing. These program are for hearing children only. Finally, We learned about "Signing Times" dvd's and got off to a good start. My sons Infant & Toddler teacher suggested a women who taught in-home classes and we took those classes for about 3 months and it was very helpful. Now that my son is 4 years old and still uses some signs, some voice and eventually he will use a computer device the need is not as great as it was 3 years ago, however, i have a huge amount of compassion for those who find themselves in our families place of wanted to know what to do and how to do it and no true place to go for answer. I have a lot of resources and answer and most importantly passion. Whatever I can do to help I will do my best.

What to expect in Class

New Vocabulary: Family,Feelings,Relationships

Games....practice

Question.? what do you want to learn to say? write in and let us know.


CLASSES ARE HELD ONCE A MONTH @ NEW CARROLLTON LIBRARY.

April 18, 2009 Saturday @ 1pm

Next Class: Phrases and New Vocabulary words...

New Carrollton Library, Sign Language Class

March 21, 2009... We all had a slow start yesterday as I told the group before we got started I was feeling Sick, Tired and had a headache. I think Spring is in the air and so sinus and allergy season is on. But we jumped into our lesson and the group was up for the challenge. Let's introduce ourselves and have a brief dialogue. I think everyone has master the Sign for "slow" down and "Again". That is what you say to someone who is maybe signing a bit to fast for your eyes to follow and for us beginners is nice to be able to request that the question be "Repeated".
And then we moved on to games, what better way to review what you know then to have to see it and then name it. Everyone was a great sport, and if you didn't know a word someone in the group was eager to help so we all learned something new.
One of the things I love about the group is that you feel like you are all learning and excited to learn this beautiful language. I get the feeling from some in my own family that they do not understand what a great gift it is to have an avenue to communicate with other. And for those who in our families case may not have the verbal skill to be able to sign it is a GREAT gift. :) See ya at the next class, April 18th..

Next Class - March 21, 2009, at 1pm

We will have our next class on Saturday March 21, 2009 at 1pm.

Quest @ Galludet

Me and my son (4 years old) went to see the play "Alice" that was performed by the theater group Quest on the campus of Galludet University. It was excellent and my son really enjoyed the play. Of course it was a silent play and the actors/dancers were all very expressive and conveyed the play very well. I would recommend it.

Signing Times!

Are you familiar with the Signing Times Series? This is a wonderful Series that takes you and your child through a series of topics, eat, outside, feeling, etc. and in a creative and fun way it will allow you to learn sign language together. What our family have gotten from the series is an easy way to build up our sons vocabulary as well as ours. So, when I know we are going to go to the Zoo we will watch the DVD Zoo Train and then once we get to the zoo we can reinforce the signs that we learned when we actually see the animals. It's works my son who is 3 1/2 years olds knows many of the signs from watching these videos. I can say that it has made it easy to learn and reinforce the signs as a family. There are so many benefits from using sign language I don't get what the fear and reservations that surround the language are based on. I think the number 1 fear is that people think that it will stop the child from talking or using their voice. That is not true and research is their to support that children actually talk faster, read earlier and learn their letters quicker from using sign language. So I encourage it to those who have normal hearing children and start early as 9-months with introducing the language. You as a parent will be pleasantly surprised when you child first sign to you his/her want or need. "Eat" "Milk" "Berry" Its fun and for me as a mom I love that my child can tell me his wants and needs. Enjoy the videos.

Finger Spelling Activity!

Activity 1 - Finger spell the following words: boy, girl, ear, nose, eat, cry, run, cat, dog, pot, hand, foot, zap, sun, etc. Make up additional Words. Keep the words at three or four letters at the start.

Activity 2 - Finger spell the phrase "I want to be your friend."

NOTE: You must know your "Manual Alphabet"! Check out ASLPro.com in order to practice your alphabet.


Be prepared to demonstrate your Finger Spell Skills at February 28th class.

Ready..Set...Practice (?Do you know the sign for Practice?)

Voice Off

A good way to begin to practice your sign and be sure that you and your child is truly understanding is to begin to use the sign with your voice off. Yes, sign in silence. A good way to practice practice practice. Try it.

Sign Language Class, February 28th @ 1pm....

All the votes are in and the majority of you have spoken FEBRUARY 28th we will have class at the New Carrollton Library, 2nd floor @ 1pm

PLEASE DO THE ASSIGNMENT: Sign Name for Yourself, practice your Manual Alphabet

FEBRUARY CONTEST: The key to competing in the February Contest is found in your Sign Word for the Day" so study up and be ready...Someone will have an opportunity to win Sign Language Product for you and your family!!

Practice Practice Practice..look it up (ASLPRO.COM)

Come Sign with US!

Obama Girlz!

Here we are on the Eve of the Inauguration! What an awesome event! We went down town and then over to U Street to Ben's Chilli bowl for a 2hour wait. No we didn't wait but we watched from across the street as we ate in the restaurant across the street Utah. Great meal! And the entire experience was wonderful. People were so friendly.

I didn't understand what he was Signing to me!

It seems like I can take two huges leaps forward and then (one) knock backwards. I went to put my child on the bus this morning and one of his friends on the bus was asking me a questions about something and I could not understand what he was saying and I didn't have time to ask him to fingerspell it or to go slower because the bus driver was ready to pull off. I saw the look on his face and that broke me down this morning. the look said 'I thought you understood sign". Or not you too. Frustration and sad eyes.... Yes I pulled all that out of his facial expression. I felt sad but trust that I am determine to do better learn more and become fluent. No perfect just not afraid to stand there and understand what is being said before I walk away. Remember our Mantra "Signing is a Sign of Love".

Jan 17th, Sign Language Class 2009

We had the first Sign Language class in 2009, last Saturday Jan 17Th. There was great turn out and participation. We met new families and I believe a pleasant representation of extended family. One of our Mantras is "Signing is a Sign of Love". What better way to love your family member than to be able to speak to them in their language. Imagine living in a household and no one in that house can communicate with you in your language. We met a young man in this first class who is currently in the 6Th grade and he was able to bring his mother, grandmother and younger brother to the class. Hurray!! My belief is that the family will learn to communicate better with this young man and I think that is a beautiful gift. Learning a new language is not easy but for us it is Necessary. Join us in February for the next session.

Communication Device

I remember what and where I was on the day that I left my phone home by mistake. I put my bluetooth in place got into the car and drove to the grocery store. When I got inside of the store I started shopping and thought I would call my sister so we could talk while I had some "Free Time". Reached for my phone and realized after a quick search OMG! no phone. This was serious. How many of you know that I considered leaving my lettuce in the cart and taking a quick ride back home in order to retrieve my phone. I thought about it and although I felt a little weird like I had forgot to wear the same color shoes or something like people were looking at me saying hey she doesn't have her phone. But in reality I got over that moment and went on with my shopping trip. Although I missed the conversation that I would have enjoyed with my sister, I made it. Grocery shopping got done. The reason I am mentioning this is that I reacted very strongly to not having a way to communicate with my sister. Now my 3 1/2 year old son uses a communication device in school to help with his lesson and such. However he has not had his device for almost 4 months, can you imagine not having your phone for 4months. He deserves his device now and in working condition. This is very frustrating and I wonder if he were in a different program or County would this be allowed to go on so long. What would you do?

Sign and Say

I have been searching for a school/program that works with children who have Apraxia of Speech. It is a Severe Speech disorder and most of these children have to find an alternative form of communication until their Speech improves. For our family the Speech Therapist and Infant and Toddler Program offered a few alternative ways that we could teach our son to communication with our family Pictures (PCS), or Computer device(GoTalk) or Sign language. We didn't want to limit him in any way so at different times we have offered him the option to use pictures, which we still have a lot of picture around the house, his bedroom, on the TV and in the kitchen for him to grab and show us what he wants or needs. That works well in the house. Secondly we began teaching him sign language, DVD's, books, and of course by us using it he had an example and caught on very quickly. I would say he is most comfortable with using Sign Language. And that is what we have pushed for him to receive in school setting, along with all the other options. I would say that "Signing Times" (SigningTime.com) has been a huge help in teaching our son sign language, which neither of us knew much about before this time. Tell me what form of Communication has worked best for you?

Sign Language Class

We will be starting up the monthly Sign Language Group at the New Carrollton Library,on Saturday January 17th @ 1pm-2pm in the Lower Level of the Library. Please register if you are interested in attending!

It's a New Day!

Today I have decided that I want to be more vocal about my newest Journey. I have been eating and not exercising in order to calm my emotions in 2009 I have decided to write them down and use both hands for typing instead of stuffing my face. I have so much to live for, myself first of all, my son, our family, my purpose and people that I want to be apart of changing their lives and helping others. I am not ready to go away from this earth because I am just beginning to truly embrace and understand my purpose. I've always know God has a purpose for my life, but I can honestly say not until these past few months has it become and is becoming very clear. Frankly, I want to fulfill my purpose before I leave this earth. So I have some work to do. Did I mention my beautiful baby boy who keeps me on my toes and is a jokester to his little heart just like his father. Always, playing and got jokes he keeps me smiling. I can be a little too serious at times, so I have been told. :) So, the writing begins.