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?)