Baby Sign

9am Cockrill Middle School July 26, 2011

By: Jennifer Maclin

Certified PreK-12th grade ESL, ASL, & Deaf

Ed. Teacher. BEI Level 1 Interpreter

jmaclin@mckinneyisd.net

Why use Baby Sign?

1. Reduces tears, tantrums, and frustrations1. Reduces tears, tantrums, and frustrations

2. Allows the child to express their needs and share 2. Allows the child to express their needs and share their world with youtheir world with you

3. Helps you develop language skills & speak 3. Helps you develop language skills & speak soonersooner

4. Boost the baby’s self-esteem and self-confidence4. Boost the baby’s self-esteem and self-confidence

5. Jump-start the child’s intellectual development, 5. Jump-start the child’s intellectual development, resulting in a higher IQ!resulting in a higher IQ!

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The Research behind Baby Sign

The leading author and researcher is The leading author and researcher is Linda Acredolo, PhD. And Susan Goodwyn, PhD. Linda Acredolo, PhD. And Susan Goodwyn, PhD.

www.babysigns.com

The article: “The Long Term Impact of Symbolic The article: “The Long Term Impact of Symbolic Gesturing During Infancy on IQ at Age 8” Results showed Gesturing During Infancy on IQ at Age 8” Results showed that children that were taught baby sign during their that children that were taught baby sign during their infancy took a WISC-III (IQ test) and each child resulted infancy took a WISC-III (IQ test) and each child resulted in a 12-point advantage over children that did not use in a 12-point advantage over children that did not use baby sign. In addition, they performed at a year older baby sign. In addition, they performed at a year older than their non-signing peers. In conclusion, the positive than their non-signing peers. In conclusion, the positive long-term effects on cognitive and emotional long-term effects on cognitive and emotional development were successful. development were successful.

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Materials available

Free resources at The babysigns website:Free resources at The babysigns website:

https://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?id=164 There are pictures and posters to download.

https://www.babysigns.com/products/products.cfm?cat=38

Classroom kits and productsClassroom kits and products

https://www.babysigns.com/products/product_details.cfm?id=150&cat=52 A small laminate reference only $5.99

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How to Start…10 steps

1. Start with just a few signs. 1. Start with just a few signs.

2. Always use the baby sign and speak the word 2. Always use the baby sign and speak the word togethertogether

3. Repeat the sign and the word several times3. Repeat the sign and the word several times

4. Point when possible4. Point when possible

5. When necessary, gently guide your child’s hands5. When necessary, gently guide your child’s hands

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6. Make Baby Signing a regular part of 6. Make Baby Signing a regular part of your dayyour day

7. Watch for opportunities to model the 7. Watch for opportunities to model the signssigns

8. Be flexible and watch for your baby’s 8. Be flexible and watch for your baby’s creationscreations

9. Be patient9. Be patient

10. Make the learning fun: make it a 10. Make the learning fun: make it a game, not a choregame, not a chore

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When should you start?Research states you should start around 6 months or later Research states you should start around 6 months or later

depending on if they are: depending on if they are:

Is pointing at thingsIs pointing at things

Bring a toy to you and looking for a responseBring a toy to you and looking for a response

Wave bye and/or shake their headWave bye and/or shake their head

Interested in picture booksInterested in picture books

They are frustrated that you don’t understand what they They are frustrated that you don’t understand what they need need

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The ABCs of Baby Signing

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ASL or Baby Sign?

Which is best for your program? Which is best for your program?

So, are you wanting to teach ASL as a foreign So, are you wanting to teach ASL as a foreign language? language?

Are you simply wanting to use baby sign? Are you simply wanting to use baby sign? Keep in mind much of this cannot be used in the deaf world.Keep in mind much of this cannot be used in the deaf world.

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Suggested Starter Signs

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Nighttime, Weather, Feelings

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More Signs

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Grammar

ASL has a unique and distinct word order. It is ASL has a unique and distinct word order. It is not English and is too confusing for children. not English and is too confusing for children. So, do not worry about it. So, do not worry about it.

When you pick a song or rhyme, pick the word When you pick a song or rhyme, pick the word that is the most important & that they can that is the most important & that they can sign. You decide what sign you want them to sign. You decide what sign you want them to sign when singing or reading. sign when singing or reading.

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Example of Grammar Choice

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Choosing Baby Signs

Ask the parent to fill out the following for their Ask the parent to fill out the following for their child: child:

1. My baby’s favorite drink is: _____ 1. My baby’s favorite drink is: _____

2.2.My baby’s favorite snack is: _____My baby’s favorite snack is: _____

3.3.My baby’s favorite fruit is: _______My baby’s favorite fruit is: _______

4.4.My baby’s favorite toy is:_______My baby’s favorite toy is:_______

5.5.My baby’s favorite pet is: _______My baby’s favorite pet is: _______

6.6.My baby’s favorite song is:______My baby’s favorite song is:______

7.7.My baby’s favorite nursery rhyme is:_____My baby’s favorite nursery rhyme is:_____

8.8.My baby’s favorite color is:_____My baby’s favorite color is:_____

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What to teach first?

Have the parents fill out the previous slide and work Have the parents fill out the previous slide and work with their childwith their child

See what similarities your children have and pick See what similarities your children have and pick those signs to learn first (from the questionnaire)those signs to learn first (from the questionnaire)

Or Use the list to pick what you want to teach your Or Use the list to pick what you want to teach your children firstchildren first

Begin by teaching the sign for what your children get Begin by teaching the sign for what your children get frustrated with the most. frustrated with the most.

Most importantly it’s Your Choice!Most importantly it’s Your Choice!

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Resources

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ResourcesSigning Time Classroom EditionSigning Time Classroom EditionSKU: DVD348 SKU: DVD348 $299.99 at www.harriscomm.com$299.99 at www.harriscomm.com

““The The Signing Time Classroom EditionSigning Time Classroom Edition is an excellent resource for is an excellent resource for preschools, public schools, private schools, home schools, playgroups, after preschools, public schools, private schools, home schools, playgroups, after school activities and church groups. The activities are geared for children school activities and church groups. The activities are geared for children ages 3-9 (Pre-K to 3rd grade).ages 3-9 (Pre-K to 3rd grade).

The The Classroom EditionClassroom Edition features a 2-inch binder that holds eight DVDs, two features a 2-inch binder that holds eight DVDs, two music CDs and 16 units of lesson material.music CDs and 16 units of lesson material.

Each lesson unit is organized around a dozen or more signs and contains Each lesson unit is organized around a dozen or more signs and contains fun activities for sign language practice.” It contains: teacher tips, sign fun activities for sign language practice.” It contains: teacher tips, sign reference guides, games & activities, poems, songs, book list, supplemental reference guides, games & activities, poems, songs, book list, supplemental materials, flash card sheets and how to introduce the signs each chapter. materials, flash card sheets and how to introduce the signs each chapter.

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Signing Time videos:http://www.signingtime.com/http://www.signingtime.com/

Created videos, books and flash cards for infants, Created videos, books and flash cards for infants, toddlers and young children.toddlers and young children.

Only ASL is used. This is a great option for programs Only ASL is used. This is a great option for programs wanting to use ASL as a foreign language for years. It wanting to use ASL as a foreign language for years. It builds on one another.builds on one another.

For daycares: They have kits, DVDs and booksFor daycares: They have kits, DVDs and books

http://www.signingtime.com/shop/resources-for/http://www.signingtime.com/shop/resources-for/schools-and-daycaresschools-and-daycares

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Sign Language Fun in E.C. Classroom SKU: B1034 $10.99 at www.harriscomm.com

This educational resource is designed for all early This educational resource is designed for all early childhood classrooms that can be used by childhood classrooms that can be used by all teachers, care providers and parents of all all teachers, care providers and parents of all young children young children

Supports NAEYC standards. Learn 170 signs Supports NAEYC standards. Learn 170 signs through early learning themes and everyday through early learning themes and everyday activities activities

170 reproducible sign illustrations and 15 phrases with written 170 reproducible sign illustrations and 15 phrases with written directionsdirections

15 chapters featuring early childhood themes such as Manners and 15 chapters featuring early childhood themes such as Manners and Words; Directions/Movement; Feelings/Emotions; Colors; Pets; Farm Words; Directions/Movement; Feelings/Emotions; Colors; Pets; Farm Animals; Food/Eating; People; Family; Weather; Toys; School Tools; Animals; Food/Eating; People; Family; Weather; Toys; School Tools; Everyday Objects; Numbers; PhrasesEveryday Objects; Numbers; Phrases

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Both Baby Sign and Signing Time have:

CurriculumCurriculum

Lesson plansLesson plans

Songs with signsSongs with signs

Videos, etc.Videos, etc.

Classroom curriculum sets are around $250Classroom curriculum sets are around $250

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What I have for you:

• I have signs to get you startedI have signs to get you started

• A resource if you have questions A resource if you have questions

• A knowledge of the language and grammarA knowledge of the language and grammar

• Completed the research and believe in this Completed the research and believe in this fully and will one day use it with my children…fully and will one day use it with my children…

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Website List:• http://aslrocks.pbworks.com (my own personal http://aslrocks.pbworks.com (my own personal

website for my students with MANY links)website for my students with MANY links)

• http://asl.ms (practice YOUR fingerspelling)http://asl.ms (practice YOUR fingerspelling)

• http://www.aslpro.com & www.handspeak.com & http://www.aslpro.com & www.handspeak.com & http://aslbrowser.commtechlab.msu.edu/browser.hthttp://aslbrowser.commtechlab.msu.edu/browser.htm Online Dictionariesm Online Dictionaries

• http://www.aslpro.com/testingProducts.html http://www.aslpro.com/testingProducts.html WONDERFUL free website with LPs, activities, WONDERFUL free website with LPs, activities, interactive to help you learn and create ideas interactive to help you learn and create ideas (‘functional groups’ is a great place to learn!)(‘functional groups’ is a great place to learn!)

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More Websites on where to buy:

• http://www.harriscomm.comhttp://www.harriscomm.com

• http://www.dawnsign.com/http://www.dawnsign.com/

• http://www.babysigns.comhttp://www.babysigns.com

• http://www.signingtime.com http://www.signingtime.com

• http://www.cafepress.com/http://www.cafepress.com/babies_and_sign#link-productCategory-babies_and_sign#link-productCategory-103103

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More Companies Centered on the Deaf and ASL

• http://www.coloroflanguage.com/ http://www.coloroflanguage.com/ great great site for bulletin board and calendar ideas. 2011 site for bulletin board and calendar ideas. 2011 Calendar is all about Baby Signs…great idea for the Calendar is all about Baby Signs…great idea for the parents to buy or you to cut out and put on you parents to buy or you to cut out and put on you bulletin boardbulletin board

• http://www.timetosign.com http://www.timetosign.com

• http://www.mybabycantalk.com/http://www.mybabycantalk.com/

• http://www.garlicpress.com/http://www.garlicpress.com/

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