According to Rae Pica of BAM Radio, “Children learn best through active involvement.” Some common strategies that actively involve children as they learn new spelling words include:

• tracing letters in the air
• tracing letters on sandpaper or in a sand tray
• tracing letters in shaving cream on a desk

Another way to add meaningful movement to spelling is to use fingerspelling (manual alphabet). Here’s how:

• Learn the manual alphabet with your child at the beginning of the school year.
• Practice new spelling words by fingerspelling each letter as you say its name aloud.
• If there are patterns in the words (the consonant blend “str”, for example), see how many times you can fingerspell the patterned letters in 10, 15 or 30 seconds.
• Practice by fingerspelling a word to your child and letting her guess the word. Now give your child a turn while you guess the spelling word!

Get started today with the Practice Time ABCs video from Signing Time!

Already have it? Here are some more great resources for fingerspelling:

• Signing Time Vol. 5 ABC Signs DVD
• Signing Time Vol. 5 ABC Signs Flash Cards
• ABCs and 123s Wall Posters

Handy links:

• See the research that supports the use of fingerspelling and signing to promote learning.
• Get How-To Guides for signing with children of all ages and abilities.
• Subscribe to the newsletter for signing tips, fun crafts and monthly specials.

Create these adorable Shrinky Dink necklaces and bracelets that feature Hopkins the Frog from your favorite Signing Time books and videos.

Click here to get directions and template for Shrinky Dink Jewelry

Additional Resources:

• Download dozens more Signing Time Hand-y Crafts – all free!
• Get new Hand-y Crafts delivered to you each month! Subscribe to our newsletter.
• Download How-To Guides for signing with children of all ages and abilities.

Signing Time Staff Spotlight

Kim Laing

Hello Signing Time Fans,
My name is Kim Laing. I am the newest member of Two Little Hands Productions and will be working with Erin as a Wholesale Account Manager. I was first introduced to Signing Time when the mother of a close friend of mine married a man who is deaf. My friend really wanted her children to be able to communicate with their new grandpa, so she started using Signing Time – and introduced me to it, too. Music has always been a very big part of my life. I believe music has the power to touch and change lives in a way nothing else can. That’s why my very favorite Signing Time video is Sing and Sign. Here are some more facts about me:

• I grew up in Bountiful, Utah.
• I have been married to my husband, Russ, the most amazing man ever, for 13 years.
• We live in Woods Cross, Utah, with our 5 children (4 girls and 1 boy) ages 11, 10, 7, 4, and 3.
• I love, love, love to read. It is truly my passion. There is nothing like escaping into a great story.
• I love Italian and Chinese food as well as anything with sugar in it.
• My favorite movie is Anne of Green Gables (kind of cliche, right!) although in general, I would rather watch an action move than a “chick flick”.
• If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to Ireland.

I am thrilled to be part of the Signing Time team. There truly is nothing like being a part of something that brings so much good to peoples’ lives.

-Kim

It’s Tuesday… here’s your sign of the week!

This Week’s Featured Sign: Grandma

Watch the Video (Click the Image Below to Play) Free QuickTime Player required

Download the Flashcard (click on the image. The file contains a few color and black-and-white options. Print according to your needs.)

This week’s sign comes from: Baby Signing Time Vol. 1 – It’s Baby Signing Time

Baby’s first step into signing! The Baby Signing Time Series combines clever songs, animation, and real signing babies – all age two and under – to make signing easy and fun. This is the first DVD in the Baby Signing Time series.

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OOPS it’s Thrusday… here’s your sign of the week!

This Week’s Featured Sign: Orange

Watch the Video (Click the Image Below to Play) Free QuickTime Player required

Download the Flashcard (click on the image. Print in color or black-and-white and adjust the print size according to your needs.)

This week’s sign comes from: Vol. 6: My Favorite Things – DVD

Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and host Rachel Coleman teach ASL signs for fruits, vegetables, colors of the rainbow, and activities.

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