Product FAQs
About Signing Time Products
- What is Signing Time?
- Who is Signing Time for?
- Why was Signing Time created?
- How many Signing Time videos are there?
- How are signs taught in the videos?
- What’s in Baby Signing Time?
- What’s in Signing Time Season One?
- What’s in Signing Time Season Two?
- How is Season Two different from Season One?
- What’s in the Practice Time videos?
- What’s in the Sing & Sign video?
- What’s in the Story Time video?
- What’s in the Signing Time Sentences videos?
- Are Signing Time videos available digitally?
- Are Signing Time videos on television?
- Are Signing Time videos available in Spanish?
About Potty Time Products
Potty Time is a playful and positive approach to potty training. Emmy-nominated host Rachel Coleman teaches and inspires children to use the potty – and helps them sing, sign, and dance to celebrate their amazing bodies and potty time success. Potty Time is a perfect partner in potty training, working with any potty training method you choose. We believe children learn best by having fun, positive experiences through music, movement and fun!
Learn more about Potty Time here.
About TreeSchooler Products
Rachel & the TreeSchoolers incorporates the best elements of Schoolhouse Rock, Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street to deliver a well-rounded preschool science curriculum for ages 2-6.
Learn more about Rachel & the TreeSchoolers here.
What is Signing Time?
Our award-winning Signing Time videos teach basic American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary words. Signing Time makes learning sign language fun and easy!
Who is Signing Time for?
Signing Time was created for children of all ages and abilities. Baby Signing Time is recommended for ages 0-2 and Signing Time is recommended for ages 3-8.
Why was Signing Time created?
Signing Time was co-created by the mother of a deaf child out of her desire to empower other children to communicate with her daughter. Read the inspiring story behind the creation of Signing Time here.
How many Signing Time videos are there?
- Baby Signing Time: 4 videos
- Signing Time Season One: 13 videos
- Signing Time Season Two: 13 videos
- Practice Time: 2 videos
- Story Time: 1 video
- Sing & Sign: 1 video
- Signing Time Sentences: 3 videos
- New content is always being added to My Signing Time. Check it out to see what is available.
Supportive materials such as ebooks, flashcards, music, and more are also available at My Signing Time.
How are signs taught in the videos?
Host Rachel Coleman teaches each featured sign and then sings (and signs) original songs to help your child practice. There’s also footage of Alex and Leah (real kids, cousins in real life, Leah is deaf and Alex can hear, and Leah is Rachel’s daughter), as well as footage of children and families signing in context.
Each video is approximately 30 minutes long plus approximately 15 minutes of bonus material and special features such as interviews, bloopers, sign variations, and behind-the-scenes segments. All products are close-captioned and also contain English subtitles as an optional backup for captioning.
What’s in Baby Signing Time?
Baby Signing Time is designed specifically for babies 3 – 36 months old. This four-volume series sets your baby’s day to music as you learn signs and songs for everyday events in baby’s life such as eating, washing hands, sleep time, family members, pets, and more. The format of this program is a combination of original songs, animation, and real signing babies age 2 and under demonstrating each sign.
Baby Signing Time makes signing easy and fun and is a great product to start with if your child is under three years old.
Once you have ‘graduated’ from Baby Signing Time, you can go ahead and move to Signing Time Season One, starting with Volumes 1-3 and moving on up from there as your child’s sign language vocabulary develops. You’ll already know many of the signs in Signing Time Volumes 1-3, but you’ll have that added reinforcement and NEW songs to learn! (You do not want to miss out on the Silly Pizza Song in Volume 3!). Plus, your child will be introduced to the ‘real’ Alex and Leah and watch them grow up throughout the Signing Time series. If you choose to miss the added reinforcement signs from Volumes 1-3, we suggest moving on to Volumes 4-6 and on. Volume 4 will have some review signs, but you won’t want to miss the 17 new signs that are not in Baby Signing Time.
If you started with the Signing Time series, adding Baby Signing Time a good idea if you still have young children in your family. It provides more reinforcement (and new songs) for those beginning signs. Plus it is a good review for older children.
Baby Signing Time also makes an excellent gift for expectant mothers and new babies and is one of our best-selling products. On My Signing Time, you have two options available for purchase or gifting: 1 – Subscriptions give access to every video and content that has been produced, including new content that is added. 2 –Purchase videos you want to own. Your one-time purchase allows you to watch whenever you want without paying monthly or yearly subscription fees. Different bundles are available for purchase, or you can get all of the classic videos, including Baby Signing Time, Potty Time, Signing Time Season One and Two and supplemental videos in one set: Two Little Hands Classic Video Collection,
What’s in Signing Time Season One?
Season One is the original 13 Volumes of Signing Time (the series that started it all!) which were released from 2002-2006. Season One contains thirteen American Sign Language vocabulary-building volumes. Each volume teaches approximately 30 signs (with the exception of Volume 1, My First Signs, teaching 18) and exposes viewers to countless other signs through song.
Each volume begins with the Signing Time Theme Song. Rachel Coleman is the adult who then introduces and models each sign correctly and provides a description to assist with remembering the sign. Alex and Leah also introduce the sign being taught through short vignettes in their animated world. Then, you’ll see several subsequent clips of real families and children signing the vocabulary word being taught, along with other footage of the object (ie. Horses on a farm for the sign “Horse”). This is the general pattern that is repeated for each sign throughout the show.
There are also original songs (written by co-creator Rachel Coleman) that integrate the signs learned in each segment. For example, in Volume 6: My Favorite Things, the general topics are Colors, Fruits and Vegetables, and Activities like walking, dancing, singing, etc. In the color segment, viewers will learn all the colors in the pattern described above, and then Rachel brings it all together in the “Colors of the Rainbow” song. The section on fruits and vegetables culminates in a song called “5 A Day”, and so forth.
Season One contains the following titles:
- My First Signs
- Playtime Signs
- Everyday Signs
- Family, Feelings and Fun
- ABC Signs
- My Favorite Things
- Leah’s Farm
- The Great Outdoors
- The Zoo Train
- My Day
- My Neighborhood
- Time to Eat
- Welcome to School
Each volume features approximately 30 signs, with the exception of Volume 1 which features 18 signs. Volumes may focus on one topic (such as school, or animals at the zoo), or a combination of a few different categories (as in Volume 6: My Favorite Things, which teaches fruits & vegetables, colors of the rainbow, and physical activities like running, jumping, dancing, etc.) Season One includes the following themes and signs:
Baby’s “First Words”: like mom, dad, ball, bird, dog, water, sleep, and so forth.
Play Time: like sharing, cleaning up, friends, play.
Foods: like fruits and vegetables, eating, cooking.
Family Members: like mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, brother, sister, cousin.
Feelings/Emotions: like grumpy, surprise, silly, scared, excited.
Outdoors and Nature: like zoo animals, aquatic animals, farm animals, common insects.
Physical Activities: like run, jump, dance, swim, sing, and so forth.
ABCs and Numbers 1-10.
School and Classroom: like clothing, getting dressed.
Neighborhood Themes: like playground, police officer, firefighter, library, store, office, and so forth.
Basic Colors: like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
All the music for the Signing Time series is written by Rachel Coleman. Music MP3s are also available with a My Signing Time subscription. Music can also be purchased on your favorite digital music store – iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Music, and more.
What’s in Signing Time Season Two?
Season Two contains an additional thirteen volumes. Season Two is full of more original music and fun that you’ve come to expect from Season One, and differs from Season One in a few key ways. As opposed to teaching through the same format, Season Two introduces new ways of teaching children with a range of needs and abilities. Most of the content for Season Two was generated from customer suggestions and questions.
Season Two reinforces signs that have been learned in Season One, and builds your ASL vocabulary with many new signs. Brand new learning modules such as “Counting Time” and “ABC Time” are segments within each volume that reinforce either the theme or signs being taught, and provide the opportunity to practice other skills within a signing framework.
Season Two (the next 13 Volumes released in 2007-2008) contains the following titles:
- Nice to Meet You
- Happy Birthday To You
- Move and Groove
- My Favorite Season
- Going Outside
- Days of the Week
- My Favorite Sport
- My House
- My Things
- Helping Out Around the House
- Once Upon a Time
- Box of Crayons
- Who Has the Frog?
Season Two includes the following viewer-requested themes and signs:
- Sports
- Birthdays
- Household chores
- Rooms and furniture found in most houses
- Meeting someone new
- Question words
- Counting and numbers, including ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.)
- More colors
- Days of the week
- Seasons and holidays
- ABC and fingerspelling practice
- Plural versions of some common signs
How is Season Two different from Season One?
Key Difference 1: One episode-specific theme song
In Season Two, each episode is built around a single theme and features only one theme-related song (or two songs, in some instances). The format of the new shows is as follows: a few signs are taught, followed by a verse of the song that features those signs; then a few more signs are introduced, followed by the next segment of the song, and so on. With this approach, viewers can master the song and the signs in bite-sized pieces and follow along from scene to scene as other signs are introduced by Alex, Leah, and Hopkins.
Key Difference 2: Multiple levels of vocabulary building
In Season Two, there are fewer featured signs (signs that are explicitly taught by Rachel). Throughout various learning segments, you will notice many signs that will likely be picked up after multiple viewings. We refer to these as contextual signs. Though they are not taught explicitly, repetitive exposure allows children to learn them easily. Rather than signing everything that is sung or spoken, Rachel signs key words and phrases intended to make the featured and contextual signs more accessible to our younger viewers, while still challenging them. Additionally, most of the videos have more signs in the special feature segments.
Key Difference 3: Learning Modules
Learning Modules are segments within an episode that reinforce either the theme or signs being taught, and provide the opportunity to practice other skills within a signing framework.
There are five categories of Learning Modules: Counting Time, Game Time, ABC Time, Moving/Hopping Time and Story Time. Each module has a theme song, which acts as a cue to the viewer of what activity will be taking place.
Signing Time Season Two is an excellent way to continue to expand and practice your ASL vocabulary. Most customers continue to Season Two after they have mastered Season One. However, because Signing Time is an ASL vocabulary learning system, if you want to know signs in one of the videos not in order, that is perfectly okay.
For parents with children 3 – 36 months old, we recommend starting out with Baby Signing Time, and then working your way up to Signing Time. This way your child will learn basic ASL signs that will prepare them for learning a larger vocabulary.
What’s in Practice Time?
Practice Time includes two videos (ABCs and 123s) with a unique interactive feature that enables you to practice your ASL skills. Each practice segment is randomized so that each time you view the video it will be different from the last. Practice Time can be used as a companion to the Signing Time series or on their own. Practice Time is great for any age.
Practice Time 123s
In Practice Time 123s, Rachel teaches you how to count to 20 in American Sign Language. Using clear, simple instruction, Rachel demonstrates each sign, and then sums up all of the letters in the Counting Song. Once you’ve mastered the numbers 1 to 20, Rachel leads you through a series of interactive counting exercises. Rachel will sign a number and ask you to tell her which object shows the correct number. Not only will you get to practice reading the numbers being signed to you but you get to practice your counting skills.
Next, Rachel will show you a group of objects and asks you to show her the sign for the number of objects you see on the screen. Then she signs the correct answer so you’ll know if you got it right. Each practice segment is randomized so that each time you view the video it will be different from the last.
Practice Time ABCs
In Practice Time ABCs, Rachel teaches you the sign for each letter of the ASL manual alphabet. Using clear, simple instruction, Rachel demonstrates each sign, and then sums up all of the letters in the Alphabet Song. Once you’ve mastered the alphabet, Rachel leads you through a series of interactive finger spelling exercises. Rachel fingerspells dozens of words and you get to practice reading what she’s signing. This exercise is an excellent way to reinforce early reading skills with young readers!
Next, Rachel will ask you to sign the words you see on the screen and then show you the correct answer so you’ll know if you got it right. This exercise builds your signing confidence as you discover you can accurately sign dozens of words! Each practice segment is randomized so that each time you view the video it will be different from the last.
What’s in the Sing & Sign video?
Sign & Sign is quite possibly the most-requested product and we’re happy to bring it to you. This 90-minute video contains 13 of the most popular songs from Signing Time (Season One) Volumes 1-6. Host Rachel Coleman walks you through each song while teaching the key ASL concepts, enabling you to sign your favorite songs from beginning to end. Sing & Sign has several viewing options: Learn to Sign each song, Sing & Sign along with Rachel, or just watch the music segments from your favorite Signing Time episodes.
What’s in the Story Time video?
Story Time is like a video storybook! Watch and learn many new signs as Rachel introduces six original stories to you. You’ll see the words to the story appear on the screen, with key words highlighted. Rachel will teach and use each key sign as you read and sign along.
What’s in the Signing Time Sentences videos?
Signing Time Sentences teaches beginning ASL to kids ages 4 and up. Alex, Leah, Rachel, and Hopkins the Frog are back! Signing Time Sentences builds upon the one thousand vocabulary words taught in the original Signing Time series. Learn how to put signs together in sentences with ASL grammar. There are two editions of each episode: Leah’s Voice On (for beginners), and Leah’s Voice Off (for more advanced practice).
Are Signing Time videos available digitally?
Yes! Videos, songs, flashcards and ebooks are available at My Signing Time.
Is Signing Time available on television?
Signing Time aired on US public television stations, Nick Jr., and Netflix. Our contracts ended and all content was moved to My Signing Time. There are many available options to view the videos.
Is Signing Time available in Spanish?
Signing Time Vol. 1, 2 and 3 now come with Spanish play options. You can watch the original show in English, or watch it in Spanish. The songs remain in English. Another exciting feature is an English with Spanish play option where the program is in English with the addition of the key word in Spanish. This is a great choice for English speaking viewers who would like to learn Spanish vocabulary. Subtitles are available in both Spanish and English.
Signing Time is so simple that one need not be a native English speaker to benefit from our shows. In fact, many non-native English speakers have reported that they have used Signing Time to learn English as well as American Sign Language.