Dawn Babb Prochovnic and SmallTalk Learning: A to Z sign with me

ASL Alphabet Glossary from my publisher's website (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

Please contact Dawn using the form to the left if you'd like to receive reduced pricing on books in the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series. This offer is available to workshop participants, consulting clients, and subscribers to this blog or Dawn's social media accounts.

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

July 12, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (23-25)

Image credit: Wikipedia

Today's post continues with a series of enrichment activities to incorporate alphabet signs into story time:

23. Crack the Code

Create two or three sets of playing cards described in Activity #14 (it can be helpful to have several extra cards for each vowel). Separate the cards into two piles (a pile of letter cards and a pile of alphabet handshape cards). Set the letter cards aside (they won’t be used for this activity). Player one uses the handshape cards to create a word or phrase (for example, “T-H-I-S G-A-M-E I-S F-U-N”). Player two signs each handshape, translates the handshapes into letters, and says the word or phrase aloud. Switch roles and continue play.

Note: The activity packets for younger (and older) children available on my publisher’s website includes several ready-made codes to crack!

24. Create An Alphabet Book for Your Name

Give each participant enough sheets of paper for a cover page and one page for every letter in their name. Provide art supplies such as crayons, markers, stickers, old magazines, scissors and glue along with copies of the alphabet glossary (available on page 3 of the Story Time Activity Packet -Younger Children available at this link). Instruct participants to illustrate the cover of their book and each page with an alphabet-themed illustration that corresponds to each letter in their name. Encourage participants to read and sign their book with a partner.

25. Read and Sign Along with an Alphabet Book

Use an easel to make a vertical list of the words from an alphabet book such as “Sign Language ABC” or the words from an alphabet themed story such as "A to Z Sign with Me." For example, page 8 of “A to Z Sign with Me” would be written as follows:

Eat

frankfurters while they're

good and

hot.

Now read each page of the book, taking pause to sign the letters featured on each page. Try this out with a variety of alphabet books including personal favorites such as Alligator Alphabet and classics such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

You can extend this learning activity by fingerspelling the key words featured in each alphabet book, so instead of just signing A is for Apple, you could fingerspell, A-P-P-L-E.

To extend the learning further, encourage participants to look up the ASL signs for one or more words in the alphabet book.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

July 5, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (20-22)

Image Credit: ParentSociety.com

Today's post continues with a series of enrichment activities to incorporate alphabet signs into your story time:

20. Alphabet Icebreaker

Separate the playing cards made in Activity #14 into two piles: A pile of letter cards and a pile of alphabet handshapes. Alphabetize both piles from A to Z and take an equal number of cards from each pile to allow one card per participant (i.e. If there are 14 participants, select letters A-G and handshapes A-G for a total of 14 cards). The leader shuffles the cards and deals one card to each participant [NOTE: If there is an odd number of players, the leader should keep a card and participate with the other players]. When the leader says, “Go!” all players begin moving about the room while making the handshape for the letter (or handshape) represented on their card. The object is to find the other player with the matching card (i.e. the player with the letter “A” is looking for the player with the “A” handshape). Players sit down when they have found their partner. Play continues until all players are sitting down.

To extend the learning while players are waiting for everyone to find their match, partners can introduce themselves and practice fingerspelling their own name and their partner’s name.

21. Alphabet Name Challenge

Sit in a circle and choose someone to go first. The first person says, “My name is (Matt), and I know the sign for the letter (“M”) (and the participant makes the sign for that letter). The second person says, “My name is (Sara), and I know the sign for the letters (“M”) and (“S”) (and the participant makes the signs for those two letters). The third person continues, “My name is (Jose) and I know the signs for the letters (“M”), (“S”), and (“J”) (and the participant makes the signs for those three letters). Play continues until all participants have been introduced.

22. Fingerspelling Name Challenge

This activity is a more challenging variation of Activity #21 above. Sit in a circle and choose someone to go first. The first person says, “My name is (Dawn, D-A-W-N). I’m going to a party. How about you?” as they point to/select the next participant. The second participant says, “My name is (Alex, A-L-E-X). I’m going to a party with (Dawn, D-A-W-N). How about you? as they point to/select the next participant. The third participant says, “My name is (Sam/S-A-M). I’m going to a party with (Dawn, D-A-W-N and Alex, A-L-E-X). How about you? as they point to/select the next participant. Play continues until all participants have been invited to the party and all participants names have been said and fingerspelled at least once.

The sign for “Name” is a good enrichment for the activities in this post.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

June 27, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (17-19)

Today's post continues with a series of enrichment activities to incorporate alphabet signs into story time:

17. Word Power

Shuffle the playing cards created in Activity #14 and deal five cards to each player. Place the remaining cards facedown in a pile. The object of the game is to spell words with the cards in your hand. The first player begins by drawing one card and then determining if he can create a word using one or more of the cards in hand. Words can be created with any combination of letter cards and handshape cards. If one or more of the cards in hand can be put together to make a word, the player must fingerspell the word and then place the cards face up on the table. If the player cannot make a word, he draws three cards from the pile and his turn ends. Play continues until all of the cards in the pile are gone. The person with the least cards in their hand when play ends wins.

NOTE: For more than two players it can be helpful to use more than one deck of cards (or to have several extra cards for each vowel).

18. Word Power Race

This game is a variation on game #17 above. Get a timer and then one full deck of cards from Activity #14 for each player. Each player shuffles his or her deck of cards before play begins. The object is for each player to to use his or her deck of cards to make as many words as possible in the time allowed. The timekeeper sets the timer for five minutes and says, “Go!” Each player arranges their cards to make words. For example, the cards for the letters or handshapes C-A and T could be arranged to make the word, “Cat.” Letter or handshape cards can be arranged horizontally or vertically, and each letter can be used more than once. For example, the cards for the letters or handshapes, I-M and E could be positioned vertically below the “T” in “Cat," to form a new word, “Time.” The player with the least cards in their hand when the timer rings, wins. The winning player must fingerspell each word they created to complete their win.

NOTE: It can be helpful for each player’s deck of cards to have several extra cards for each vowel.

19. Word Game

This is a variation of Activity #12. Shuffle the playing cards created in Activity #14 and put them facedown in a pile. The first player turns over the first card in the pile and then 1) says the letter shown on the card, 2) signs the letter shown on the card, and 3) fingerspells a word that begins with the letter on the card. For example, if player one draws a “P,” she would say and sign “P,” and she would say and fingerspell a word that begins with “P,” such as P-I-G. If player one cannot complete all three steps, she does not keep the card and her turn ends. If player one completes all three steps, she keeps the card and her turn ends. Play continues until all the cards in the pile have been turned over.

To increase the level of challenge, players can be invited to research and demonstrate the sign for the words they fingerspelled for each card they drew.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

May 25, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Times (14-16)

Today's post continues with a series of enrichment activities to incorporate alphabet signs into story time:

Image Source, Wikimedia

14. Create a One-Sided Deck of Alphabet Playing Cards

This activity is similar to Activity 7, but the resulting deck of cards is one-sided instead of two-sided. Get some blank index cards, paste, and scissors, and download and print the alphabet glossary sheet from the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes Series (available on page 3 of the Story Time Activity Packet -Younger Children available at this link). Cut out the letter "A" and the corresponding handshape from the manual alphabet. Paste the letter "A" on the front of an index card, and the corresponding handshape for the letter "A" on the front of a second index card. Repeat this process with pairs of index cards for each letter of the alphabet until you have a full deck of alphabet playing cards. These cards provide a fun way to practice spelling and fingerspelling and can be used for a variety of games and activities such as the activities described in #15 and #16 below:

15. Alphabet Concentration

This game can be played alone or with a partner. Use the playing cards created in Activity #14 above. Shuffle the 52 cards and lay them all facedown in a pattern of columns and rows. A player begins by turning over two cards. If the cards shown are a matching pair (i.e. the letter “A” and the handshape for the letter “A”), the player gets to keep the cards. If the cards are not a matching pair, both cards should be turned back over, and it is the next player’s turn. Play continues until all cards are matched.

To add challenge to this game, a player must say (or fingerspell or sign) a word that begins with the letter in order to keep the cards.

16. Fishing for the Alphabet

Image Source: Fat Brain Toys

Shuffle the playing cards created in Activity #14 above and deal five cards to each player. Place the remaining cards facedown in a pile. The object of the game is to get the most matching pairs. Players take turns signing letters of the alphabet to see if another player has a matching card. For example, if player one has the letter “C” or the handshape for the letter “C” in his hand, he would make the sign for the the letter “C” and ask another player, “Do you have a C?” If the other player has the matching card (i.e. the letter “C” or the handshape for letter “C”) she must give it to the first player. If she does not have that card she says, “Go fish,” and the first player takes a card from the pile. Play continues until all the cards in the pile are gone.

NOTE: It’s fun to add the sign for “fish” to this game.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

April 22, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Time (11-13)

Today we continue with a series of enrichment activities for incorporating alphabet signs into story time.

11. Animal Sounds

Photo Credit: Dawn Prochovnic

This is a fun game for partners. Choose one person to be the fingerspeller and one person to be the responder. The fingerspeller begins by fingerspelling the name of an animal, for example, C-A-T. The partner responds by saying the name of that animal and a sound for that animal, for example, “Cat” and “Meow.”

If you want to make the activity more challenging, extend the learning by inviting participants to research the ASL sign for the animal (for example, “Cat,”) before switching roles and continuing play.

12. Alphabet Sounds

This is is a fun game for partners. Choose one person to be the leader and one person to be the responder. The leader begins by making the handshape for one of the letters in the manual alphabet. The partner responds by saying the name of the letter, making the sound (or sounds) for that letter, and saying a word that begins with that letter. For example, if the leader signs “D,” the responder would say, “D” and the sound for “D,” and then a word that begins with “D,” such as “Dog.” If you want to make the activity more challenging, extend the learning further by inviting participants to also sign (or fingerspell) the word they say, for example, Dog (or D-O-G) before switching roles and continuing play.

13. Alphabet Words

This is a fun game for partners or small groups that extends the activity above. Get a timer and choose one person to be the leader and one person to be the responder. If you have enough people, choose another person to be the timekeeper (otherwise, the leader can be the timekeeper). The timekeeper sets the timer for one minute and says, “Go!” The leader begins by making the handshape for one of the letters in the manual alphabet and the partner responds by saying the name of the letter, making the sound (or sounds) for that letter, and saying as many words as they can that begins with that letter before the time runs out. For example, if the leader signs “B,” the responder would say, “B” and the sound for “B,” and then the words, “Book” “Box,” “Bank,” etc. Points are given for every word said that begins with the correct letter. Switch roles and continue play for several rounds. The person with the highest score at the end of the agreed upon number of rounds wins.

To add variety and challenge, modify the rules to focus on words that end with the target letter or that have the target letter somewhere in the middle of the word. You can also allow words that have the letter anywhere within the word.

If you want to make the activity even more challenging, invite participants to say and sign words that begin with, end with, or include the target letter, with three points being earned for each word said and signed.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

April 7, 2016

Ideas for Incorporating Alphabet Signs into Your Story Time: Summary Post

In past posts, I've shared a variety of enrichment activities for incorporating alphabet signs into story time programs and other learning environments. Here is a summary of the posts in this series:

Activity Ideas 1-3

Activity Ideas 4-6

Activity Ideas 7-10

Activity Ideas 11-13

Activity Ideas 14-16

Activity Ideas 17-19

Activity Ideas 20-22

Activity Ideas 23-25

Activity Idea 26

Here is a recap of helpful resources that will support your interest in signing the alphabet:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

If you like this series of posts, you might also like the Start to Finish Story Time series of posts.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

Image Credits: Abdo Publishing Group

March 28, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into You Story Time (7-10)

Today we continue with a series of enrichment activities for incorporating alphabet signs into story time. The activities offered this week are similar to those described in the last post, but they add the element of alphabet flash cards, which can be created in activity #7 below:

7. Create a Set of Alphabet Flash Cards

Get some blank index cards, paste, and scissors, and download and print the alphabet glossary sheet from the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes Series (available on page 3 of the Story Time Activity Packet -Younger Children available at this link). Cut out the letter A and the corresponding handshape from the manual alphabet. Paste the letter A on the front of an index card and the corresponding handshape for the letter A on the back of the card. Repeat this process with a new index card for each letter of the alphabet until you have a full set of alphabet flash cards. These cards can be used for a variety of games and activities to provide a fun way to practice spelling and fingerspelling, such as the activities described in #8 - #10 below.

NOTE: For the ideas shared below, you will want to create a list of vocabulary words that go along with a story you've read or the theme of your story time.

8. Use Flashcards to Fingerspell Vocabulary Words (or Your Spelling List)

Choose a word from the vocabulary/spelling list, and use the flashcards to spell out that word. For example, if the word you have chosen is brown, you would find the cards for B, R, O, W, and N. Now, make the handshapes for each letter as you spell the word aloud, B-R-O-W-N. If you need a reminder for how to make a particular handshape, you can look on the back side of the card. Continue practicing until you have mastered every word on the list. This activity can be facilitated by a leader for pre-readers, and can be practiced individually for readers. For some words, you may need more than one set of flashcards to spell the word.

9. Use Flashcards to Fingerspell Your Word List With a Partner

This is a fun game for partners. Grab your vocabulary/spelling list and your set of flashcards, and choose one person to be the dealer and one person to be the fingerspeller. The dealer chooses one word from the list and places cards with letters face up to spell the word from the list. For example, if the word chosen is orange, the dealer finds the cards with the letters O, R, A, N, G and E, and the fingerspeller uses the manual alphabet to spell the word O-R-A-N-G-E. Once you have completed all the words on the list, switch roles. Continue practicing until both partners have mastered every word on the list. For some words, you may need more than one set of flashcards to complete the word. To add complexity to this activity, the dealer can place the cards with the handshapes face up.

10. Use Flashcards to Fingerspell Your Word List With a Partner, Plus

This is an extension of the activities above to make it more challenging once you have confidence spelling and fingerspelling the words on your list. Grab your word list, and choose one person to be the fingerspeller and one person to be the interpreter. The fingerspeller fingerspells one word from the list, and the interpreter locates the flashcards that corresponds with the letters that have been signed to spell the word from the list. For example, if the word chosen is black, the fingerspeller would spell B-L-A-C-K and the interpreter would find the cards B, L, A, C, and K to spell the word and would say “Black!"

If you want to make any of these activities even more challenging, extend the learning further by inviting participants to research the ASL signs for each words on the list. Those signs can be added for each round of play for each word on the list. For example, in activity #10 above, if the word on the list is red, the fingerspeller would fingerspell R-E-D, and the interpreter would find the cards R, E, and D, and say and sign, “Red!”

You can also increase the complexity of the activities in this grouping by having teams of participants race each other as they spell.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

March 19, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Time (4-6)

Today, we continue with last week's series of activities for incorporating alphabet signs into story time.

For the three ideas shared below, you will want to create a list of vocabulary words that go along with a story you've read or the theme of your story time, and print out a resource that illustrates the ASL handshapes for all of the letters in the alphabet. These handshapes are referred to as the manual alphabet. In classroom and homeschool settings, these activities can provide a fun way to practice the weekly spelling list and extend the learning.

4. Fingerspell Vocabulary Words (or Your Spelling List)

Read the first word from the vocabulary/spelling list aloud, then fingerspell that word as you say each letter aloud. For example, if the first word on the list is blue, you would fingerspell and say, B-L-U-E. Continue practicing until you have mastered every word on the list. This activity can be facilitated by a leader for pre-readers, and can be practiced individually for readers.

5. Fingerspell Your Word List With a Partner

This is a fun game for partners. Grab your vocabulary/spelling list, and choose one person to be the reader and one person to be the fingerspeller. The reader reads one word from the list, and the fingerspeller uses the manual alphabet to spell that word. Once you have completed all the words on the list, switch roles. Continue practicing until both partners have mastered every word on the list.

6. Fingerspell Your Word List With a Partner, Plus

This is an extension of the activity above to make it more challenging once you have confidence spelling and fingerspelling the words on your list. Grab your word list, and choose one person to be the fingerspeller and one person to be the interpreter. The fingerspeller fingerspells one word from the list, and the interpreter identifies and then says the word being fingerspelled. For example, if the word on the list is green, the fingerspeller would fingerspell G-R-E-E-N, and the interpreter would say, “Green!”

If you want to make any of these activities even more challenging, extend the learning further by inviting participants to research the ASL signs for each words on the list. Those signs can be added for each round of play for each word on the list. For example, in activity #6 above, if the word on the list is yellow, the fingerspeller would fingerspell Y-E-L-L-O-W, and the interpreter would say and sign, “Yellow!”

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The sign for Alphabet

Sign Language story time lesson plans.

If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the next offering of my online class: Sing, Sign and Story Time for Professionals, please use the form at the left to send me your contact information.

Please share your own ideas and experiences in the comment section below, and subscribe to my blog to receive more ideas over time. Happy Signing!

March 12, 2016

26 Ways to Incorporate Alphabet Signs into Your Story Time (1-3)

Photo of window art at Green Bean Books

Today I had the fabulous experience of participating in the spring workshop for the Children’s Services Division of the Oregon Library Association. I provided a super-quick demonstration of a variety of tried and true activities to enrich story time with sign language.

I told participants there were many resources they could find on my blog to help them incorporate sign language into their own story times, for example:

Free downloads on my publisher's website, including a Story Time Event Guide, Activity Packets with Illustrated Alphabet/Number Handshapes, and Illustrated Glossaries, for all 16 books in my Story Time with Signs & Rhymes Series.

Online Sign Language Dictionaries such as Lifeprint and Signing Savvy.

And other popular posts including:

How to Enrich Your Learning Environment with Sign Language.

How to Get Started with Signing (geared for infants/toddlers and preschoolers).

A self-directed learning project for older students.

(Click here for a more comprehensive summary of my most popular blog posts.)

As I drove home from the meeting, I decided to use this event as inspiration for a series of brief posts with quick and easy ideas for incorporating sign language into story time. I’ll begin with opportunities for incorporating alphabet signs into story time, and move on to different themes and categories over time.

Here are the first three activity ideas:

1. Sing and Sign the Alphabet Song

Sing the traditional alphabet song, but enrich the experience by signing the letters A-Z as you sing. For beginners, you will need to lead the song at a slower pace than usual. For more advanced signers, speed it up! For really advanced signers, invite participants to sing the song and make the alphabet signs with both hands simultaneously. NOTE: Even a baby, situated on his or her back, will enjoy listening to this melody and watching a loving caregiver sign the alphabet from overhead—it’s like a human mobile!

2. Introductions A-Z

Sit in a circle. Slowly sign each letter of the alphabet, A-B-C-D and so forth. When the group reaches a letter that matches the first letter in a participant's name, that person stands up and makes the sign for the first letter of their name and then says their name, for example, D-Dawn. The group says, “Hello, Dawn!” and the person sits down. Play continues with the next letter of the alphabet until all members of the group have been introduced. NOTE: Some letters of the alphabet will have more than one person whose name begins with that letter. Simply allow each person a turn before continuing play with the next letter of the alphabet.

For more advanced signers, participants can introduce themselves by saying their name and fingerspelling their name, for example, D-A-W-N. Players can also add the sign, Name, to the introduction.

3. B is for B-A-R-B-A-R-A

Stand in a circle and choose someone to go first. The first person begins by making the sign for the letter A. The next person signs B, the third person signs C, and so forth. Play continues with each person making the sign for the next letter of the alphabet until someone signs the letter that their own name begins with. For example, if Barbara signs B, play stops to allow this player to say and fingerspell B-A-R-B-A-R-A. The group says, “Hello, Barbara!” and the participant sits down. The next person in the circle continues with the next letter in the alphabet until a new player signs the letter that their own name begins with. Play continues until all players are sitting down. This game requires several iterations of the alphabet to reach completion.

Helpful Resources:

ASL Alphabet Glossary (use this link to download the activity packet for younger children, and the alphabet glossary from my books is included in that packet)

The signs for Alphabet and Name