PDX Loves Signing

Ghana Blog

2012-01-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

Home, safe and sound. Info will be going up, one day at a time, until I've transcribed the whole diary.

The PDX Martos Family in Ghana

Packing for Ghana

2012-01-02T19:38:00.000-08:00

Putting in my skirts, matching shirts and yoga pants, and realizing a few interesting things.

1) I don't have to pack my Vitamin D (it's given to people the first time they see a doctor here in Portland, I swear).

2) I need sunscreen! I'm going to see the sun!

3) I need to find a good family photo to being with me.

4) I hope we'll have hot water for tea, since I doubt we'll have coffee.

It's really funny the things you notice. :)

Ghana

2011-12-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

So, you know we're been prepping for the trip to Ghana, coming up this January, right? Well, our little girl has been preparing, too. Here she explains why working with Signs of Hope and the Signing Time Foundation is important.

For more information, or to donate please visit the Ghana page, here.

Thank you!

Christmas Sale

2011-11-25T09:59:00.001-08:00

25% off packages at PDX Loves Signing this whole weekend for online and email orders.

For those who are able to come to America's Largest Christmas Bazaar, the sale is Black Friday through the 4th of December.

All proceeds for Black Friday weekend benefit the Signing Time Foundation, including their trip to Ghana.

Finalist

2011-11-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

We're apparently a Red Tricycle finalist in the Language category, something I'm very touched to have been nominated by so many of the kids who have come to the classes, and the parents who have learned some basic ASL vocab.

Ghana Pins

2011-11-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to support us in our efforts to go to Ghana with the Signing Time Foundation (or have already), this is to let you know that donors who give $50 or more will also be getting their choice of the two, limited edition, Signing Time Ghana pewter pins.

One shows Hopkins standing over Africa, with the Signing Time Foundation logo, the words "Ghana 2012", and the nation of Ghana carved into the pin. Both Hopkins and Ghana are green. The other showcases the famous taped fingers in an I-Love-You hand, superimposed on the African continent, with the country of Ghana, and the STF logo and "Ghana 2012" in relief. The tape on the fingers is orange and blue.

For more information, or to donate, please visit PDX Loves Signing's Ghana Page.

Going to Ghana!

2011-10-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

As part of my work with the Signing Time Foundation, I've been invited on a trip to Ghana, to help work with the Deaf schools in that country. In January of 2012, in partnership with Signs of Hope International, a small team will be visiting some of the Deaf Schools throughout the country, working with their students and teachers in American Sign Language, as well as experience Ghanian Sign Language first hand.

Life as a Deaf child in Ghana is challenging, particularly without an education. Signs of Hope International "dedicated to the enrichment of life for the Deaf community in Ghana." They help to provide "education and other programs to benefit the Deaf community," and give these children a chance at a better life.

The Signing Time Foundation has visited Ghana with Signs of Hope International before, in 2008.

Want to help support the work of Signs of Hope International, and help Carissa off to Ghana? If so, please donate to help offset the cost, and help provide funding to the good Sign of Hope International does. Donations can be made through the Paypal Link below, or by sending checks, made out to The Signing Time Foundation, to Carissa.

Happy anniversary, Signing Time Academy!

2010-11-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

In a year

2010-09-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

A year ago, my son Julian could not eat most solid foods. He had trouble sitting up for long periods of time, couldn't climb or kick a ball, and couldn't communicate with us at all. Occupational therapy did him wonders, and he's now making progress in leaps and bounds.

However, it wasn't until my good friend Christine introduced us to Signing Time that Julian began to try and tell us what he was thinking, or what he wanted. Below, you'll see a smattering of the signs he uses now:

He also has a few spoken words, but initiated conversations are almost always signed. Today, in a toy store he singed MOM BIKE MY BIKE PLEASE. I bought the bike.

Julian Signing "Colors of the Rainbow"

2010-09-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you unfamiliar with the song "Colors of the Rainbow" from Signing Time, it goes like this:

Do you know the colors of our rainbow?
Do you know the colors of our rainbow?
There's red, orange, yellow, green, purple and blue
(clap, clap, clap, clap)
Do you know the colors of our rainbow, too?

Well, as of now, Julian can only sign RED and BLUE, and an approximation of YELLOW and COLOR, but since he has echolalia, the boy can repeat. I'd like to share with you a boy who was never supposed to talk singing a song.

Rachel is coming to the Northwest!

2010-08-22T07:57:00.001-07:00

Exciting, I know, and PDX Loves Signing is helping to make it happen. She'll be in Seattle on November 20th, at the Northgate Community Center. Lots of people from Portland will be driving up, I know, so maybe we can organize a carpool?

We have tickets, and still need to do some pretty serious fundraising, so any help you Seattle-ites can offer would be great.

For tickets, donation information, and how to help us volunteer, please visit the NW Rachel Events blog.

NEW Products and GREAT deals!

2010-08-11T18:24:00.001-07:00

This year, Signing Time released a large number of new products, including books, DVDs and educational materials.

First, they released a set of the first three volumes of Series 1 with 2 available Spanish play options. You can either hear the entire DVD (except the songs) dubbed into Spanish, and read the words in Spanish, or you can watch it in English with the key words repeated in Spanish.

Then, there was a release of an Autism Play and Sign Kit, that included four specifically chosen DVDs and a Hopkins frog that can be used to self-soothe.

For those interested in the ABCs, letters, counting and handshapes, the release of the Sign Language Wall Posters was wonderful as well, as these full-color, 8.5x11 posters show the alphabet and numbers in big, vivid detail.

The Early Literacy Jump Start Bundle included these wall posters, as well as the Practice Time DVD, the ABC flashcards and the Story Time DVD, to help focus on encouraging reading at a young age. Great for elementary school classrooms and homeschoolers as well!

The best new release, though?

New Boardbooks!
-My Favorite Things, ABC Signs and Family, Feelings and Fun!
Now, you can reenforce the signs from the 4th, 5th and 6th DVDs of Series One (including my favorite, ABC Signs), in the car, on a trip or anywhere else that a DVD won't go!

All these products are available in bundles or separately, through my store on the Signing Time Academy Server. If you would like an exclusive coupon, or live locally and would like to save on shipping, please visit the PDX Loves Signing Store Page.

Signing Time Product Overview

2010-08-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

Signing Time has always made sure that kids had a way to access the signs at home, at that parents could practice the signs with their children when they weren't in class.

First, there was the original Signing Time. 13 DVDs, including ABC Signs and Family, Feelings and Fun, it was popular, educational, and everyone loved it. CDs of all the catchy songs were available as well. Then, Series 2 came out, with another 13 DVDs, including Nice To Meet You and Helping Out Around The House. The CDs for this one were a big hit as well. Then came the four sets of Signing Time flashcards, based on the first 3 DVDs and the ABCs, and three board books covering the first 3 DVDs.

Next, Baby Signing Time made its debut with 4 DVDs, 4 CDs and four flashcard sets.

There was even a little Hopkins plush! How adorable!

Then came Shine, a CD for Grownups, and a lullaby CD called Goodnight Baby

In order to get Signing Time into the hands of more school classrooms and preschools, they released the Classroom Edition, an invaluable tool featuring eight DVDs and 16 units of lesson-planning material, including fun crafts, games, songs and poems for a wide variety of ages.

All these products are available in bundles or separately, through my store on the Signing Time Academy Server. If you would like an exclusive coupon, or live locally and would like to save on shipping, please visit the PDX Loves Signing Store Page.

CANDY

2010-07-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share this with you. My son is two and a half, and he just went in for his first haircut. Squirming, as toddlers are wont to do, I offered him a lollipop from the haircutter's stash. His response?

CANDY. Over and over and over again. :) I picked one up, unwrapped it and handed it over, and was rewarded with THANK YOU. I'm so glad he signs.

CAR

2010-07-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

I wanted share to this video with you all. This is my son's first ride in a convertible, my father's 1960-something Sunbeam Tiger. We're driving alongside him, in the California sunshine...but watch what he does as soon as he notices us!

He spent an early portion of the drive signing LIKE YELLOW CAR, and crying whenever we took him out of it. I mean, the boy LOVES cars:

Pass It On, Portland

2010-04-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Please come and visit us at the Pass It On resale event this Friday, Saturday and Sunday! There will be great discounts on all Signing Time DVDs from PDX Loves Signing. There will also be more items than you can count being sold by consignors, so you can find everything you could possibly need for your infant or child at the sale.

Admission is $5, the show prefers cash, but will take credit cards for purchases over $10. Come on by and check it out!

Associate Directos of the Signing Time Academy

2010-03-25T16:14:00.001-07:00

Today, the Signing Time Academy announced its ten Associate Directors, and I feel honored and privileged to be among them. As the AD for the Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota) as well as for those in China, Mongolia and South Korea, my job is " to help motivate, inspire and direct Instructors while also providing guidance for all new applicants coming to the Academy."

So, if you are interested in becoming a Signing Time instructor, please contact me. If you are already an instructor, please contact me. And, as always, if you have any questions about signing, Signing Time, or Signing Time Academy classes, please go ahead and contact me.

Please join me in congratulating the other fantastic women chosen for this job:
Christine Fitzgerald - Pacific Region
Lonna Leghart – Southwest Region
Kyle Stielow - Midwest Region
Kimberly Schaefer – Central Region
Ronai Brumett – Upper Midwest Region
Kimberly Fries – Southeast Region
Jennifer Lloyd - Central Atlantic Region
Kate Sutherland – Atlantic Northeast Region
Ashlea Weber – Canadian and Upper Atlantic Region

Thank you

Carissa Martos

PDX Loves Signing, LLC

2010-02-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

is proud to be a sponsor of the Portland Pass It On Children's consignment event. If you look on the right-hand side of their site, you'll see us along with many other local businesses. We'll be at the show, with the other Portland-Metro-Area Signing Time teacher, with DVDs, board books, and flashcards.

Be on of the first 500 shoppers, and you get a special coupon!

Visit their website for more details, please. Thank you.

Hands & Voices Annual Conference

2010-02-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hands & Voices Annual Conference announced on their website!
www.handsandvoicesor.org

Saturday, May 15th
Red Lion Inn, Lloyd District
Portland, Oregon

Some Info:

(Free Parking, Free Childcare, lunch provided!)

This conference is for all parents of deaf/hard of hearing children and the professionals that work with them. This informative day long conference will give parents the tools they need when attending IFSP/IEP meetings, making the every day decisions that need to be made and give parents an opportunity to meet with other parents.

Barbara Raimondo, attorney with the National Association for the Deaf, will give two sessions; one on the laws of for the Birth-3 (Part C) children and a second session for parents with school-age children (Part B) and on IEP's/504 Plans. She will talk about where education is headed and how that pertains to our children.

Online registration will be available by March 1st. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please visit the Hands and Voices site to see more!

Article up at Urban Mamas

2010-02-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

The good ladies at Urban Mamas allowed me to post up an article in the Exchange portion of their site. Here are some excerpts:

Sign Language used to be thought of as something only of use to the profoundly Deaf and their families, but for more than 25 years Speech and Language professionals have been using ASL signs to help hearing children communicate with their parents. Babies and children who use sign are able to communicate more completely and at a younger age than their peers who don't. As Rachel Coleman, creator of Signing Time, says: "Babies crawl before they walk and sign before they talk!"

As the child of a Speech Pathologist, I was one of those kids who learned sign before I could speak back in the 80s. When my mother came into the room to find me crying in my crib, at 7 months I could tell her if I was hungry, or needed a new diaper, and it greatly lessened her frustration as a new parent. When I began speaking at 9 months, she kept using signs with me because it let me communicate with her if I was overtaken by a shy spell (I could tell her I needed a change in a grocery store without letting everyone else know) or had my mouth full.

When I had my children, signing with them seemed the most natural thing in the world, and since both of my children have special needs and are speech-delayed, it has been a blessing to be able to communicate with them. Imagine my joy when my son could talk to me, even with tubes down his throat at the hospital! While our doctors were not sure my son would ever really speak, he's learned four or five spoken words...all words he first learned as signs!

Read the full article here