Put some signs in your summer storytimes!

Posted on May 9, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Click on the graphics below for more information and registration.

Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Summer Reading Special 2024

Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific. Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.

Add some American Sign Language to your summer reading toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for adventures and fun, to go with the Collaborative Summer Library program theme, Adventure Begins at Your Library : La aventura comienza en tu biblioteca. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.

$40 per person; group rates available.

REGISTER NOW.

Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Summer Signs

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 1-2 PM Eastern/12-1 PM Central/11 AM-12 PM Mountain/10 AM-11 AM Pacific. Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.

Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for summer sights and activities. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.

$40 per person; group rates available.

REGISTER NOW.

Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here.

FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

Click here to purchase recording access to past webinars.

Hands Up! Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner) begins May 22! Register now!

Posted on May 1, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner)

Wednesdays, May 22-June 26, 2024 from 11 AM-12 PM Eastern/10-11 AM Central/9-10 AM Mountain/8-9 AM Pacific. Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week). Includes recording access for all sessions through July 27, 2024.

Learn how to improve your service to deaf patrons in this interactive series. We’ll cover basic information about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, as well as specific vocabulary for the library setting. Each session will build on those before it to reinforce your knowledge and expand your ability to communicate with members of the Deaf community, and you’ll get plenty of interactive signing practice! Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.

Individual: $240. Save 20% with code READANDSIGN.
Discounted group rates and direct invoicing available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for details.

REGISTER NOW!

See all upcoming webinars from Stories By Hand.

Spring and Summer Webinars for Library Staff and Educators

Posted on April 19, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Click on the graphics below for more information and registration.

Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here.

FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

Click here to purchase recording access to past webinars.

Level Up Your Storytimes!

Posted on April 8, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Learn storytime engagement techniques, planning tips, and more to keep kids and families coming back for more!

Storytime Stuff for Beginners

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 1-3 PM Eastern/12-2 PM Central/11 AM-1 PM Mountain/10 AM-12 PM Pacific

Online session via Zoom (2 hour webinar). Includes recording access through May 18, 2024.

It’s a storytime showdown full of fresh ideas, practical tricks, and easy flannelboards, fingerplays, sign language rhymes, and other activities. Learn how to keep your audience’s attention, transition smoothly between activities, and keep kids and parents coming back for more. Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.

Pricing:

Individual: $75 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.

REGISTER NOW

Storytime Stuff-Advanced

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 1-3 PM Eastern/12-2 PM Central/11 AM-1 PM Mountain/10 AM-12 PM Pacific

Online session via Zoom (2-hour webinar). Includes recording access through June 9, 2024.

Been presenting programs for awhile? Refresh your storytime toolbox with fresh ideas, practical tricks, and new flannelboards, fingerplays, sign language rhymes, and other activities. Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.

Pricing:

Individual: $75 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.

REGISTER NOW

About the Instructor:

Kathy MacMillan is a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and storyteller. She is the author of the Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press, Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Hands Up Press) as well as many other books for children, teens, librarians, and educators. She has trained thousands of library staff members and educators on programming techniques and on how to better serve the Deaf community.

Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here.

FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

Click here to purchase recording access to past webinars.

Wonderful Weather Signs

Posted on April 1, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Weather Signs

Wednesday, April 11, 2024

11 AM-12 PM Eastern/10-11 AM Central/9-10 AM Mountain/8-9 AM Pacific

Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.

Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for weather and related storytime activities. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.

Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.

Pricing:

Individual: $40 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: $25. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14 days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.

REGISTER NOW

Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here.

FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

Click here to purchase recording access to past webinars.

In the Community: Online ASL Classes from the Hearing and Speech Agency

Posted on March 20, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Learn American Sign Language from a Deaf instructor in these online courses from the Hearing and Speech Agency, a highly respected Baltimore non-profit.

Upcoming Class Sessions:

Summer Session 1: April 14-May 18, 2024
Summer Session 2: May 26-June 29, 2024
Fall 2024 Class: September 3-November 11, 2024

1-hour classes meet once a week online (10-week sessions)

Classes Offered:

Beginning Conversational ASL 1: Tuesdays, 6-8 PM EST OR 7-9 PM EST
Beginning Conversational ASL 2: Tuesdays, 6-8 PM EST
Beginning Conversational ASL 3: Thursdays, 6-8 PM EST
Beginning Conversational ASL 4: Thursdays, 6-8 PM EST

To see the complete schedule and register, click here.

Program offerings featured in “In the Community” posts are not affiliated with Stories by Hand and are shared to spread the word about other ASL learning opportunities.

Come to the DCI Easter Party on March 23!

Posted on March 15, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Bring the whole family for the Deaf Camps, Inc. Easter Party! Saturday, March 23 from 4-6:30 PM $7 per person Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf, 1040 S Beechfield Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229 Join us for storytime in ASL and English with 4 children’s book authors, a pancake dinner, and an egg hunt. All ages and signing abilities welcome! All proceeds support Deaf Camps, Inc.’s scholarship program.

DCI Easter Party. Join us for a pancake supper, egg hunt, and storytime with children's book authors. March 24, 2024, 4-6:30 PM. $7 per person. Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf. 1040 S Beechfield Ave, Catonsville MD 21229. Featured authors: Kathy MacMillan, Tracy C. Gold, Ann McCallum Staats, Ann Marie Stephens.

Add some ASL to your springtime storytimes!

Posted on March 12, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Spring Signs (1 hour webinar)

Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific

Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.

Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for spring sights and activities. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.

Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.

Individual: $40. Discounted group rates and direct invoicing available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for details.

REGISTER NOW.

All upcoming webinars

FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

Live ASL Practice for Library Staff

Posted on March 4, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Hands Up! Live ASL Practice for Library Staff Learn & practice American Sign Language for library settings in these interactive webinar series! Each includes recording access through 30 days after the final webinar in the series. Click on the links below for more information and registration. Intermediate: Tuesdays, March 19 to April 23, 2024, 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific Review: Tuesdays, May 7 to June 11, 2024, 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific The next Beginner series will be offered beginning in late May. Want to be notified when registration opens? Email info@storiesbyhand.com to be added to the mailing list! All upcoming webinars Purchase recording access to past webinars Book a private webinar FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

2-part webinar from ALA: Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library

Posted on February 28, 2024 by kathymacmillan

Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library
A two-part webinar series taking place on Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 2:30pm Eastern/1:30pm Central/12:30pm Mountain/11:30am Pacific.

Library services are for everyone, and that includes the deaf community. In this workshop, Kathy MacMillan, librarian and certified American Sign Language interpreter, guides you in making your library a more welcoming place for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. You will gain an understanding of Deaf culture, learn library-related signs, and become prepared to confidently work with interpreters for your programs.

After participating in this workshop, you will have:

An understanding of how to meet your library’s legal obligation to serve deaf and hard of hearing patrons
Strategies for communicating with a deaf or hard of hearing person in the library
Video demonstrations and handouts for library-related signs, accessible for practice after the workshop
Tips for finding, hiring, and working with sign language interpreters
Knowledge of varieties of communication among deaf and hard of hearing people

Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a writer, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and signing storyteller. She has worked in school and public libraries for over 25 years. She writes fiction and nonfiction for children, teens, and adults, including the Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press and the Storytime Magic series from ALA Editions. She lives in Baltimore, MD. Find her online at KathyMacMillan.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @kathys_quill.

Register now!