Category Archives: Signing with Young Children

Hands-on feedback on your signing activities for storytime or the classroom!

Posted on by
Reply

Yellow and red leaves are scattered against a wooden background. Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Group Coaching Session | Put some ASL in your storytime toolbox! Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 2:00-3:15 PM Eastern. Online via Zoom. Individuals: $40. Group rates available. StoriesByHand.com/webinars

Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Group Coaching Session

Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 2:00-3:15 PM Eastern/1:00-2:15 PM Central/12:00-1:15 PM Mountain/11:00AM-12:15PM Pacific. 1 hour and 15 minutes, Online via Zoom.

Here’s your chance to get live feedback on your storytime activities using American Sign Language! In this interactive small-group session, each participant will demonstrate a story, song, rhyme or other activity they plan to use with signs in storytime, and storyteller and nationally certified ASL interpreter Kathy MacMillan will give live feedback on vocabulary choices, sign production, presentation, and introducing ASL vocabulary in context. Expand your storytime toolbox with ideas from your peers and enhance your storytime confidence!

Each session is capped at 12 participants, so register now!

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 me for details.
  • 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 for Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Group Coaching Session

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 (Huron Street Press) as well as many other books for children, teens, librarians, and educators.

See all upcoming webinars.

Interested in a session just for your library? Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here!

1 week from today: Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Autumn Signs

Posted on by
Reply

Brightly colored autumn leaves appear against a blue background with a photo of a smiling white woman. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Autumn Signs. Wednesday, September 8. 2-3 PM Eastern. Presented by KathyMacMillan, NIC, MLS. Register at StoriesByHand.com/webinars

Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Autumn Signs

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific. 1 hour, Online via Zoom

Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for autumn 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.

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 me for details.
  • 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.

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 (Huron Street Press) as well as many other books for children, teens, librarians, and educators.

Register for Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Autumn Signs.

See all upcoming webinars.

Interested in a session just for your library? Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here!

Sing, sign, read, play – and learn ASL as a family!

Posted on by
Reply

On the right, a smiling white child with blond hair signs SIGN in American Sign Language. Text reads: Little Hands Signing for Families. Sing, sign, read, play, and learn basic American Sign Language together! Fridays, September 17-October 22, 9:30-10:30 AM Eastern, Online via Zoom. Register at StoriesByHand.com/ForFamilies. Text appears in black against a background with broad stripes of orange, blue, and yellow.

Little Hands Signing for Families

Fridays, September 17-October 22 from 9:30 AM-10:30 AM Eastern/8:30 AM-9:30 Central/7:30 AM-8:30 AM Mountain/6:30 AM-7:30 AM Pacific 

Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week)

Sing, sign, read, and play together as you learn basic American Sign Language in this engaging, interactive storytime-based class. Designed for kids and grownups all ages to learn together, this series will teach basic ASL vocabulary and grammar through stories, songs, and fun activities, while also sharing information for caregivers on how to integrate signs into family life for richer communication and a more peaceful environment. Session one will cover introductory signs; topics of later sessions will be determined based on a survey of participant needs but may include food signs, family signs, safety signs, animal signs, and more.

Pricing: $80 per family (includes live classes and recording access for the 6-week series) (NOTE: Only the instructor will appear on the recordings.) – Register by September 8 using coupon code SIGNON and get 10% off!

About the Instructor: Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, instructor, consultant, writer and signing storyteller. Kathy is the author of the Little Hands Signing board book series (Familius Press) and Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Huron Street Press), as well as many other books for children, teens, and adults. She has worked in public libraries for over twenty years, and was the Library/Media Specialist at the Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Campus from 2001 to 2005. Kathy presents American Sign Language programs for families and workshops for library staff and educators. She also serves on the board of Deaf Camps, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides camps for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and children learning American Sign Language. She lives in Baltimore, MD.

Register now.

 

View all upcoming events from Stories By Hand

Register by August 31 and save 25% on upcoming webinars!

Posted on by
Reply
Get 25% off any of the following webinars and webinar series when you register by August 31 using coupon code EARLYBIRD! Group rates also available! Contact me for details. Click on the graphics below for more information and registration. Brightly colored autumn leaves appear against a blue background with a photo of a smiling white woman. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Autumn Signs. Wednesday, September 8. 2-3 PM Eastern. Presented by KathyMacMillan, NIC, MLS. Register at StoriesByHand.com/webinars Yellow and red leaves are scattered against a wooden background. Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Group Coaching Session | Put some ASL in your storytime toolbox! Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 2:00-3:15 PM Eastern. Online via Zoom. Individuals: $40. Group rates available. StoriesByHand.com/webinars Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff | Interactive webinar series presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | Beginners: Fridays, September 17-October 22 from 1:30-2:30 PM Eastern | StoriesByHand.com/webinars | Words appear over a drawing of upraised hands in bright pastel colors against a white background. Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff | Interactive webinar series presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | Fridays, November 5-December 17 from 1:30-2:30 PM Eastern/12:30-1:30 PM Central/11:30AM-12:30 PM Mountain/10:30-11:30 AM Pacific - NO CLASS ON NOVEMBER 26 | StoriesByHand.com/webinars | Words appear over a drawing of upraised hands in bright pastel colors against a white background. A red candle glows on the left. A photo of a smiling white woman appears on the right. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Autumn Signs. Wednesday, November 10. 1-2 PM Eastern. Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, MLS. Register at StoriesByHand.com/webinars An illustration appears on the left of a white child dancing with hands in the air. Text appears in black against an orange background: Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Group Coaching Session | Put some ASL in your storytime toolbox! Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 3:00-4:15 PM Eastern. Online via Zoom. Individuals: $40. Group rates available. StoriesByHand.com/webinars Interested in a session just for your library? Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here!

Online Storytimes This Week

Posted on by
Reply

Join me online for free programs for all ages, sponsored by local public libraries!

Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 6 PM Eastern: Little Hands Signing: Under the Sea.  Online storytime hosted by New Castle County Libraries (MD). Register now!

A photo of a smiling white women with glasses and shoulder length brown hair appears on the left. She is signing FISH in American Sign Language, as cartoon fish swim around her. The colorful covers of board books Nita's First Signs and Nita's Day appear to her right. Text appears in black against a blue background: Little Hands Signing: Under the Sea. Thursday, August 12 at 6 PM Eastern. Hosted by New Castle County Libraries. Register at https://tinyurl.com/NCCUndertheSea. Sing, sign, and play together with this fun, hands-on, FREE online storytime with Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series.

 

Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 6 PM Eastern: American Sign Language Safari. Online storytime hosted by Baltimore County Public Library (MD). Register now!

A photo of a smiling white woman with glasses and a safari hat appear on the left. A monkey puppet is sitting on her left shoulder and she is signing I-LOVE-YOU in American Sign Language with her left hand. The colorful covers of board books NITA'S FIRST SIGNS and NITA'S DAY appear to her right. Text appears in white against a textured green background and reads: American Sign Language Safari. Learn animal signs through stories, songs, and fun activities for the whole family with Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series. Hosted by Baltimore County Public Library. Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 7 PM Eastern. Online via Zoom. Register at https://www.bcpl.info/events-and-programs

 

Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 10 AM Eastern: Little Hands Signing: Under the Sea. Online storytime hosted by Carroll County Public Library. Register now.

A picture of colorful handprints appears on the left, with the words: Little Hands Signing with Kathy MacMillan: Under the Sea. Ages Birth-8. Next to that, a photo of a smiling white woman with glasses appears next to the colorful covers of board books NITA'S FIRST SIGNS and NITA'S DAY. Text appears in white against a green background with blue jellyfish: Sing, sign, and play together with this fun, hands-on, FREE online storytime for the whole family, presented by Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series. Carroll County Public Library. Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 10 AM Eastern. Online via Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/CCPLUndertheSea

 

 

 

 

Register now for Signing with Children eCourse! Begins August 23!

Posted on by
Reply

Sign Language for Children in Storytime or in the Classroom: A Practical Guide eCourse

Asynchronous eCourse beginning Monday, August 23, 2021 (6 weeks of lessons; Participants will have a total of 12 weeks to complete course materials)
Instructor: Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S.
Cost: $250.00 (discounts available for American Library Association members and bulk registrations); Estimated Hours of Learning: 30 

American Sign Language is most commonly used in storytimes for babies, but the applications can go much further. In this 6-week eCourse, expert Kathy MacMillan explores the benefits of signing with all children.  In addition to learning basic American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary appropriate for use with children in library and classroom settings, you will also learn to teach stories, songs, and other activities that incorporate ASL. MacMillan provides you with a linguistic and cultural context to help make your programming more accessible.

A few of your assignments will be to create videos of yourself signing, so that you can get direct feedback from the instructor.

Reviews

“Sign Language for Children in Storytime or in the Classroom: A Practical Guide is one of the most well-organized and rewarding professional development courses I’ve taken. I really appreciated the topics covered and all the additional tips the instructor contributed to the discussion forums.”

“Your methods for teaching, quizzing, and giving feedback for assignments were more responsive than any ecourse I’ve taken so far (on this site or in grad school!)”

“Kathy MacMillan was an outstanding teacher, and I would highly recommend this class to my colleagues.”

“This course was appropriately named. It was practical and extremely informative.”

Register now!

 

Upcoming Online Storytimes

Posted on by
Reply

Join me online for these free programs for all ages!

Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 8 PM Eastern: Familius Summer Reading Series: I’ll be reading Nita’s First Signs and Nita’s Day and sharing American Sign Language songs and activities for the whole family. Program will be presented in spoken English with closed captions. You can watch via the Familius FB page.

Friday, July 23, 2021 at 10 AM Eastern: Little Hands Signing: Animals at Night. Online storytime hosted by Carroll County Public Library. Register now.

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Online Storytimes

Posted on by
Reply

Join me online for free programs for all ages, sponsored by these amazing public libraries!

Friday, July 2, 2021 at 10:30 AM Eastern: American Sign Language Safari. Online storytime hosted by Anne Arundel County Public Library (MD). Register now!

 

Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 11 AM Eastern: Little Hands Signing: Farm Animals – Facebook Live storytime hosted by Mary Riley Styles Public Library (VA). No registration required. Tune in at https://www.facebook.com/mrspl/

*The live program will be presented in spoken English. Captions will be provided for the recording.

A photo of a cow appears in the top right corner. Below that, a white child with blond hair signs COW. Next to that, a photo of a smiling white woman with glasses appears next to the colorful covers of board books NITA'S FIRST SIGNS and NITA'S DAY. Facebook Live storytime for all ages hosted by Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Saturday, July 3 at 11 AM Eastern. Tune in at https://www.facebook.com/mrspl/. Sing, sign, and play together with this fun, hands-on, FREE online storytime for the whole family, presented by Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series.

 

Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 2 PM Eastern: American Sign Language Safari. Online storytime hosted by Baltimore County Public Library (MD). Register now!

A photo of a smiling white woman with glasses and a safari hat appear on the left. A monkey puppet is sitting on her left shoulder and she is signing I-LOVE-YOU in American Sign Language with her left hand. The colorful covers of board books NITA'S FIRST SIGNS and NITA'S DAY appear to her right. Text appears in white against a textured green background and reads: American Sign Language Safari. Learn animal signs through stories, songs, and fun activities for the whole family with Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series. Hosted by Baltimore County Public Library. Saturday, July 3 at 2 PM Eastern. Online via Zoom. Register at tinyurl.com/SafariBCPL

 

Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 11 AM Eastern: Little Hands Signing: Farm Animals.  Online storytime hosted by New Castle County Libraries (MD). Register now!

A photo of a cow appears in the top right corner. Below that, a white child with blond hair signs COW. Next to that, a photo of a smiling white woman with glasses appears next to the colorful covers of board books NITA'S FIRST SIGNS and NITA'S DAY. Text appears in white against a brown background and reads: Little Hands Signing: Farm Animals. Tuesday, July 6 at 11 AM Eastern. Hosted by New Castle County Public Libraries. Register at https://tinyurl.com/LHSFarmNCC. Sing, sign, and play together with this fun, hands-on, FREE online storytime for the whole family, presented by Kathy MacMillan, author of the Little Hands Signing series.

 

 

 

 

This Saturday! Little Hands Signing: Zoo Signs

Posted on by
Reply

Little Hands Signing: Zoo Signs

Saturday, June 26 at 10:00 AM Eastern: Hosted by Carroll County Public Library, Maryland.  Register here.

Sing, sign, play, and learn basic American Sign Language in these fun, hands-on storytimes for the whole family!

Program will take place online via Zoom.