Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have much to be thankful for this year and one of those things is all the blessings that signing brings. It was opened up the lines of communication in our family. For that we are thankful on this day!

Looking for some Thanksgiving books? Check out my other blog: Little Lessons

Would you like to learn more about turkeys? Wild Kratts has a great episode online for free!

Try this Thanksgiving Hand-y Craft: Paper Plate Turkey
Don't forget to watch the classic A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!

Don't forget to save some room for pie!

Expanding on Walking Through The Zoo

Walking Through The Zoo

~ Signing Time Series 1 Vol. 9 Zoo Train ~

Featured in this song: 

Rhinoceros　サイ           Seal アザラシ
      Panda パンダ        Hippopotamus カバ

Zebra シマウマ        Tiger トラ        Lion ライオン

Extras:

walk さんぽ、歩く　       look at, watch 見る　

  zoo 動物園    

Lyrics for Signing Time Songs Vol. 7-9 - including Walking Through The Zoo

Don't want to wait for a DVD or CD to arrive? Get the Zoo Train video with the Kotoba & Sign Digital Player!  Click here!

Books and other things in the Kotoba & Sign Amazon Store

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Animal Planet Zoo Mat
Animal Planet Zoo Set

Wild Animal Puzzle
Montessori: Map Work
My First Animal Signs by Anthony Lewis

Activities, Worksheets & Crafts
Zoo Sensory Bottle
Zoo Unit
Animal Memory Game
Sign Zoo Map

２０１４年１２月予定 Hana House - December Plans

Next month we will have a break from our regular classes which gives us the chance to do a few special things!

２０１４年１２月予定     Hana House - December Plans

Tuesday December 2nd 

 Zoo Field Trip for current/former students.

 Information will be shared in class and by e-mail from Hana House.

Tuesday December 16th 12月16日（火）2014

@Hana House Bricks Classroom    @ハナハウスレンガ教室

10:30～11:20

Potty Training Workshop   トイレトレーニング・ワークショップ

Join us for a 1-hour introduction to the Potty Time Program and learn how you can make potty training easier for you and more fun for your child. Potty Time works for children ages 0-5 and supports any potty training method you choose. 

Signing Timeを使ったトイレトレーニングセミナーです。まだ言葉が上手でないお子さんでも、

サインを使いながら楽しく、ストレスなくオムツを卒業できるようになります。

ぜひご参加ください。

Leader：Heidi Emoto  （English & Japanese）       講　師：江本ハイディー（英語 & 日本語）

Fee：1,500円  Suginami-ku Kosodate Oenken accepted     参加費：1,500円（子育て応援券利用可）

11:40〜12:30 + Lunch

クリスマス サインで遊ぼう!

Christmas  Sign & Play Group

Theme　テーマ: Signing Time Christmas 

クリスマスにつかうサインとうた

参加費：1,000円（子育て応援券利用可） 

Fee：1,000円  Suginami-ku Kosodate Oenken accepted

Play Groupの後ランチタイムを開放しますのでお時間のある方はランチをお持ちください。ランチタイムにはSigning Timeの新しいDVD, “Christmas”を流します. We'll watch, and sign along to, one of the Signing Time Christmas DVDs during lunch.

ベビー・サイニング・タイムクラスの生徒さんや卒業生にとっては、

クラスではカバーされていない新しい内容を学べるという利点があります。

For current and former students we cover signs not included in the regular course.

サインをやってみようかと考えている人にとっては、サインを使っている家族の人たちと話したり、

サインを使っている赤ちゃんや幼児を目にする機会となるでしょう。

For those who are interested in signing this is a chance to get a feeling for how class goes and to see signing babies in action.

どちらかで既にサインを学んでいる方ももちろん大歓迎です。

Those who have studied baby signing somewhere else are also welcome to join.

詳しいこととお申し込みはハナハウスまで 

To Register:

☎ 03-6750-8677（平日10:00～16:00）　info@hanahouse.jp 

Expanding on When The Bugs Come Marchin In

When The Bugs Come Marchin In

~ Signing Time Series 1 Vol. 8 The Great Outdoors ~

Featured in this song: 

Bug　ムシ

Ant　アリ        Fly　ハイ        Spider　クモ

Bee ハチ        Worm　ミミズ        Mosquito　カ

March マーチ

Extras:

Caterpillar　アオムシ        Butterfly　ちょうちょう

Dragonfly　トンボ        Ladybug　テントウムシ

Lyrics for Signing Time Songs Vol. 7-9 - including When the Bugs Come Marchin In

Don't want to wait for a DVD or CD to arrive? Get the Great Backyard video with the Kotoba & Sign Digital Player!

Rachel and the Treeschoolers:
Incredible Insects

Did you know there is a Rachel and the Treeschoolers episode dedicated entirely to learning about insects? Incredible Insects includes information about how to tell if something is and insect and why insects are important. Through songs, dance, signs and stories, children are engaged in active learning.

Each Treeschoolers DVD comes with a CD and downloadable activity guide designed to expand on the information covered in the DVD. 
The Treeschoolers are a great addition to your homeschool or preschool curriculum!

Books and other things in the Kotoba & Sign Amazon Store

There was an old Lady who swalloed a Fly

The Ants Go Marching

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Itsy Bitsy Spider

More song fun!!!

The Ants Go Marching
Miss Nina: Ants Go Marching
Itsy Bitsy Spider: Never Give Up!

Itsy Bitsy Spider by a fellow STA Instructor

Activities, Worksheets & Crafts
The Very Hungry Caterpillar in ASL
My ABC Insect Discovery Book
Ants Go Marching Poster

Insect Sensory Bin

Bug Printables
Bug Match-up & Memory

New Treeschoolers - Happy, Healthy Me

Two Little Hands has released the newest Rachel and the Treeschoolers episode Happy, Healthy Me.

While I do sell these products and use some of these materials in my classes, let me share about Happy, Healthy Me from the standpoint of a mom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a 4 year old and a 7 year old. This series is aimed at preschool - early grade school kids so they are in the target audience. The Treeschoolers series is created in a way that younger and older kids also enjoy the music and information that is covered.  

While this is not an exclusively signing DVD it does include some ASL vocabulary as a learning tool. For baby signers like my kids this is great because it helps them to keep fresh the signs they've used over hte past few years while also building their vocabulary. For kids who are new to signing this is a chance to get started on a 2nd language without rote memorisation and in a fun way.

The topic - Happy, Healthy Me - is a broad one. The DVD touches on key points which are expanded in the Activity Guide. I can see us singing some of these songs to help us remember the lessons we've learned. 

The Scrub song is great for while washing hands. My kids can get so dirty some days and honestly seem not to see the dirt until I point it out. The DVD explains what germs are and why we use soap.  This is something I can tell them 1,000 times but it seems more likely to stick when coming from a different source - like a cartoon doctor.

Another challenge is getting the kids to "eat a rainbow".  While my 4 year old understands that idea, my 7 year old has an interest in how each specific food in the rainbow helps his body.  I now have another resource to help him understand!

With the kids growing and wanting to be more independent they often try to push the boundaries of safety. I can see pieces of The Safety Song being sung while they play as a way to remind each other of what they should be doing!

These are just 3 of the topics included in the DVD. After you've watched it with your kids leave a comment and let us know what parts are helpful for your family!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The structure of Treeschoolers lends itself well to homeschooling, after schooling, use in a daycare or school. The accompanying guide has over 60 pages of activities and information you can use to expand on the DVD.  It includes 5 Activity Sets, printable flashcards and the lyrics for the songs. 

If you are in an area where English is a minority language, like us, it can be tempting to use any materials you can find just because they are in English. Many are sadly lacking in educational value. Treeschoolers is packed full of "the good stuff" so you can make the most of what little time you may have for learning in English. 

Treeschoolers is also great for families who limit screen time. An amazing amount of useful information is packed into a time slot that other shows would use to convey just 3 points. The easy access to the music and Activity Guide means that you don't have to keep watching the video many times to learn the material.  The songs inspire kids to get up and dance so we have a playlist on the iPod for that purpose!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inspired? Curious?

Download Happy, Healthy Me today!

Happy, Healthy Me Video

Happy, Healthy Me Activity Guide