Add some signs to your Spring storytimes!
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Spring Signs (1 hour webinar)
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 11 AM Eastern/10 AM Central/9 AM Mountain/8 AM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for though April 30, 2023.
Learn basic American Sign Language for spring storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Discounted group rates and direct invoicing available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for details.
Baby and Toddler Online Professional Development Series Starts January 25!
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Series 3: Babies and Toddlers (6-webinar series)
Wednesdays, January 25 to March 1, 2023 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 though November 21, 2022.
Join us for weekly interactive workshops that teach basic American Sign Language vocabulary and demonstrate how to use the signs in storytime activities and the early childhood classroom. This series will focus on vocabulary and best practices for baby and toddler programs. Each session will focus on specific thematic vocabulary: Getting Started, Playtime Signs, Mealtime Signs, Diaper and Potty Signs, Safety Signs, Our Signing Day.
Individual: $240. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
Little Hands and Big Hands, 2nd edition release and FREE online program
Releasing today from Hands Up Press:
Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together, second edition
by Kathy MacMillan
Photography by Kristin Brown
Research shows that using American Sign Language with young children can
- reduce frustration for both caregiver and child
- increase IQ
- stimulate language learning
- enhance bonding
- raise a child’s self-esteem
- improve everyday life and communication!
Little Hands & Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together offers solid background information on signing with children ages birth to six, along with hands-on games, fingerplays, songs, and more that caregivers, librarians, and educators can use to smooth transitions, calm a fussy child, or engage a stubborn one. Each activity is accompanied by photos of the relevant signs.
“Author and ASL educator Kathy MacMillan has brilliantly combined the world of ASL with early literacy activities…Explanations and research support are seamlessly woven into each activity…I highly recommend this resource to anyone working with children from birth to age six.” -Betsy Diamant-Cohen, creator of the award-winning Mother Goose on the Loose early literacy program
Pre-order now from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!) | amazon.com | barnesandnoble.com | bookshop.org
Join the author for an online book launch event for all ages:
Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together, 2nd edition
Online Book Launch Event with Kathy MacMillan
Thursday, January 12, 2023
6:00 pm Mountain Standard Time
Hosted by Clearview Library District
Sign, sing, read, and play together in this online storytime for all ages! American Sign Language interpretation and automatic captioning will be provided.
Register now!
Autographed copies of the book may be purchased here, with all proceeds supporting Deaf Camps, Inc.’s scholarship program. To request personalization, email deafcampsinc@gmail.com.
Add some ASL to your winter stories!
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Winter Signs (1 hour webinar)
Friday, January 13, 2023 at 11 AM Eastern/10 AM Central/9 AM Mountain/8 AM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access through February 14, 2023.
Learn basic American Sign Language for winter storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
New edition of Little Hands & Big Hands: Children & Adults Signing Together
Coming January 10, 2023 from Hands Up Press:
Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together, second edition
by Kathy MacMillan
Photography by Kristin Brown
Research shows that using American Sign Language with young children can
- reduce frustration for both caregiver and child
- increase IQ
- stimulate language learning
- enhance bonding
- raise a child’s self-esteem
- improve everyday life and communication!
Little Hands & Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together offers solid background information on signing with children ages birth to six, along with hands-on games, fingerplays, songs, and more that caregivers, librarians, and educators can use to smooth transitions, calm a fussy child, or engage a stubborn one. Each activity is accompanied by photos of the relevant signs.
“Author and ASL educator Kathy MacMillan has brilliantly combined the world of ASL with early literacy activities…Explanations and research support are seamlessly woven into each activity…I highly recommend this resource to anyone working with children from birth to age six.” -Betsy Diamant-Cohen, creator of the award-winning Mother Goose on the Loose early literacy program
Pre-order now from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!) | amazon.com | barnesandnoble.com | bookshop.org
Join the author for an online book launch event for all ages:
Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together, 2nd edition
Online Book Launch Event with Kathy MacMillan
Thursday, January 12, 2023
6:00 pm Mountain Standard Time
Hosted by Clearview Library District
Sign, sing, read, and play together in this online storytime for all ages! American Sign Language interpretation and automatic captioning will be provided.
Register now!
Autographed copies of the book may be purchased here, with all proceeds supporting Deaf Camps, Inc.’s scholarship program. To request personalization, email deafcampsinc@gmail.com.
Winter/Spring 2023 Webinars Open for Registration
Please feel free to share the information and coupon codes below with your colleagues! Discounted group rates and direct invoicing available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for details.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Winter Signs (1 hour webinar)
Friday, January 13, 2023 at 11 AM Eastern/10 AM Central/9 AM Mountain/8 AM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for though February 14, 2023.
Learn basic American Sign Language for winter storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner)
Tuesdays, January 24-February 28, 2023, 11 AM-12 PM Eastern/ 10 AM-11 AM Central/9 AM-10 Mountain/8 AM-9 AM Pacific
Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week). Includes recording access for all sessions through March 29, 2023.
Learn and practice American Sign Language for library settings in this interactive series.
Individual: $240. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form. Group rates available.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-up-live-asl-practice-for-library-staff-beginner-registration-440678369867
Hands Up! Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Review Series)
Tuesdays, January 24-February 28, 2023 from 2:30 PM-3:30 PM Eastern/ 1:30 PM-2:30 PM Central/ 12:30 PM-1:30 PM Mountain/11:30 AM-12:30 PM Pacific.
Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week)
Review and practice your ASL for the library setting in these interactive sessions! This series will focus on review and deep practice of vocabulary and concepts introduced in the Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff Beginner and Intermediate series and in the ALA eCourse ASL for Library Staff, level 1. Recording access will be available through 30 days after the final session.
Individual: $240. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/484377846177
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Series 3: Babies and Toddlers (6-webinar series)
Wednesdays, January 25 to March 1, 2023 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 though November 21, 2022.
Join us for weekly interactive workshops that teach basic American Sign Language vocabulary and demonstrate how to use the signs in storytime activities and the early childhood classroom. This series will focus on vocabulary and best practices for baby and toddler programs. Each session will focus on specific thematic vocabulary: Getting Started, Playtime Signs, Mealtime Signs, Diaper and Potty Signs, Safety Signs, Our Signing Day.
Individual: $240. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Intermediate)
Tuesdays, March 21 to April 25, 2023 from 11 AM-12 PM Eastern/ 10 AM-11 AM Central/ 9 AM-10 AM Mountain/8 AM-9 AM Pacific
Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week). Includes recording access for all sessions through May 26, 2023.
Practice and gain confidence in your American Sign Language skills for library settings in this interactive series.
Individual: $240. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form. Group rates available.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Spring Signs (1 hour webinar)
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 11 AM Eastern/10 AM Central/9 AM Mountain/8 AM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for though April 30, 2023.
Learn basic American Sign Language for spring storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner)
Wednesdays, March 29-May 3, 2023 from 1 PM-2 PM Eastern/ 12 PM-1 PM Central/ 11 AM-12 PM Mountain/10 AM-11 AM Pacific
Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week). Includes recording access for all sessions through June 4, 2023.
Learn and practice American Sign Language for library settings in this interactive series.
Individual: $240. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form. Group rates available.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-up-live-asl-practice-for-library-staff-beginner-registration-461172157337
Hands Up! Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Review Series)
Wednesdays, May 17-June 21, 2023, 11 AM-12 PM Eastern/ 10 AM-11 AM Central/ 9 AM-10 AM Mountain/8 AM-9 AM Pacific. Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week)
Review and practice your ASL for the library setting in these interactive sessions! This series will focus on review and deep practice of vocabulary and concepts introduced in the Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff Beginner and Intermediate series and in the ALA eCourse ASL for Library Staff, level 1. Recording access will be available through 30 days after the final session.
Individual: $240. Save 20% with code READANDSIGN. Group rates available.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-up-live-asl-practice-for-library-staff-review-series-registration-486847412717
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Summer Reading Special (1 hour webinar)
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 12 PM -1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10 AM-11 AM Mountain/9 AM-10 AM Pacific.
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for though June 24, 2023.
In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for friends and togetherness, to go with the Collaborative Summer Library program theme, All Together Now: Todos Juntos Ahora.
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code SUMMER at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Summer Signs (1 hour webinar)
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 2 PM Eastern/1 PM Central/12 PM Mountain/11 AM Pacific Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.
Learn basic American Sign Language for summer storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code SUMMER at the top of the ticket form! Group rates available.
For information about my eCourses through the American Library Association, see https://storiesbyhand.com/ecourses/
Time for the Read Local Challenge! FREE author webinars and more!
The Read Local Challenge kicks off October 1! This reading incentive program features traditionally-published authors and illustrators in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, and West Virginia, sponsored by the MD/DE/WV region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (with help and cooperation from the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI region).
The challenge features a selection of traditionally-published books in three levels: Picture Book, Middle Grade, and Young Adult, all written and/or illustrated by KidLit Creators who live in our states. This is a chance for readers, schools, libraries, and other lovers of literature to connect with local authors and discover new friends both on and off the page. This year’s Read Local Challenge kicks off on October 1, 2022 and runs through May 31, 2023.
We invite you to meet this year’s spectacular group of KidLit Creators in a series of FREE webinars, where you will have an opportunity to get to know us, our books, and our favorite things to talk with our readers about. Then, you’ll have a chance to ask us anything! We’ll get to as many questions as we can in the time provided. We have scheduled these free webinars to occur from 1:00-1:45 PM Eastern so that classes can join us live during the school day. Feel free to join as individual classes or as an entire school group–and don’t forget to request your Read Local Challenge kits with full-color posters, reading passports, and stickers, so that you can follow along with us as you get to know our stellar lineup of KidLit Creators and their books! Can’t attend live? No worries – recordings will be available within a week after each webinar, and accessible through our website until the end of the Challenge year.
Click on the graphics below to find out more and register for the free Read Local Challenge webinars:
Register now for Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinars
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Autumn Signs
Friday, September 9, 2022
11 AM-12 PM Eastern/10AM-11 AM Central/9 AM-10AM Mountain/8AM-9AM 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. Recording will be available for 30 days.
Individual: $40. Group rates available.
Register now! Save 20% with coupon code AUTUMN.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Series 1 (6-webinar series)
Thursdays, September 15-October 20, 2022 from 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11AM-12 PM Pacific
6 sessions, online via Zoom
Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive series, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for summer storytimes. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way. Includes 30 days of recording access.
Topics:
- September 15: First Signs
- September 22: Colors Signs
- September 29: Family Signs
- October 6: Food Signs
- October 13: Feelings Signs
- October 20: Animal Signs
Individual: $240. Group rates available.
Get ready for summer reading!
Get ready for the 2022 Collaborative Summer Reading Theme, Oceans of Possibilities: Océano de Posibilidades, with these 2 webinars from Stories By Hand!
Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In these interactive sessions, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for storytimes. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way. Registration includes 30 days of recording access. Individual: $40 per webinar. Group rates available.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Ocean Signs: Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern/1 PM Central/12 PM Mountain/11 AM Pacific. Register now.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Summer Signs: Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 2 PM Eastern/1 PM Central/12 PM Mountain/11 AM Pacific. Register now.
Don’t miss out on the Little Hands Signing Professional Development Season Pass!
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Series Season Pass
Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.
Your Season Pass registration includes access to the 3 remaining live webinars in the series, PLUS extended recording access for all 6 webinars through August 31, 2022!
- Winter Signs: recording access on demand
- Lovey Dovey Signs: recording access on demand
- Spring Signs: recording access on demand
- Weather Signs: Thursday, April 7, 2022, 2-3 PM Eastern plus recording access
- Ocean Signs (Summer Reading Special): Thursday, May 5, 2022, 2-3 Eastern plus recording access
- Summer Signs: Thursday, June 2, 2022, 2-3 PM Eastern plus recording access
Register now for the Little Hands Signing Professional Development Series Season Pass
Storytime Stuff 