Signing Time!

Infobox Television
show_name = Signing Time!


caption =
show_name_2 =
genre = Children's television series
creator = Rachel de Azevedo Coleman
Emilie de Azevedo Brown
writer =
director = Damian Dayton
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = Rachel de Azevedo Coleman
Leah Coleman
Alex Brown
Aaron de Azevedo (Hopkins (Voice))
voices = Clara Poulsen
Alex Brown
Zachary Brown
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Rachel de Azevedo Coleman
opentheme = Signing Time! Theme
endtheme =
composer = Rachel de Azevedo Coleman
Lex de Azevedo
country = USA
language = English
ASL (vocabulary only)
num_seasons = 2
num_episodes = 26
list_episodes =
executive_producer =
co_exec =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
camera =
runtime =
network =
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = May 2002
last_aired =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = "Baby Signing Time!"
"Practice Time!"
website = http://www.signingtime.com
production_website =
imdb_id =
tv_com_id = 68590

Signing Time! is a children's television program targeted towards children one through eight that teaches American Sign Language. It is aired in the United States and hosted by Rachel de Azevedo Coleman, daughter of the well-known film score composer Lex de Azevedo. It is aired by American Public Television in many cities across the US. [ [http://www.signingtime.com/a9/Public-Television/article_info.html Signing Time - Articles - Public Television Information - PBS TV Schedule for Signing Time Shows ] ]

"Signing Time!" introduces children and their parents to ASL (American Sign Language), a “hands-on” second language used by millions.

Research demonstrates sign language’s power to help children increase their learning ability. With just a few simple ASL signs, babies and toddlers — some as young as nine months old — can express their needs before they can speak. Many school-aged children enjoy the benefits of learning a second language. Children with developmental delays or special needs can find their own “voice” by using their hands to communicate using sign language.

"Signing Time’s" unparalleled multi-sensory approach encourages learning through three senses — visual, auditory and kinesthetic — and reaches children with diverse learning styles and abilities by encouraging interaction through signing, singing, speaking and dancing.

Throughout the series, songwriter and musician Rachel Coleman, her daughter Leah (who is deaf), Alex (Leah’s cousin who can hear), and their animated pet frog Hopkins, teach hundreds of useful ASL vocabulary-building signs. Children learn signs for common words, questions, phrases, movements, colors, sports, days of the week, everyday objects, and common activities.http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/9b101ea525bd7f3685256db10052d22e/7e29cdb04391e48885257332006f0d01/$FILE/Signing%20Time%20II%20final.doc]

History

In 1996, Rachel Coleman had a daughter, whom she named Leah. Fourteen months after she was born, Coleman and her husband, Aaron, discovered that Leah had been deaf since she was born. Afterwards, the couple began to teach Leah sign language, first with Signing Exact English (SEE) [de Azevedo Coleman, Rachel. "Word Order." "Signing Time! Volume 4: Family, Feelings, and Fun." 2004. DVD. Two Little Hands Productions, 2004.] , then with American Sign Language (ASL), so that they may learn to communicate, becoming quite able at the skill. Rachel was astonished to see that within six months, Leah's sign language vocabulary far surpassed the vocabulary of hearing children her same age.de Azevedo Coleman, Rachel. "A Sign of the Times." 2005. "Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul: Advice & Inspiration for Fulfilling Dreams." By Jack Canfield, et al. Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, Inc., 2006. 167-169. ] Rachel's sister Emilie Brown and her husband Derek had been teaching Leah's newborn cousin, Alex, how to sign, and he grew to learn it quickly as well.

A few years later, Rachel had a second daughter. Lucy was born 8 weeks premature, with spina bifida and cerebral palsy. Doctors worried that, due to her cerebral palsy, Lucy would never be able to speak or use sign language to communicate with her deaf sister, but after production of the first volume, Lucy began to sign, and later, to speak. Rachel then realized that signing could be beneficial to all children.Campbell, Carolyn. "Signs of Love." Ladies' Home Journal Aug. 2003: 58-60. Signing Time! Two Little Hands Productions, LLC. 22 Mar. 2008 .]

Rachel and Emilie decided to create a visual video for hearing children so that ASL could be made accessible to all children, and together created Two Little Hands Productions, their producing company. The project has turned into a massive success, spawning a successful television run and much merchandise.

Format

igning Time!

Rachel hosts the show herself, with her daughter Leah and nephew Alex also starring to provide support. In "My First Signs," it was not originally planned for Rachel to be in the videos, but she was added to demonstrate the signs because Alex and Leah (then 3 and 4) could not consistently sign clearly enough to teach viewers the signs.de Azevedo Coleman, Rachel. "The evolution of Signing Time." Online posting. 4 Feb. 2006. 22 Mar. 2008 . ] In the earlier episodes, Rachel was reluctant to sing and sign at the same time since it causes some problems for those who want true ASL, but customers responded, wanting more songs and wanting to learn signs from them. So, already being a musician, Rachel wrote more songs. Rachel sings a myriad of songs during each episode, all the while signing the words. During the episode, Rachel demonstrates many signs from a certain topic (schools, daytime activities, etc.) and then has Leah and Alex sign—although they now sign first—alongside with a montage of many other children of different backgrounds. The words are then emphasized with song.

The second season introduces a new format that includes new signs and more original music. Each program addresses a single theme, marked by a theme song, which is introduced verse by verse. This allows children to develop a familiarity with the melody line of each song, fostering a sense of mastery and enhanced interactivity as they sing and sign along. In addition, new segments “ABC Time,” “Counting Time,” “Game Time,” “Story Time,” and “Hopping/Moving Time” explore the episode theme or other skills in a playful way. These segments employ teaching methods such as mnemonics, songs, stories and games, appealing to diverse learning styles and abilities by encouraging interaction through signing, singing, speaking and dancing.

Baby Signing Time!

"Baby Signing Time!" is a sister series to "Signing Time!" started in 2005. The entire series is geared towards children 2 and under and is similar to Volume 1 of Signing Time where the signs are introduced one at a time. Rachel de Azevedo Coleman is the host of this series as well, but instead of having a real Alex and Leah on the show, Alex, Leah, and Hopkins are featured as animated babies.http://www.preemiestoday.org/news/may2005.pdf] Baby Signing Time uses an increased emphasis on songs to help teach signs. Just like Signing Time, it shows children and toddlers modeling the signs along with Rachel, and provides repetition and activities for younger children who may need more practice than offered through the Signing Time series.http://signingtime.net/pdf/pressroom/pressreleases/BabySigningTime.pdf]

Actors/Characters

Rachel de Azevedo Coleman (“Rachel”)

Rachel is the host of the "Signing Time!" series. She has spent much of her adult life in the entertainment industry. While performing with her band "We the Living", Rachel’s 14-month old daughter Leah, was diagnosed as having a profound hearing impairment. “When I realized my daughter was deaf, I could not find a way to rationalize spending hours working on my music. My priorities changed. I put down my guitar and picked up sign language.” Rachel’s second daughter, Lucy, underwent fetal surgery for spina bifida and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. In spite of such limitations, Lucy now communicates with both speech and sign language. After years of musical silence, Rachel has picked up that guitar again, writing and performing all of the songs for "Signing Time!". She used to sing for her band. Now, she sings for Lucy, Leah, and children everywhere. In addition to starring in "Signing Time!", Rachel is also a popular singer, performer, and speaker, and has performed for hundreds of thousands of children all across the country.

Leah Coleman (“Leah”)

Leah Coleman is the inspiration behind the creation of "Signing Time!" Diagnosed as profoundly deaf at 14 months old, she began learning American Sign Language (ASL) as fast as her parents could learn it and teach it to her. Leah could sign full sentences long before her ‘hearing’ peers could even speak, and as a result, her parents say she never threw a tantrum. Leah is now in fifth grade and loves reading, skating on her “Heelys” and playing with her little sister Lucy. She recently won first place in her very first equestrian show and garnered national attention for winning first place in her school Spelling Bee, despite being profoundly deaf. Her favorite food is sushi and she loves the color purple. She loves being in "Signing Time!" with her cousin Alex, and teaching ASL to other children.

Alex Brown (“Alex”)

Alex Brown appeared in the very first episode of "Signing Time!" before his third birthday. He learned to sign as a baby so that he could communicate with his deaf cousin, Leah. He is now in fourth grade and loves to ride his bike, rollerblade, make comic books, draw mazes and play with his little brother Zachary. His favorite food is shrimp with shell pasta and his favorite color is green. He is a budding singer and pianist, although he enjoys "playing" the piano more than he enjoys practicing. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Alex has also lived in Virginia and California. He enjoys filming "Signing Time!" particularly when he gets to swing on the tire swing or have pillow fights on the set with Leah.

Hopkins (Voiced by Aaron de Azevedo)

Originally developed as a gecko named ‘Twerp’ (a play on the nickname ‘Terp, for interpreter), “Hopkins” the frog was supposed to be Leah’s ‘voice’ and appear as a gift from Grandma and Grandpa. Alas, since Leah’s speech is developing on her own, Hopkins is now very happy being a little green animated sidekick who loves to swim, paint, lift large pieces of fruit and eat unsuspecting flies. He is proudly named after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, who in 1817 established the first free American school for the deaf and hearing-impaired.http://www.aptonline.org/catalog.nsf/9b101ea525bd7f3685256db10052d22e/0e786760083d535c852570a700645f53/$FILE/Signing%20Time.DOC]

List of Episodes

All numbers are in the order that the volumes were released from the [http://www.signingtime.com/shop?product_bundles=21 Signing Time!] [ [http://www.signingtime.com/shop?product_bundles=21 Signing Time! list of DVD volumes] ] official website.

igning Time! Series 1 Episodes

#My First Signs
#Playtime Signs
#Everyday Signs
#Family, Feelings & Fun
#ABC Signs
#My Favorite Things
#Leah's Farm
#The Great Outdoors
#The Zoo Train
#My Day
#My Neighborhood
#Time to Eat
#Welcome to School

igning Time! Series 2 Episodes

#Nice to Meet You
#Happy Birthday to You
#Move and Groove
#My Favorite Season
#Going Outside
#Days of the Week
#My Favorite Sport
#My Things
#My House
#Helping Out Around the House
#Once Upon a Time
#Box of Crayons
#Who Has The Frog?

igning Time! Baby Signing Time! DVDs

*Baby Signing Time! Volume 1
*Baby Signing Time! Volume 2

igning Time! Practice Time! DVDs

*Level 1 ABCs
*Level 1 123s

Signing Time! Products

Two Little Hands productions offers a wide variety of fun and educational American Sign Language (ASL) products.

*Signing Time! DVD and VHS Series "(There is only one VHS product in stock, "Everyday Signs," and no more will be stocked.)"
*Baby Signing Time! DVD Series: Designed specifically for children 3-36 months old, this series puts baby's day to music as it teaches all the basic ASL signs for baby's needs and environment.
*Practice Time! DVD Series: Practice Time is an interactive DVD that helps young viewers practice their signing skills with Rachel.

Other items include printed materials including board books and flash cards, "Signing Time!" clothing, and "Signing Time!" music CDs.

Signing Time! Foundation

The "Signing Time!" Foundation is a foundation for children with and without disabilities. The mission of the "Signing Time!" Foundation is to enrich the lives of children of allabilities.http://www.signingtimefoundation.org/pressroom/STF_PressKit.pdf]

Lucy’s Inspiration

Friends of the Signing Time series have come to know Rachel,Alex and Leah by inviting them into their homes through the Signing Time videos and songs. Many people have also come to knowLeah's little sister, Lucy who was born with spina bifida and cerebralpalsy. By the time Lucy was about two years old, she was not talking or signing. Her doctors said she was mentally retarded and would never be able to speak, let alone use her rigid fingers to sign.

Lucy beat the odds when she began signing along with the first volume of Signing Time. Starting with the sign for "more," she developed a vocabulary of hundreds of signs, and speech soon followed. Lucy now attends a mainstream second grade class in public school. Lucy is considered the first of many "Signing Time Miracles." She is the inspiration behind the Signing Time Foundation.

Lucy, like other little children, loves to play. However, because of her special physical needs, she often faces barriers when it comes to something as simple as "play".

Lucy loves to swing, but when her family takes her to the park they noticed that most parks are not very fun for her. There are no swings that support a child who cannot balance on their own, or who cannot hold on with both hands. Maneuvering a child in a wheelchair over railroad ties and through the playground's wood chips or sand is very difficult – Lucy would never be able to approach the play area by herself. The Coleman's quickly realized that these and other "barriers" were in the way of Lucy's having fun at the park and playing with other children.http://www.signingtimefoundation.org/pressroom/dissolvingbarriers.html]

Dissolving “barriers” of all types and creating opportunities for all children is what the "Signing Time!" Foundation is all about.

Foundation Programs

The "Signing Time!" Foundation creates programs and opportunities designed to dissolve the barriers that exist for children with disabilities.

Miracle Gardens

This program involves constructing special universally accessible playgrounds,created to provide fun for everyone! The playgrounds will be designed forchildren of all abilities by eliminating barriers and encouraging interaction.Whether a child arrives at one of the parks in a wheelchair, a walker or ontheir own two feet won’t matter; these ‘boundless’ playgrounds will providea safe play environment for all children no matter their ability.

Signing Time! Community Play Days

Community play days organized and executed on a local city level in select cities across the nation. The "Signing Time!" Play Days will foster awareness of American Sign Language within acommunity, create an opportunity for neighbors to meet with one another,and provide a chance for the creators of Signing Time! to meet face-to-facewith families that are dedicated to enriching the lives of children.

Signing Time! Family Summer Camp

The "Signing Time!" Family Camp is designed to give participants anopportunity to "come and play" with the "Signing Time!" family. It is an adventure for allability levels with activities created for the entire family to enjoy. Activities forchildren will include rock climbing, horseback riding, scavenger hunts, artand crafts, a family canoe outing, and family talent show. They even haveactivities for children under 2. In addition, they'll have workshops for parentspresented by Rachel Coleman and her husband Aaron.

Signing Time on Public Television

The Signing Time Foundation supports the first television series that speaks to and educates children of all abilities. Signing Time is an educational children’s television show that teaches American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary using an innovative, multi-sensory approach that reaches children of all learning styles. Signing Time began airing on public television stations nationwide in 2006 and went from being relatively unknown to having over 80% national cumulative carriage. It is the only show on national television teaching children to sign. Public television does not pay for programming, and in order to keep Signing Time on public television, the Signing Time Foundation is seeking funds for 13 episodes. Major sponsors will receive screen credit at the beginning and end of each program. [http://www.signingtimefoundation.org/ghana/about/ About the Foundation | Operation Ghana ] ]

Signing Time Outreach

Rachel Coleman, the President of the Signing Time Foundation and the host of Signing Time, participates in Signing Time outreach events across the country to teach ASL vocabulary and to educate parents, teachers, caregivers, and communities on the value of including sign language in their children’s learning. During these events Rachel teaches 40-60 basic ASL signs and entertains audiences with songs and stories to reinforce those signs. Signing Time offers a variety of resources and support materials for parents and children with special needs that are available at the events as well as readily available online. They are planning to present 24 Signing Time Outreach events over the course of one year. Major sponsors will be recognized at each event.

Signing Time Special Interest DVDs

Signing Time has made a positive impact on the lives of many families of children with special needs, prompting the Signing Time Foundation to fund production of special interest Signing Time DVDs for children with hearing impairment, autism, Down syndrome, and other special and medical needs. They anticipate 5 DVDs. The foundation will license out DVD sales, with royalties going back to the foundation.

Signing Time Christmas Concert for All Children

The Signing Time Foundation plans to host a Signing Time Christmas Concert for All Children during the holiday season. This concert would be the first of its kind, serving in particular the families of children with special needs. Signing makes a profound difference in communication for many children with special needs, and is a fun way for typically developing children to learn and use their body. Signing Time brings these children and families together to celebrate the Christmas season by singing, dancing, and signing along with their favorite stars Alex, Leah, their pet frog Hopkins, and host Rachel Coleman.

Signing Time Teaches in Africa

The Signing Time Foundation has partnered with Signs of Hope International to take Signing Time to Ghana Africa. Organizations like Signs of Hope International have found that most teachers in Ghana are entering the deaf schools without proper sign language education. Because of the lack of suitable resources, deaf children in Ghana struggle to learn and progress. The Signing Time Team, including Signing Time host Rachel Coleman, along with Alex Brown and Leah Coleman, child stars of Signing Time, will head to Ghana, West Africa for 10 days to teach sign language to students that are deaf. The Signing Time Team will also help the teachers learn how to teach sign language. Signing Time is looking to make this a yearly trip, where they can help inspire, teach and show children the possibilities for the future. It is the goal of Signing Time to also build playgrounds and dormitories at the schools as well.

Awards Won

National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) - NAPPA is the most comprehensive awards program for Children's Products and Parenting Resources. Our independent panel of judges are experts in their fields with extensive professional experience working with children and parents. They evaluate hundreds of products to select the most fun, appealing, safe, educational, age-appropriate and enduring products so that parents can make the best purchasing choices for their families.

Great American Toy Test - Out of over 96,000 toys tested, the Great American Toy Test awarded Signing Time! Volume 10 - My Day. More than 100,000 children tested these toys at over 1,000 Day Care, After School and Latchkey Centers across the nation. The testing criteria included overall quality, durability, ease of set up/assembly, ease of maintenance, learning/skill value, child's short/long term interest, fun value, safety and "should a parent buy it?" factor.

Notable Children's Videos - Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), part of the prestigious American Library Association, identifies the best of the best in children's books, recordings, videos, and computer software.

More awards at: [http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=5 Signing Time! awards page]

Media Coverage

2008

* [http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?s=7937573 Lubbock Infant Can Read at 17 Months Old] . KCBD Channel 11. Lubbock, Texas. 2/27/08. [http://www.signingtime.com/news/in-the-news/ Signing Time - Articles - Signing Time! News - Media Coverage ] ]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1RBU-QGVoc Rachel Coleman Helps Babies Get Early Start With Language] . KOCO Channel 5 interview with Tyler Suiters. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. . 2/17/08.
* [http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20080211/LAM02911022008-1.html Two Little Hands Productions, Creators of Popular Children's TV Series Signing Time, Debuts Second Season at This Year's Toy Fair 2008] . PR Newswire. 2/11/08.
* [http://www.mwcsun.com/local/local_story_042120824.html Show host comes to Midwest City] - The Sun. Midwest City, OK. 2/11/08.
* [http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695245604,00.html March of Dimes broadening outlook] - Deseret Morning News. 1/20/08.

More media coverage can be found at [http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=4 Signing Time! News >> Media Coverage] .

References

External links

* [http://www.signingtime.com/ Signing Time!]
* [http://www.signingtimekids.org/ Signing Time! Kids Activities]
* [http://www.signingtimefoundation.org/ Signing Time! Foundation]
* [http://www.signingtime.com/rachel/ Rachel's Blog]
* [http://www.signingtime.com/chatroom/ Online Chat - live every Wednesday evening]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/SigningTime?ob=1 Signing Time! Official Youtube]