Scholastic’s Storybook Treasures DVD collection is branching out into something new — DVD titles enhanced with sign language!
This week, two titles featuring American Sign Language (ASL) overlay were debuted by Scholastic/NewVideo. These are terrific for all kids — as they build on the very popular “baby signing” movement, this time for older kids. They not only build on language and comprehension skills, they also sharpen fine motor skills as your child learns to participate in the demonstrated signing.
The two titles, Goodnight Moon…and more great bedtime stories and A Pocket for Corduroy…and more stories about friendship, both feature Missy Keast from Signs for Intelligence.
I was fortunate enough to be able to gather some Q&As from Missy, the “Shakespeare of Sign Language,” to gain more understanding about her passion for signing and the mission of these DVDs:
1. Explain how you got involved making sign language DVDs, as well as the main reasons you did so.
Seven years ago, just after we got pregnant, my husband and I sat down to discuss our future plans. At the time I was teaching at a community college and he traveled throughout the United States and Canada on business. We agreed that starting our own business would be a great way for him to be more involved with our family. I have always been a storyteller and knew that many deaf children were not exposed to popular children’s literature. They typically get a late start on language and are behind their hearing peers. I thought that it would be great to create a set of 40 popular children’s stories in American Sign Language (ASL). I pulled the number 40 out of thin air. My dream was to inspire these children to pick up a book and get an earlier start on literacy. Keep in mind we had no experience in the world of production, editing, manufacturing etc… Obtaining the rights to the stories took a long time and we began producing other titles while the rights process unfolded. These other titles include an award winning DVD/flashcard series for young families who want to learn basic signs and a curriculum for college students.
We now have 10 stories completed and can produce new titles much quicker now that we know the business process. Depending upon financing we will complete between 6 and 10 stories per year reaching my goal of 40 stories before the end of 2012!
2. What makes these particular Scholastic DVDs (and their stories) special/important to you?
I have taught in a variety of environments from pre-K to Masters programs and the group that inspired me the most were the young children. They are so wide open and ready to learn. I chose the first 10 stories from the 100’s that I read to these children because I saw how they responded to them. Of course Goodnight Moon, A Pocket For Corduroy and 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed are natural selections. Others such as Little Quack, Gladys Goes Out To Lunch and There’s Something In My Attic are cute stories and have beautiful artwork that all children love. The great thing about distributing these DVD based stories through Scholastic is that we really do have a chance to reach every school and child in the country. Scholastic is the largest producer of children’s books and leads the way in creating video storybooks. Nobody comes close to their catalog of video storybooks and now they have a totally new product line, THE SIGN LANGUAGE STORYTELLING SERIES, to reach children. We can provide access and earlier literacy to children who may have never even seen Goodnight Moon or 5 Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed. Before it was just me going to mainstream schools to work with the deaf children. Now I have a chance to reach virtually every child, hearing and deaf, in the country through Scholastic’s distribution.
These DVDs include an interactive quiz, vocabulary review, classroom activity guide and 7 page workbook. The activity guide and workbook are free to download. The quiz and vocabulary review make the viewing process an active one and the activity guide and workbook create a learning environment that helps them retain the language and story. The educational value of the active viewing process and after viewing reinforcement activities creates a great learning environment for young children.
3. How is the teaching of sign language put into action within your own home?
Since I am deaf I sign to my children all the time. My husband is hearing and he will either sign, voice or simultaneously sign and voice (SIMCOM) depending upon who is in the room. When they see or hear a new word we teach it to them in both languages. Then they choose which language is more comfortable when experimenting with the new vocabulary. We don’t force them into one language or the other. The naturally move back and forth depending upon their comfort level and how the conversation began.
4. How can learning ASL benefit (any) child developmentally and academically?
Developmentally ASL helps a child develop fine motors skills at an earlier age. I have also observed that children who sign typically maintain greater eye contact when communicating than those children who don’t learn ASL. They might even develop a greater sense of self confidence because they are able to communicate their feelings and needs sooner.
ASL definitely gives children a head start on learning. Academic research has shown that children who sign are able to communicate their feelings at an earlier age. This early communication leads to larger vocabularies, higher IQs and better test scores if they continue their bi-lingual language development. The increased vocabulary is because the brain stores signed language in a different location than a spoken language. A child has two places to recall the same information is more likely to be able to remember.
(Thanks, Missy, for taking time out to answer these questions!)
You can purchase both of these Scholastic ASL titles from Scholastic/NewVideo’s online store for $12.95 each.
Win it! Courtesy of Scholastic/NewVideo, I have one copy of each DVD to give away! (There will be two winners.)
Here’s how to enter:
1) MANDATORY: In a comment below, tell me what other Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD title your kids would love — as well as which of the two DVDs reviewed above you’d prefer if you win!
2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.
3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.
4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)
I’ll close the contest next Sunday, August 8th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congrats to the winners:
#1, Christy, who won the Goodnight Moon DVD
#57, Vivian, who won the A Pocket for Corduroy DVD!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
