What’s new in the blog...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
In this video, we have the sign for AUTUMN.
Autumn is here and we are getting ready for lovely Autumn theme crafts in the classroom. For many young children with special needs, the concept of the seasons is difficult to grasp. Using a sign and a picture with the word will help them understand that concept.
Using tangible things they can associate with...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
GAME is a slightly different sign than the ones I have taught you so far because is a two-part sign. A two part-sign means that it's a combination of two gestures that make the sign.
First, sign "play" and then change both hands to L handshape with your palms facing your body and fingers facing down and flick both hands out from in front of your body.
...
Benefits of yoga for children with special needs (An interview with Sinéad Foley from Little Cubs Yoga).
In this video, I have a conversation with Sinead Foley, the founder of Little Cubs Yoga, a pilates instructor, a yoga teacher and the mum of 4 children, one with Down syndrome.
In our conversation, we speak about the benefits of yoga for all, how yoga can help children...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
In this video, you will learn the Lámh sign for HELLO.
I am very excited to introduce the first Sign Of The Week for this school year, the sign for HELLO.
I have had the pleasure of working with many teachers and SNAs that will be working with children using Lámh in Junior Infants, or in their first year of preschool.
Many of these children...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
In this video, you will learn the sign for HOLIDAY. I know, the glorious sunshine that we have enjoyed over the past week or so is gone and it’s chilly outside today, but this Friday, school is officially out for the summer holidays so let’s get ready to enjoy the outdoors as soon as the sun comes out again.
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
We are coming to the end of the school year, many preschools and schools have a fun sports day. Are you doing this with your class too?
It is a great way to celebrate the good weather and the start of the school holidays. So today, you will learn a sign that you will surely need for this. The sign for SPORTS.
The sign of the week, starting on Monday the...
The current school year is coming to an end soon, and we are all starting to look at the list of new students we will be working with next September.
TIP #4.
Learn The Language
No, I am not asking you to learn a new language!
But I am asking you to find out how your new student communicates, as some children with developmental delays may not be able to speak just yet.
In order to communicate,...
The current school year is coming to an end soon, and we are all starting to look at the list of new students we will be working with next September.
If you are working with a student with special educational needs in September, I have some tips for you!
Today I will share Tip #3
Safety Issues!
Before September, remember to ask this ONE question to parents of new children coming into your...
Today’s tip involves taking your camera out (or your phone), taking photos of the school, and not forgetting to take a selfie. Why?
Because you want to create a photo book for your new student.
So today I will share Tip #2
Take photos!
Creating a book about the new preschool or school will help your student get familiar with what he/she is going to find there next September.
Take pictures...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
Today you will learn the sign for SUMMER. I know, I know, it's quite chilly outside for May. But we are officially in the sunny season, so let's get ready to enjoy the outdoors as soon as the sun comes out :-)
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
This video will teach you a sign you can use while playing fun games with all children in the class. It is the sign for QUICK.
Quick/fast and slow are some of the opposite words I teach to my students. I initially used pictures to teach these, but I quickly realised that it didn’t make too much sense for my students to learn these concepts from...
The current school year is coming to an end soon, and we are all starting to look at the list of new students we will be working with next September.
If you are going to be working with a student with special educational needs in September, I have some tips for you.
Today I will share Tip 1:
Call and say Hi!
Yes, the first tip is as simple as calling the child´s parents and introduce...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
This is a sign you can use every day during circle time or assembly.
Once children are 3-4 years of age, most preschool teachers introduce the days of the week. At that age, most preschoolers don’t fully understand the concept of time, but it’s ok to start talking about the days of the week and what day is today during circle time.
Children...
Welcome to Sing & Sign.
Children can begin to associate activities that happen on different days. For example, on Mondays, they go back to school, on Fridays, there is no homework, and on Wednesdays, they do P.E. in school.
Even if they haven’t fully grasped the concept of time, they learn to associate different days with different activities.
In this video, I show you the signs for...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
One of our generation’s values to pass on to our children is the love for our planet.
I know this is a topic all schools work on by building habits like disposing of waste in bins.
Children can also learn to recycle by repurposing items instead of throwing them away. Making a robot with cardboard boxes and making a bowling set from plastic bottles can...
Early Signs Of Autism (An Interview By Marianela Datti From Real Connections).
For years, the autism community promoted Autism Awareness in April. This year, we are not only promoting awareness but acceptance too. We want communities to foster acceptance and embrace autistic people all around the world.
With this in mind and thinking in particular of parents of young children with signs of...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
One of the signs that parents and teachers often ask me for is the sign for PLEASE.
So, I thought you would like to try it too!
While it is important for all children to learn manners and words associated with politeness, children with language delays might need more time to understand and learn how and when to use these words.
So, when is the best time to...
Signs For The Easter Egg Hunt.
This week, I recorded a video for you to learn all the Lámh signs you need for the Easter egg hunt.
We want to support children who use Lámh to be able to sign everyday activities, including special occasions, like Easter.
Children with communication difficulties will need you to explain clearly how the Easter egg hunt works. Using Lámh...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
As you will see in the video, I have a little helper with me this week teaching the sign of the week. My son Sebastian is showing you one of the essential Easter signs: EASTER EGG.
You can learn more about Easter signs on my YouTube channel.
Click HERE to view these signs.
EASTER EGG HUNT
Last year, my children and I had a lot of fun recording an EASTER EGG HUNT...
Restricted Interests In Children With Autism.
Having restricted interest is a common characteristic of autism. Children with autism tend to focus in-depth on an issue or activity and have difficulties shifting their attention from the area of interest to something else.
This is often a problem in primary education, as in primary education, we aim to introduce children to a wide variety of...
Welcome to the Sign Of The Week.
Saint Patrick’s Day is almost upon us. This year (2021), as last year, all festivities are cancelled, which means no parades and dancing on the streets of the major cities and towns in Ireland and across the world!
However this year, many towns are being creative, just like mine, and most people are decorating their front gardens so we can all cheer...
