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  Signing Time! Volume 9 The Zoo Train
  Signing Time! Volume 9
 
List Price: $21.99
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Ages: 1-8+
Grade Levels: Pre-k to 3+

Availability: Usually Ships in 24 Hours
Product Code: 930-939


Timberdoodle's review Video
 
Watch two, The Zoo Train, video clips here!

Learn signs for animals that you could see at the zoo.

More information
We have been ASL advocates ever since Pearl was a baby and we saw firsthand the benefits of teaching sign language to a baby. ASL opens up a world of communication not only for the deaf, but also for pre-verbal infants, toddlers, and children with special needs, like those with Autism and Down Syndrome-all of whom may be able to hear, but may not yet be able to communicate with speech. Over the past eleven years we have sampled and sold a variety of ASL materials, most aimed at an older child or parent. They are good and serve their purpose well, but miss the mark as far as kid-appeal. As soon as we saw our first Signing Time! DVD we knew it had both kid-appeal and educational value.

The history of the Signing Time! DVDs is nearly as appealing as the DVDs themselves. When Rachel Coleman, a professional singer, found out that her first-born, Leah, was deaf, she and her husband began to learn sign language together, completely immersing themselves in the silent speech that would enable them to communicate with their young daughter. Over time Rachel realized that while they could understand Leah, others could not, including Leah's cousins. So, using Leah, her cousin Alex, and a host of other children, Rachel and her sister Emilie made a music video to teach signs to the children in Leah's extended family. That project has expanded now to twelve DVDs with more on the horizon. And not only has Leah benefited, so has her younger sister Lucy, whose cerebral palsy has made communication apart from ASL difficult.

Why do these DVDs work better than others? I think, and many parents have confirmed, that it is the inclusion of many children that makes the difference. Seeing other children signing and enjoying the process encourages the reluctant child to experiment and learn this new skill.

Since the release of the first DVD in 2002, the quality of the production has improved slightly. If you get more recent DVDs you'll notice a bit of difference, but the basics remain the same. On each DVD you see the word, you hear it spoken, and then you see Rachel clearly teaching each sign, followed by a vast array of children practicing the sign. I am a nut when it comes to children so I really like watching these little-bitty children signing and enjoying themselves. I also like the inclusion of special needs children in a production-so appropriate! There is a lot of animation and live-action to make sure a young child plainly understands the meaning of the sign.

If your family is very conservative in nature, you may not like the catchy secular songs, dancing, or attire on these DVDs, but before you totally rule them out, there is an option on the DVD menu that allows you to watch the signs only. In fact, regardless of where you sit on the conservative spectrum, watching “signs only” is a prudent option. Most children do not benefit from unlimited media, so we would encourage you to watch “signs only” and save the complete program as an occasional treat. And what a treat! These children are absolutely captivating.
 
Features

Signing Time Volume 9 - The Zoo Train includes the following signs:
Rhinoceros, Bat, Seal, Panda, Hippopotamus, Zebra, Tiger, Lion, Shark, Dolphin, Whale, Octopus, Crab, Lobster, Starfish, Shrimp, Monkey, Kangaroo, Camel, Gorilla, Crocodile, Elephant, Penguin, Giraffe

  • Run Time: Approx. 30 min
  • Format: Closed Captioned DVD
  • Ages: 1-8, yet fun for all!

    Publisher's Information
    Copyright: 2004
    Publisher: Two Little Hands Productions

    Made in the USA!

  • Average Customer Review: Based on 2 Reviews. Write a review.

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      0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
     
    At 4 years of age now, she is so far advanced... October 20, 2008
    Reviewer: Scott & Annette C. from Waukesha, WI  
    We began using the Signing Time video series when our daughter with Down Syndrome was only one.  She is the 9th of our 11 children.  Previous to that, we knew no sign language.  We had heard that teaching little ones with Downs to sign could bridge the gap between their desire to communicate, and their ability to communicate verbally.  To say that we were amazed would be an understatement!!  She wasn't "retarded" as society would have you believe.  She just didn't have the means to "get it out" in a way that we would have been  able to understand without the sign language.  She knew 100's of signs (this is no exaggeration) before she turned 2 years of age, and we never experienced screaming, etc that we had heard about, that we are now sure must come from the frustration that they feel at not being able to "talk" to those around them.    We constantly have "professionals" come up to us when we are out in public, and they can't believe that at only 4 years of age now that she is so far advanced to the adults that they are currently working with.  It truly has been a gift from God!    The videos were created for children to learn with no help from the adults whatsoever.  Even a deaf child could learn to sign as they use the multi-sensory approach in the videos.  Our entire family has learned to sign by watching these fun videos.  This is the only resource, other than a couple of signing dictionaries, that we have used.  It is that good, and that comprehensive.   We can't say enough to praise this product!  Words can't express how much it means to be able to have access into the heart and mind of our daughter, something that we didn't know if we'd have when we first learned of her condition.

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      0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
     
    The songs are very catchy and not annoying... October 20, 2008
    Reviewer: Brook B. from Fayetteville, AR  
    These bright and cheerful videos where a smash hit with my all my kids (six and under).  They have watched other signing videos but no others have kept their attention so long.  The songs are very catchy and not annoying for parents ears.  It was great to have kids doing the signs, this helped my kids really related and join in.  The only thing that I would change would be to have a slower paced segment for the kids to practice, but this is where some kids may loose interest so it is hard to tell if that would be worth it.  Overall an excellent product.

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