Classes
Townsville Class Times and Venue
Please download:
class times and venues (word doc)
Stages and Topics
Stage One for Pre-Verbal Babies
Tiny Tots Sign is a fantastic way to help your hearing baby
communicate before they can talk.
During a stage one class your pre-verbal baby is introduced
to new signs through action songs and well loved nursery rhymes.
The signs are related to everyday things such as milk and
food and focus on baby’s interests such as animals.
The songs are great fun and music can also help to stimulate
your baby’s language development and attention skills.
While your baby enjoys the music activities, you can learn
the signs. These signs can then be used at home in your everyday
situations. Your baby will be learning gradually by taking
in all that you say and sign. Baby will begin to use some
signs when he is ready and a better two-way communication
with your baby can develop, making everyone’s life a
bit easier!
Topics include; “animals”, “body awareness”
and “emotions”. The class follows the same format
every week, as babies love routine and familiarity. They will
look forward to peek a boo games with Cuddles the Cat. Your
baby will enjoy exploring with different musical instruments,
and will be excited to see what props are in the box this
week. We have fun with water, we blow bubbles and explore
using our senses. Each session ends with a parachute ride
and a relaxing massage.
Stage Two for Toddlers
Please note, you can begin signing at stage Two and Three,
you do not need to have completed stage one.
During a Stage two class, your toddler will recap and revisit
the useful signs learned from stage one. They may be using
a few signs and speaking some words already, so new signs
will be introduced to extend their signing vocabulary and
accelerate their speech. Different food signs are introduced
and toileting songs are taught, as some toddlers may be toilet
training during this time.
Topics include “going out and about”, “people
who help us”, and “colours”, as they will
be more aware and curious about the world around them. We
learn our new signs through music, imaginative and explorative
play. For example, feeling warm water and coloured ice, as
we learn about “hot” and “cold”.
As with Stage One, the class follows the same format every
week, as little ones enjoy routine and familiarity. A favourite
game is hiding Cuddles the Cat and toddlers love to use the
“where” sign. Your child will enjoy exploring
with different musical instruments and props. We finish with
a fun parachute ride, a story and a relaxing massage.
At this stage we also introduce Max, our signing puppet, to
help us recap our signs.
Stage Three for Pre-Schoolers
During a stage 3 class, your pre-schooler will use sign language
to develop their early literacy skills. We begin to foster
the skills required for reading and writing in a supportive
environment.
Introducing simple signs can really make a huge difference
in the development of speech, pre reading and writing skills.
Signing can enhance early literacy skills by fully engaging
children. As it is visual it is very captivating for them
to watch. Signing keeps them motivated to learn and improves
concentration. When signing, young children are physically
involved with their learning through hand and body movement;
therefore multiple senses are being used to learn new information.
The class begins by singing and signing the alphabet; this
is an excellent way to teach the single letter sounds. The
letters made by the hands actually look like the letter sounds.
They see the letters with their eyes, hear the sound with
their ears and physically create the sounds with their bodies.
Learning the alphabet becomes easier and fun.
Children have the opportunity to “have a go” at
writing, making marks on white boards or using scarves to
make writing patterns in the air. We have fun with our pre
reading skills, making sounds for different picture symbols.
Topics include; “manners” and “time and
shape”. We learn about positive behaviour through turn-taking
and sharing activities and we are encouraged to be the “best
me I can be!”
As with stage one and two, we have lots of explorative play
during the class and we end with a fun parachute game, a story
and a relaxing massage with our scarves.
Max, the signing puppet, helps us to recap all the signs we
have learned.
How will I remember the signs taught in class?
A lesson plan is given at the end of every session with a
picture of the key signs to jog your memory during the week.
This will help other grown-ups and siblings in the family
sign along too!
Class Size
A maximum of 8 children to a class. This ensures that the
session is kept intimate and a safe and nurturing environment
for all.
Arrange for a TinyTots Sign Session at your Mother's Group
or Playgroup. Contact
Ali now
Hygiene
The utmost care is taken in cleaning the props, toys and
mats used at the end of each session. Babies love to chew
and drool on props and parents are asked to try and keep the
resources for your baby away from the others. This can be
very difficult at times, so if your baby is unwell, it is
appreciated that you stay at home. Make up lessons are offered
if your baby misses a session due to illness.
|
