STA Class Time Fillers

Oh no! I have extra time... What do I do?STA Class Time Fillers

Baby Signing Time ClassesEstablish a consistent structure and routine for all of your classes.Finger-plays are wonderful interactive fillers for little ones.Musical Instruments are a good resource for kids to use to dance and shake along with their favorite Signing Time songs.Review songs from previous classes.Use Creative Talk! (See PCCP for details)

Be PreparedAlways over-plan for your BST and ST classes. Bring an extra book. Plan an extra song. Bring some musical instruments for extra squirmy classes to increase engagement and participation.Bring a fun art project appropriate for the class topic/ and or season/ upcoming holiday (see Handy Crafts on www.SigningTime.com for ideas) to help fill the time, especially with older kids.

Welcome!Have some age appropriate toys out during the 15 min before class starts. This will give something to do for the families that come early.Sing the clean up song before starting class to make sure all toys are put away.Parent Sharing: If no parents want to share, share something your little ones have done recently with sign language.

Add "What Time Is It?" TransitionsABC Time! Sing and sign the "ABC Song"Counting Time! Sing and sign #s to "The Counting Song."Story Time! Read aloud and sign a story that helps practice the signs being taught.Coloring Time! Color your flashcards or coloring page found on www.SigningTime.com, or the PCCP.

What Time Is It? Continued...TV/Movie Time! or Music Video Time! Show a short video clip of a BST or ST DVD. Helps increase sales.Dancing Time! Have kids do the Diaper Dance during each class. Helps to get wiggles out.See Christine Fitzgerald's class demo on Instructor's Library.

Utilize the Preschool Child Care ProgramThe PCCP is a wonderful resource to enhance BST and even ST classes. Age appropriate activities for birth-5yrs old.This is also a wonderful way to jazz up your current lessons if you are a veteran instructor.The PCCP is based around the 4 BST DVDs and correlates in many areas to the lessons in the Instructor's Manual.

PCCP ContinuedStep 1: Decide which BST lesson you are teaching.Step 2: Look up its correlating lessons in the PCCP. There are often one or more lessons that pair up with one lesson from our manual.Step 3: Read through the PCCP lesson ideas and find ones that will fit your age group in your class.Step 4: Add an activity or two to your existing lesson plans.This will spice things us and be an excellent time filler as needed.

PCCP ExampleInstructor's Manual: BST Class 3- Pets I LoveAdditional plans you can add to your lesson from the PCCP:p. 41 Intro Activity with plush animals & Creative Talk.p. 44 Poem: "Let's Pretend"p. 46 Song: "Little Birds Say Peep, Peep, Peep"p. 47 Song: "Hello Little Doggy"

The Pets I Love Continued...Movie Time! Show clips from BST DVD or ST Series 1, Volume 7 "Leah's Farm"Additional Read Aloud Books found on p. 48Do It! Activities: Animals In and Out p. 49Flashcard Game: Matching p. 50Animal Sounds p. 51Let's Color! p. 53See Resources CD for printable coloring pages, lyrics, and flashcards to support the above activities.

PCCP BenefitsThe PCCP has already been written with a plethora of age appropriate activities that you can easily add to your current BST classes.Take 1 or 2 new ideas and add them into your lessons. These are especially beneficial on classes that often run short on material to fill a 45-60 min class.Tell parents that you got some of these new ideas from the PCCP (and show it to them). Great marketing moment!

ConversationsBe flexible and have conversations with families about how Signing Time started, why YOU use ST with your children, and how ST has changed your life.Use the Teacher Tips from the CRE and Signing Tips in the Instructor's Manual for ideas of conversation starters.If you don't know an answer or sign, be honest and tell them where they can find more information (ex. www.SigningSavvy.com)

Barefoot BooksI LOVE Barefoot Books! There are Barefoot Book Ambassadors who have made lists of how many of their books line up with ST curriculum. These books are interactive and many even have CDs with them that sing the stories to music. I like to sign along with the books as they are sung out loud.You can download many FREE Barefoot Books (animated story with audio) onto your laptop to use in classes.

Click the screen to start movie.Wrap Up TimeSign and sing "In the Sky" and use bubbles at the end of every class. This consistent transition will help children know that the class is coming to an end.Preview future classes. You can share an outline of upcoming class topics with parents.Questions & Answers- allow for a couple on minutes to answer questions children and parents may have."Quiz" the parents and children on the signs they learned at the end of class.

Wrap Up Time ContinuedProduct Show & Tell: Highlight a couple of ST products you have with you so parents know they are there for purchase. (note- some locations will not let you sell products, so just be enthusiastic when you use them in classes and don't mention the sales part)Signing Time On Demand! Demo. Using your laptop, show a video clip from your On Demand. This will help to advertise On Demand. Make sure your coupon code for 5% off is on your handouts/ business card.

Thank You for Learning With Us!Have fun while teaching each class and your enthusiasm for Signing Time and love of children will shine through!

Happy Signing!