Signing Time!

Signing Time! is a children's television program that teaches American Sign Language. It is aired in the United States and hosted by Rachel de Azevedo Coleman. It is aired by American Public Television in many cities across the US. Click here for a list of television stations and times to see when your local station airs Signing Time!

History
In 1996, Rachel Coleman had a daughter, whom she named Leah. Fourteen months after she was born, Coleman and her husband, Aaron, discovered that Leah had been deaf since she was born. Afterwards, the couple began to teach Leah American Sign Language so that they may learn to communicate, becoming quite able at the skill. At the same time, Rachel's sister Emilie Brown and her husband Derek began teaching Leah's newborn cousin, Alex, how to sign, and he grew to learn it quickly as well.

Rachel and Emilie decided to create a visual video for hearing children so that ASL could be made accessible to all children, and together created Two Little Hands Productions, their producing company. The project has turned into a massive success, spawning a successful television run and much merchandise.

Format
Rachel hosts the show herself, with her daughter Leah and nephew Alex also starring to provide support. Already a musician, Rachel sings a myriad of songs during each episode, all the while signing the words. During the episode, many signs from a certain topic (schools, daytime activities, etc.) and then has Leah and Alex sign, alongside with a montage of many other children of different backgrounds. The words are then emphasized with song.

List of Episodes
Signing Time! Series 1 Episodes

1 – My First Signs 2 – Playtime Signs 3 – Everyday Signs 4 – Family, Feelings & Fun 5 – ABC Signs 6 – My Favorite Things 7 – Leah’s Farm 8 – The Great Outdoors 9 – The Zoo Train 10 – My Day 11 – My Neighborhood 12 – Time to Eat 13 – Welcome to School

Signing Time! Series 2 Episodes

1 – Nice to Meet You 2 – Happy Birthday to You 3 – Move and Groove

Signing Time! Baby Signing Time! DVDs

Baby Signing Time! Volume 1 Baby Signing Time! Volume 2

Signing Time! Practice Time! DVDs

Level 1 ABCs Level 1 123s

Products Available at www.signingtime.com
Two Little Hands productions offers a wide variety of fun and educational American Sign Language (ASL) products. Click on the category below for more information.

Signing Time has six different categories of award-winning products to choose from! Click on any image below for more information about that product category.

Signing Time! DVD and VHS Series: The largest sign language video series for children available—it's Signing Time, and learning sign language is fun and easy.

Baby Signing Time! DVD Series: Designed specifically for children 3-36 months old, this series puts baby's day to music as it teaches all the basic ASL signs for baby's needs and environment

Practice Time! DVD Series: Practice Time is an interactive DVD that helps young viewers pratice their signing skills with Rachel.

Printed Materials: Sturdy and fun board books, flash cards, and more are available to keep the learning (and fun!) going anywhere at any time.

Signing Time! Clothing Let everyone know you are Signing Time fan with our fun and functional shirts.

Signing Time! Music CDs: Enjoy the music from both the Signing Time and Baby Signing Time series on music CDs. We also have special lullaby music and music for grown-ups.

Awards Won
National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) - NAPPA is the most comprehensive awards program for Children's Products and Parenting Resources. Our independent panel of judges are experts in their fields with extensive professional experience working with children and parents. They evaluate hundreds of products to select the most fun, appealing, safe, educational, age-appropriate and enduring products so that parents can make the best purchasing choices for their families.

Great American Toy Test - Out of over 96,000 toys tested, the Great American Toy Test awarded Signing Time! Volume 10 - My Day. More than 100,000 children tested these toys at over 1,000 Day Care, After School and Latchkey Centers across the nation. The testing criteria included overall quality, durability, ease of set up/assembly, ease of maintenance, learning/skill value, child's short/long term interest, fun value, safety and "should a parent buy it?" factor.

Notable Children's Videos - Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), part of the prestigious American Library Association, identifies the best of the best in children's books, recordings, videos, and computer software.

More awards at: [http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=5 Signing Time! awards page]

Media Coverage
2007 "Top Companies in Education" - Inc. 5000, 8/28/07

"Listen to Her Hands" - The Daily Journal, Vineland, NJ, 8/7/07

"Reviews Roundup: Some of Catie’s favorite things at two-years-old" - Celebrity Baby Blog, 7/22/07

"Tapping into the 'the Credit Card Fund'" - Small Business Resources, 7/2007

"Share a Story" - The Forum, Fargo, ND, 5/10/07

"Entrepreneur Mom Awards" - Working Mother, 3/14/07

"Rachel Coleman" - Victorious Woman, 2/2007

"Coleman" - Moms on the Move, 2/19/07

"Signing Time" - Profiles in Caring, 2/07