Get those little hands signing!
Tuesdays, January 30 to March 5, 2024 from 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific
- Individual: $240 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
- Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
- Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: $25. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14 days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.
Signing with Preschoolers
Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 1-3 PM Eastern/12-2 PM Central/11 AM-1 PM Mountain/10 AM-12 PM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (2-hour webinar). Includes recording access through February 25, 2024.
This presentation will cover the benefits of using American Sign Language with all preschool children and offer a variety of simple techniques to make your programs more fun, educational, and participative. You’ll leave armed with a vocabulary of basic signs to start using right away. Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.
Pricing:
- Individual: $75 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
- Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
- Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: $25. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14 days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.
Purchase recording access to past webinars
Winter Signs for Storytime and the Classroom
Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Winter Signs
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 – 11 AM-12 PM Eastern/10-11 AM Central/9-10 AM Mountain/8-9 AM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.
Learn basic American Sign Language vocabulary and storytime activities for winter storytimes in this interactive online session! Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.
Pricing:
- Individual: $40 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
- Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
- Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: $25. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14 days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.
Support Social Emotional Learning with American Sign Language
Wednesdays, September 27 to November 8, 2023 (no class October 25) from 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific
Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week). Includes recording access for all sessions through December 9, 2023.
Learn how to incorporate American Sign Language into your storytimes for young children to support social emotional skills such as empathy, communication, and emotional regulation. Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.
Individual: $240 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event). Get 20% off when you enter coupon code READANDSIGN at the top of the registration form!
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more.
Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: $25. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14 days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.
If you currently work in a public, school, special, or academic library in California, you can register for this series through CALL Academy.
For information about my eCourses through the American Library Association, see https://storiesbyhand.com/ecourses/
Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here.
FAQ: eCourses and Webinars Click here to purchase recording access to past webinars.
New sessions of popular ALA eCourses for Librarians and Educators!
Registration is now open for upcoming sessions of my popular eCourses through the American Library Association!
- American Sign Language for Library Staff, Level 1 eCourse begins October 2, 2023
- American Sign Language for Library Staff, Level 2 eCourse begins January 8, 2024
- American Sign Language for Children in Storytime or in the Classroom: A Practical Guide eCourse begins April 1, 2024
Purchase all 3 courses as a bundle and save!
All eCourses are asynchronous, meaning that you can work at your own pace, and use a combination of videos, readings, discussion forums, and interactive projects.
American Sign Language for Library Staff, Level 1
Asynchronous eCourse beginning Monday, October 2, 2023 (6 weeks of lessons; Participants will have a total of 12 weeks to complete course materials)
More information and registration
American Sign Language for Library Staff, Level 2
Asynchronous eCourse beginning Monday, January 8, 2024 (6 weeks of lessons; Participants will have a total of 12 weeks to complete course materials)
More information and registration.
American Sign Language for Children in Storytime or in the Classroom: A Practical Guide eCourse
Asynchronous eCourse beginning Monday, April 1, 2024 (6 weeks of lessons; Participants will have a total of 12 weeks to complete course materials)
More information and registration.
Past attendees say:
“This course has been invaluable to me. I have spent countless hours reviewing all of the videos, re-reading the lessons, and just generally trying to absorb as much knowledge as I could. The instructor was a gem in the way that she provided comprehensive answers to questions, feedback, tips and resources.”
“While I had taken ASL many years ago, this class has expanded my vocabulary and boosted my confidence in my abilities. I think it helped that this class specifically addressed situations I might encounter here at work.”
“This class was interesting, informative, and entertaining. It opened my eyes to a variety of ideas and concepts that can only make me a better librarian as well as a better person. I thought things were well organized and presented in an ordered and logical fashion, each lesson building on the one before.”
“One of the most well-organized and rewarding professional development courses I’ve taken.”
“Kathy is an amazing instructor. She made learning online very easy and comfortable. She replied quickly when students had questions and she responded with feedback with videos to help sign better.”
“I am amazed. It couldn’t have gone better. I came away learning many signs I can use and gained some helpful information for my storytimes.”
“The instructor was phenomenal, and I am already incorporating coursework into everyday interactions in the library. Everything in the course is relevant and beneficial.”
Autumn Signs for Storytime and the Classroom
Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 12-1 PM Eastern/11AM-12 PM Central/10 AM-11 AM Mountain/9 AM-10 AM Pacific
1 hour, Online via Zoom
Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for autumn sights and activities. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way. Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.
Individual: $40 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event). Get 20% off when you enter coupon code READANDSIGN at the top of the registration form!
Group rates available for groups of 10 or more.
Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: $25. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14 days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.
Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group here.
Register now for Sign, Baby, Sign!: ASL in Baby and Toddler Storytimes
Sign, Baby, Sign!: ASL in Baby and Toddler Storytimes
Thursday, August 10, 2023 from 1-3 PM Eastern/12-2 PM Central/11 AM-1 PM Mountain/10 AM-12 PM Pacific
Online workshop via Zoom (2 hours)
Babies can sign long before they can speak, and research shows that using American Sign Language with both hearing and deaf babies imparts language benefits that can last a lifetime. Learn the benefits of using signs with babies and toddlers, as well as ways to incorporate signs into your program and educate parents. Participants will leave with a basic vocabulary of signs to use right away.
Recording access available for 30 days after live webinar. Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.
Pricing:
- Individual: $75
- Group rates available for 10 or more registrants; contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
About the Instructor:
Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, instructor, consultant, writer and signing storyteller. Kathy is the author of the Little Hands Signing board book series (Familius Press) and Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Hands Up Press), as well as many other books for children, teens, and adults. She has worked in public libraries for over twenty years, and was the Library/Media Specialist at the Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Campus from 2001 to 2005. Kathy presents American Sign Language programs for families and workshops for library staff and educators. She also serves on the board of Deaf Camps, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides camps for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and children learning American Sign Language. She lives in Baltimore, MD.
Summer Storytimes, Here We Come!
Coming up: Not one but TWO great Little Hands Signing webinars to help you prepare for summer and summer reading storytimes! Register now!
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Summer Reading Special (1 hour webinar)
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 12 PM -1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10 AM-11 AM Mountain/9 AM-10 AM Pacific.
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for though June 24, 2023.
In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for friends and togetherness, to go with the Collaborative Summer Library program theme, All Together Now: Todos Juntos Ahora.
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code SUMMER at the top of the ticket form! Group rates and direct invoicing available; contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more info.
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Summer Signs (1 hour webinar)
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 2 PM Eastern/1 PM Central/12 PM Mountain/11 AM Pacific Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.
Learn basic American Sign Language for summer storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code SUMMER at the top of the ticket form! Group rates and direct invoicing available; contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more info.
Add some signs to your Spring storytimes!
Little Hands Signing Professional Development: Spring Signs (1 hour webinar)
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 11 AM Eastern/10 AM Central/9 AM Mountain/8 AM Pacific
Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for though April 30, 2023.
Learn basic American Sign Language for spring storytimes in this interactive online session!
Individual: $40. Get 20% off individual registration when you enter promo code READANDSIGN at the top of the ticket form! Discounted group rates and direct invoicing available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for details.
ASL in Storytime/Classroom eCourse begins February 27!
American Sign Language with Children in Storytime or in the Classroom: A Practical Guide eCourse
Begins Monday, February 27, 2023 and continues for 6 weeks (Participants will have 12 weeks to complete course materials.) Hosted by ALA eLearning.
American Sign Language is most commonly used in storytimes for babies, but the applications can go much further. In this 6-week eCourse, programming expert and signing storyteller Kathy MacMillan explores the benefits of signing with all children. In addition to learning basic American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary appropriate for use with children in library and classroom settings, you will also learn techniques to share stories, songs, and other activities that incorporate ASL. The course will use readings, multimedia resources, online discussion boards, and customized video assignments to provide you with the tools to share ASL in an effective and respectful way in your programs. MacMillan provides you with a linguistic and cultural context to help make your programming more accessible.
More information and registration.
Past attendees say:
“One of the most well-organized and rewarding professional development courses I’ve taken.”
“Kathy is an amazing instructor. She made learning online very easy and comfortable. She replied quickly when students had questions and she responded with feedback with videos to help sign better.”
“I am amazed. It couldn’t have gone better. I came away learning many signs I can use and gained some helpful information for my storytimes.”
Storytime Stuff 