Conference Call

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

[Elizabeth Schwartz]

The conference call scheduled for next Monday, March 11 is the time to follow up on anything you feel has been missing from this course so far. We can also get into more depth on some issues that you find particularly compelling. Please let us know through the forum or by email any questions or comments you would like to put on the agenda. Thanks!

[Laura Montesano]

I’m very curious to hear about your work with “at-risk” families, and specifically how you got that started, where you began looking for funding, what has worked? This is a program I really feel drawn to bring to the Latino families. (Ideally, I think it would be great to have it be a bilingual group and bridge the gap between cultures). Are you providing any groups in Spanish? (Would you like to?)

[Angie Carter]

With 8 minutes to go:) I am wondering:
-Did the library pay you, Meredith, for your monthly group?
-Is online payment included in the $400?
-What abotu expansion in prep for Early Childhood classes, kids attending Sprouting Melodies independnetly of their parents?
-How do parents respond to varying modes of melodic music? More difficult to sing?
-Will we still have access to the weekly videos after the class is complete?

Thanks ladies and talk to you in 6 minutes!

[Tamara Strom]

Hi everyone!! Apologies for missing the conference call last night, but I had a rehearsal for a show I am performing in. Looking forward to hearing your discussion!!

[Alyssa Kereki]

My only response to the conferene call is wow! I have so much going on right now as a new music therapist starting a school program from scratch and listening to that discussion was slightly overwhelming but comforting. My goal is to find some way to become a Sprouting Meldodies provider, even if it’s a year from now when my life feels a little more settled,and knowing that you will help walk me through it makes me feel like it’s actually possible! Beth and Meredith, you have both put an amazing amount of time and effort into this program and I am extremely grateful for all of your hardwork.

[Meredith Pizzi]

Tamara and others who missed the call, it is available on the Week 9 page – Just click on listen to the recording and you can listen or download.
Thanks Alyssa for your comments and your feedback! Yes, it can be overwhelming, but not when you’ve got such a great group of colleagues to help you through it! Beth and I are really committed to early childhood music experiences that support the whole family and we are delighted that so many music therapists agree with us. We look forward to having you join us as a Sprouting Melodies Provider when the time is right for you! And yes, we will be here to help you get it going!

[Robin Jacobs]

Laura, Where I live, in North Carolina, I too see a huge need for bilingual Englis/Spanish groups to bridge the gap between cultures. I do not know sign language, though I think being able to sign along with the music and instructions would be a way to create a higher rate of success for everyone..

Beth and Meredith, do you have any suggestions, books, videos? to study some basic/functional sign language that would be helpful in the groups?

[Meredith Pizzi]

Hi Robin – This might be more info than you were looking for, but I couldn’t upload this document here, so it’s on here for you to look at! I copied and pasted a lot of the information. I just gave a presentation in January with a Sign Language Interpreter. It was wonderful! I’m actually thinking this could be our first online segment for Sprouting Melodies Providers. Wouldn’t that be great??? So here are the details from our handout and links to online resources. Send more questions and if anyone would like a pdf of the handout, send me an email at Meredith@RaisingHarmony.com. I’d be happy to send it to you!

Music and Sign Language: Consistent Tools for your Little One
January 9, 2013
Presented by Christina LaRock, CT/CI and Meredith Pizzi, MT-BC
Debunking common myths about sign language and language development
Children’s receptive language skills develop more rapidly than their expressive skills. Therefore, it is never too early to introduce sign language to your baby! Some people say to wait until your baby is at least 6 months old but deaf babies and babies born to parents who are deaf are exposed to sign language right at birth with no
adverse reactions.

Learning signs will not interfere with/delay your child’s ability to acquire their native language. In fact, learning and using signs may actually aid in the acquisition of spoken language. American Sign Language (ASL) is not a universal language; each country has their own unique visual-gestural language. However, signed languages of the world do share
some common grammatical/linguistic features. And, regardless of whether you are using sign language or spoken language, facial expressions and body language play a key part when communicating with your little one. ASL is recognized as a formal language, and is the 3rd most used language in the US. Interestingly, more and more secondary schools and higher education institutions have added ASL as an option when fulfilling one’s foreign language requirement.

Important Signs to Learn…
mommy
daddy
more
all done
yes/no
please
play
friend
eat
milk
sleep (nap, bedtime)
music
dance
to want

When signing with your baby, remember to…
 Have their attention
 Repetition is key–be consistent with the use of the sign & use it frequently
 Teach the signs to the other people in the baby’s life (other caregivers, children, friends, sitters, etc) and ask them to sign with your baby too
 Your baby is taking it all in and will eventually try to replicate the signs, “babbling” in sign just as they do with spoken language
 Have fun signing with your baby and enjoy watching them learn and communicate with you in a very real and meaningful way!

Resources for learning more about sign language, deafness and/or learing signs via
online ASL dictionaries:
http://www.msad.org/about (Family Sign Language Program)
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/disability-services/services-by-type/deaf-hh/asl/
http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi
http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/languageandcognition/section2.rhtml

To learn more about some of the benefits when communicating in sign language with your child, go to:
http://www.gallaudet.edu/clerc_center/information_and_resources/info_to_go/help_for_babi
es_(0_to_3)/language_development_for_babies/section_iv.html
http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/bookpage/MBFSbookpage.html
http://WWW.tinyfingers.com/articlenewbabytalk.html
http://www.drgreene.com/qa/baby-sign-language
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/teaching-your-baby-sign-language-can-benefit-both-ofyou/
http://video.about.com/babyparenting/Common-Signs-for-Babies.htm

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