Sign Language Storyhour

Last year my daughter had the fortune of being exposed to sign language (ALS) in her preschool. She took keenly to it, sharing at the dinner table songs and signs she learned in sign language, including the signs for sister, river, and peace. Following her initial exposure she expressed an interest in learning more. A search for on-line and local sign language resources, and classes for my daughter to learn sign language have been pretty fruitless, but I did pick up a sign language book and learned how to sign, Eat your broccoli, Shhhhh, and 1… 2… 3! (Maybe I’m not the best one to teach her…).

This summer we went to the Clearwater Revival where they have interpreters signing on all the stages alongside the performers. At the family stage she would sit up next to the stage and watch the sign language interpretations rather than the performers. Here’s a short video of a sign language interpreter performing “Break a Few Eggs” with Uncle Rock on the family stage:

On Columbus Day, The Toy Box in Amherst hosted a Signing Storyhour. Amy and Drew (photo above), students from Hampshire College read out loud and signed Dr. Seuss’ classic Green Eggs and Ham for the audience. My daughter came away knowing the sign for train and boat. Liz, the owner of The Toy Box (photo below) did give me a tip on a sign language group that meets at Haymarket in Northampton every Thursday at 6:30pm. Plus, her Signing Storyhour will continue, twice a week, for the next month or so (see below for dates and times). I took a short video of Amy and Drew reading/signing Green Eggs & Ham. I’ll post that soon, with any resources I can scrounge up. If you know of an on-line or local resource you would like to share with our readers, please (oh, please!) post it in our comment box. And I’m very eager to hear from anyone who knows of local sign language classes for kids.

On a different note, the Mass Audubon Society shared the following nature discovery suggestion to do with your kids this weekend that I had to share with you: Look inside goldenrod flowers for yellow crab spiders. It sounds so prophetic! I’m gonna go lookin’!

SUGGESTED EVENTS

If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, or would like to submit your event to the Hilltown Families calendar of Suggested Events, email Sienna at swildfield@juno.com. Comments are warmly welcomed!

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

Saturday – 10/13/07

Eid al-Fitr

8am – FAMILY RADIO – While traveling around town, tune-in to WXOJ 103.3 FM in Northampton, MA, from 8-10am to hear fabulous family-friendly music on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. [All ages] (Free)

9am-noon – LOCAL FOOD – The River Valley Market Cooperative will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast & Member Drive, featuring local and organic breakfast food, and live music. This will be happening in Northampton at St. John Cantius Church Parish. Click here for details. [Families] ($)

9:30am – HISTORIC FOODS – There w ill be an open hearth cooking demonstration at the Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA. Learn how autumn affected the preparation and preservation on foods in historic menus. 413.775.7214 [Ages 6 & up] ($/Borrow a museum pass from your local library)

10am-noon – NATURE DISCOVERY PROGRAM – Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton will having a Fall Harvest in the Forest in Easthampton,. Registration required. 413.584.3009. Click here for details. [Ages 4-12] ($)

10am-3pm – HALLOWEEN EVENT – The Northampton Recreational Department will be holding their annual Halloween Tricks & Treats event at Look Park in Northampton. 413.587.1040 [Ages 12 & under] ($)

10am-1pm – NATURE BASED CURRICULUM – The Path of the Otter will be happening in Ashfield, MA. Click here for details. [Ages 5-7] ($$)

11am-3pm – CHILDREN’S FAIR – The Montessori School of Northampton will be hosting their annual children’s fair. Live music, entertainment, bounce house, petting zoo, pony rides, kid games, and much more. 413.586.4538 Rain date: 10/14 [Families] (Free Admission/$)

11am-5pm – TIBET DAY – Take your family to the Amherst Common in Amherst to learn about Tibet and the Tibetan culture. [Families] (Free)

Noon-4pm – HISTORY WORKSHOP – Learn about the kinds of things that people made by hand every day in early New England at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA. Practice sewing or have fun making a hand-made toy out of clay to take home. Included with general admission. At History Workshop. 413.775.7214 [Families] ($/Check out a museum pass from your local library)

1pm – HISTORIC HERBS – At the Huntington Library in Huntington, MA, discover uses of herbs in history with Katheryn Darrow. 413.667.3506 [Ages 6 & up] (Free)

2pm – ART WORKSHOP – The Children’s Art Museum in Shelburne Falls, MA, will be sponsoring a collage workshop. Click here for details. [Families] ($)

4pm-9pm – BENEFIT FUNDRAISER – Hilltown parent Kasey Taylor of Cummington (wife of Jeffrey Taylor and mother of 3-year old Travis) has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer. The community is invited to gather on behalf of the Taylor Family at the Cummington Community House on Main Street in Cummington, MA, for a benefit that will include dinner, entertainment and a significant raffle. For more information call Martha or Steve Emerson at 413.634.2158 [Families] ($/5 & under free)

5:30pm- PERFORMANCE POTLUCK – The Art Bridge in Shelburne, MA, will be hosting a performance potluck for all ages with art, puppetry, poetry and music. Flower Children reunite with a 60’s theme. 413.625.8275. [Families] ($/Bring a potluck dish to share)

Sunday – 10/14/07

National Children’s Day

10am-4pm – COCKPIT SUNDAY – Take a field trip to the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. Climb into approximately 10 aircraft and play pilot! Additional activities are being planned to make this day fun for the whole family. The program includes WWII and modern aircraft, several helicopters and a vintage DC-3 airliner. A food vendor will be on site all day. [Families] ($/5 & under free)

11am – KIDS PICK-UP SOCCER – A pick-up game of kids soccer will be at Pettingill Park in Cummington, MA. Parent coordination requested. [Ages 4-6] (Free)

11:30am – SIGNING STORYTIMES – Discover ALS (sign language) with your child at the Toy Box in Amherst, MA. Students from Hampshire College will read a story out-loud and in sign language (ASL) for the audience. 413.256.8697 [All ages] (Free)

Noon-4pm – HISTORY WORKSHOP – Learn about the kinds of things that people made by hand every day in early New England at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA. Practice sewing or have fun making a hand-made toy out of clay to take home. Included with general admission. At History Workshop. 413.775.7214 [Families] ($/Check out a museum pass from your local library)

Noon-5pm – DISCOVERING BUDDHISM – The Many Flavors of Buddhism, a gathering of nearly 50 Buddhist groups in the Pioneer Valley invite families to join them to explore their culture at the Smith College Campus Center in Northampton, MA. [Families] (Free)

1pm – BIRTHDAY PARTY – The Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA, will be having their 150th birthday party. 413.263.6800 x420 [Families] ($/Borrow a museum pass from your local library)

2pm-4pm – HALLOWEEN PAPIER-MACHE WORKSHOP – Offered to all Hilltown Families listserv members, a two part Halloween Papier-mache workshop on 10/14 & 10/21 in Plainfield, MA. Kids will have an opportunity to make a pinata, masks, pumpkins and other Halloween icons out of papier-mache. [Ages 5 & older] (>$)

2pm-5pm -PARENTING WORKSHOP – Smart Wiring Your Child and Family: Emotional Intelligence & Performance. Learn how you can support your children and family members do their best with Michele Laub, MS. At the Mountain View B&B in Conway, MA. Call to reserve and more information: 413.369.4700. [Parents] ($$)

2pm-4pm – HISTORICAL MUSEUM – Every Sunday through 10/21 families can take their children to the Blacksmith Shop Museum in Westhampton, MA, to explore their collection and learn a little about the history of our area. (Ages 5 & up) (Free)

Monday – 10/15/07

11:30am – SIGNING STORYTIMES – Discover ALS (sign language) with your child at the Toy Box in Amherst, MA. Students from Hampshire College will read a story out-loud and in sign language (ASL) for the audience. 413.256.8697 [All ages] (Free)

Tuesday – 10/16/07

10:30am-11:15am – YOUNG PEOPLE’S PERFORMANCE – The Nields will be at the Northampton Center for the Arts in Northampton, MA, for a kids performance. 413.584.7327 [Ages 2.9-5] (Free)

1pm & 2pm – PARENT EXERCISE – Community Walking Program in the Hilltowns, organized by the Hilltown Community Health Centers. Every Tuesday (weather permitting) meet at Russell Conway School Parking lot in Worthington, MA. Beginner start at 1pm & experienced walkers start at 2pm. Call to register. 413.667.2204 [Parents] (Free)

1:30pm-3:30pm – FALL BIRDING – Homeschoolers are invited to participate in a homeschool fall birding program at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton on 10/16 & 10/23. Registration required. 413.584.3009. Click here for details. [Ages 6 & Up] ($)

4pm & 5:30pm- READING & WRITING – Readers & Writers club at the Lilly Library in Florence, MA. Click here for more info. [Kids must be able to read & write] (Free)

4pm & 6pm – KIDS’ JAM – Join Hilltown Music Together director Lui Collins in a new music and movement for “big kids” at the Belding Memorial Library in Ashfield, MA. Two different time slots are available. Classes run through 12/11. Scholarship aid is available. Open to home schoolers and other family groups. 413.628.0197 [Ages 5-6+] ($$)

5pm – HILLTOWN FAMILIES PIZZA NIGHT – Treat your kids to pizza at Country Pie in Ashfield, MA, with other Hilltown Families. 413.296.0096 [Families] ($)

7pm – FAMILY RADIO – Tune-in between bath and bedtime to the Hilltown Families very own radio show, the Hilltown Family Variety Show, on WXOJ LP 103.3 FM, Valley Free Radio out of Northampton, MA. www.valleyfreeradio.org. [Families] (Free)

Wednesday – 10/17/07

9pm – PARENT COFFEE BREAK – After dropping the kids off at school or their homeschool program, drop into Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA. Not only do they have great coffee, they have a fantastic breakfast menu too. Connect with other parents. If you’d rather do some work, bring your laptop (they have wireless!) and let them bring you coffee! To find out what’s happen over at Elmer’s, read Notes from Nan, a weekly update posted here on Hilltown Families. [Parents] ($)

9:30am – HISTORIC PERFORMANCE – At MassMoCA in North Adams, MA, Cross That River will be performed. This is a historic story that begins in the 1850’s about a slave who lives in the Deep South and his journey towards freedom. Call for more details. 413.664.4481 x8109 [Ages 5 & up] ($)

3pm – SPANISH FOR KIDS – Spanish classes for kids will be held at the Children’s Art Museum in Shelburne Falls, MA, going until 11/14. Classes are a combination of music and movement, stories and circle games. Participants from varying language backgrounds are welcomed. 413.625.6826 [Ages 4-7] ($$)

5pm-7pm – KIN CAREGIVERS GROUP – Parenting When You Didn’t Expect to: A Kin Caregivers Group. Are you a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or sibling raising your relative’s children who is 6 or under? If so, you are a Kinship Care provider. Offered is a series of 10 bi-weekly evening support gatherings at 8 Trumbell Street in Northampton, MA. Share, be fed, let the kids socialize and do some homework, learn about resources and get support. Offered by Berkshire Children and Families. 413.584.5690 [Families with children 6 or under] (Free)

Thursday – 10/18/07

9am – PARENT SOCIAL – Hilltown Families invites parents to gather at Bread Euphoria in Haydenville after dropping off the kids. Get yourself a scone and tea and chat with other area parents before heading off to work or to accomplish your never-ending “to do list.” [Parents] ($)

11am-1pm – HOMESCHOOL HAPPENINGS – Join other homeschoolers at the Greenfield Library in Greenfield, MA, to learn about Ancient Greece. Runs through 11/15/07. For more information call 413.772.1544 x5. [Ages 7 & up] (Free)

5:30pm – READ TO DOGS – The Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA, will be resuming their special program Reading to Dogs. Animals are ideal nonjudgemental reading companions that are less intimidating than peers. Children sign up for 20minute slots. All dogs are registered therapy pets. 413.268.7472 [Ages 6 & up] (Free)

Friday – 10/19/07

11am-12:50pm – HOMESCHOOL ICE SKATING – Mullins Center at the University of MA in Amherst, MA, is starting up a Home School (Ice) Skates. Ice skate rentals are free and accompanying parents are free. The Mullins Cafe will be open serving coffee and assorted foods. [Ages 5 & up] (>$)

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Click here for menu 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

5pm-8:30pm – HALLOWEEN EVENT – Enchanted Forest: A Non-Scary, Family Halloween Event. On Friday & Saturday, in Amherst, MA, at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, families can participate in a 45 minute walk a trail lit with pumpkins. This year you will meet invertebrates, animals without backbones…perhaps worms, protozoans, maybe butterflies, shrimp, beetles…who knows? Adults and children of all ages will enjoy meeting our fantastical characters as you are guided along the pumpkin-lit trails. Walks leave the Center every 15 minutes and last approximately 45 minutes. Crafts, games, and a visit with a fortune-teller in the Center are included in the fee. Seasonal baked goods will be on sale. Pre-registration is suggested. 413.256.6006 [Families] ($)

6:30pm – SCIENCE FOR KIDS – Join Mad Science in their “Adventure Lab” for their first Scien-Triffic Friday, a series of Friday evening science workshops for kids in Northampton, MA. This week is the “Slime” lab: Explore the exciting world of polymers, the chemical reactions we use to create them and the inner workings of silly putty. Transform two liquids into an oozing batch of your very own slime to take home. 413.584.7243 [Ages 5 & up] ($)

Anyday – Anytime

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Photos (c) 2007 Sienna Wildfield