1. Read the Magic of Signing Songs Manual and watch the accompanying DVD.  While you read through the literacy manual, notice the BOLD reflection questions towards the end of each chapter.  Highlight the questions that you are most interested in exploring as you begin using American Sign Language (ASL) and songs for accelerated literacy.  After watching the DVD, select one favorite song to start on.  Practice with the DVD and the ASL companion guide until you can comfortably teach it.


2. Fill out the University of the Pacific Professional Development Follow-up forms.  Decide if you want to pursue one, two or three units of credit.  Each credit requires a 15-hour practicum.  How much effort do you want to put into this?  You pay $62.00 per credit and mail the form directly to Dr. Lifson at the address listed.


3. You have up to 4 months to complete the credits, however we encourage you to start on a project right away.  Consider the following as potential projects: 
   • Develop a “Parents as Partners” program with your strategies connecting sign language and literacy with parent involvement.
   • Learn several songs in ASL and plan how you will connect the language to print.  Develop or purchase language charts, big books, picture books and/or anthology pages.  Plan for systematic instruction leading to fluency. 
   • Accelerate ABC and Phonics Skills in your classroom by adding singing, sign language, parent involvement, and the strategies shared in our manual. 
   • Plan a language celebration:children deserve to memorize, recite, and perform language.  Sing and sign for parents and other appreciative audiences. (Consider a performance of the Pledge of Allegiance at a school assembly or invite your children to sign the ABC Sign Language and Phonics song as a part of a Thanksgiving celebration).
     
4. Use our ASL templates with photos of your children signing key language concepts to create a personalized class book.  What was the parent response?  How is it used in your literacy program?


5. Send Dr. Lifson a black and white copy of your completed project with photo documentation, or write up a summary of what you did to meet the 15 hour teacher-friendly project required for each credit.  If the above projects do not meet your needs, see Nellie Edge Seminar and Distance Learning Practicum Suggestions for additional ideas, or you can always follow the course requirements steps that Dr. Lifson has outlined.  Please note that Dr. Lifson highly approves of the alternative practicum suggestions that we recommend and prefers that you design a project that specifically meets your teaching needs.  He wants this project to be meaningful to you and consistent with our accelerated literacy training.

You will be amazed at the magic that signing songs adds to your classroom.  Look for joyful accelerated language and literacy gains.  Happy Singing!  -N.E.