Liftoff - Animated Short Film With Artists and A Crew of All Hearing Types

Megan Swanson one of my LSL Auditory Verbal graduate’s latest projects is as Production Coordinator for the film “Liftoff” which is LIVE on Kickstarter!  It is an animated short film about a Deaf dancer who faces her fears within her dreams created by an integrated crew of all hearing types that demonstrates diversity, inclusion, and positivity! They hope to create a meaningful representation for the Deaf/HoH community through the film and generate opportunities for Deaf/HoH artists through our work.

Megan Swanson - Production Coordinator
Megan Swanson was born profoundly deaf, and wears a cochlear implant. She is the Production Coordinator for Signing Animation's film Liftoff. Megan has been working to pave a path for everyone like herself who has a dream of being part of the film and television production industry. Megan started her production career in 2009 with Dreaming Tree Film's program “Fresh Films”, she then went on to perform at Walt Disney World Resort, finally making her dreams come true by moving to Los Angeles in 2015. Her credits include shows with Lifetime, Netflix, Panavision, and FX Network. In addition, Megan has appeared on the Netflix show “Nailed It” as a home baker (Season 1, Episode 4). Megan is passionate about community outreach and was crowned California Miss Amazing, and National Miss Amazing in 2017. When not hard at work Megan enjoys exploring the stunning California coast and spending time with her dog Moe.

The Story: Liftoff
This story was born out of a desire to see accurate Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (HoH) stories in animation.  We want to tell stories with Deaf/HoH main characters who have authentic, well-rounded experiences. 

Liftoff is a 9-minute 3D-animated short film which explores the mind of a Deaf dancer as she faces her fears about her big audition  Vivian is a born optimist and has loved dance ever since she was a little girl, but at 22, she's out on her own for the first time and finds her insecurities appearing the night before her audition for her dream ballet company. Will she conquer her nerves and show her true self as a performer, or will the anxiety swallow her whole?

While assembling our team, we found that Deaf/HoH talent was severely underrepresented in the animation industry, as were Deaf/HoH stories. Therefore, we created the animation studio and non-profit Signing Animation to uplift talent of all hearing types in integrated environments while creating Liftoff. We are creating meaningful representation for the Deaf/HoH community through our film, and affecting meaningful change to the animation industry for Deaf/HoH artists through our work at Signing Animation.

Learning To Listen Posters For Kids That Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Do you work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing? Check out the Learning to Listen posters or reference charts of the Learning to Listen sounds, words, and phrases.

Learning To Listen Sounds
1. Object Associations Twenty animals and ten vehicles
2. English Vowels  Thirteen English vowels and four diphthongs
3. Actions and Adjectives  Forty-five early actions and ten adjectives

I hope my Listen With Lynn resources are making your therapy sessions or school lessons effective and easier so you can work smarter not harder!  Thank you for following my growing suite of Listening and Spoken Language resources, tools, and activities.

HERE’S A TRICK TO MAKE IDIOMS STICK For Kids That Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Idioms are a type of figurative language that has meanings different from their actual words. They cannot be guessed based on the words individually. Idioms are sayings that provide colorful descriptions and are common in spoken language and literature such as, “She’s a cool as a cucumber.” which is an idiom that really means she’s calm and relaxed.

Children with typical hearing, learn idioms through incidental exposure without having to be taught. Whereas, children who are deaf and hard of hearing often require explicit and direct instruction with figurative language. Idioms are challenging for children that process information literally and have a concrete or limited vocabulary.

Here’s a trick!
Do you realize that many resources show photos or illustrations of the idiom’s literal meaning? While these are often funny and entertaining they may rob the child of using their critical thinking skills. So allow the children to first -

This is followed by teaching the meaning of the idiom and using it in context which can build long-term learning. This is the premise behind the Listen and Learn Idioms Series.

Idioms can be as much fun as a Barrel of Monkeys
Teaching idioms may seem intimidating at first. It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult.
The I’m All Ears resources make teaching idioms a piece of cake. Children listen to a common idiom and draw a picture of what they literally hear. To a child, their drawings are a source of humor but are brain-building opportunities. This helps learners understand and use idioms spontaneously. They build vocabulary, expand high-level language skills of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Start simple - Easy as A B C
Lists of idioms even if they are easy or commonly heard can be overwhelming to a child and their parents. So, introduce idioms one by one.
1. Illustrate idioms together during therapy sessions or lessons at school until the child grasps the concept. Use the Listen & Learn With Idioms activity sheets with crayons, markers, or colored pencils.
2. The child can make a booklet or folder and then take the activity sheets home. Give the parents or caregivers suggestions for ways to use idioms naturally in their daily routines.

Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) TIPS 
1. Idioms are abstract. For new vocabulary to stick, teach with real experiences.
2. Provide lots of exposure to the targeted idiom frequently and in multiple contexts.
3. Say the idiom and then WAIT to give the child time to process the idiom.
4. Use the child’s auditory feedback loop by asking what idiom they heard before repeating it.
5. Teach the idioms in complete sentences. This allows for learning how the idiom relates to other grammatical structures and places it as part of an auditory mental map.
6. Read aloud daily. Books introduce unusual vocabulary like idioms that may not come up every day but which are important for the child to have in their repertoire.

Ideas to get started 
Idiom - Dirty Look
This is what I heard: Draw two eyes then rub a little dirt on the page over the eyes. 
This is what it really means. Say What? DRAW a frowning face in the space or WRITE,
“A look that shows the person is angry or annoyed.
Use in context. - I was laughing too loud at the movies so a man gave me a dirty look.

Idiom - A Green Thumb
This is what I heard: Draw a green thumb or dip the child’s thumb in green paint to stamp on the paper.
This is what it really means. Say What? DRAW leafy green plants or  in the space or WRITE, “A person who is good at growing plants.”
Use in context. - Grandma is an award-winning gardener who is well known for her green thumb

Idiom - Ants in Your Pants
This is what I heard: Draw a pair of pants with crawling ants. 
This is what it really means. Say What? DRAW a person wiggling in the space or WRITE, “You can’t sit still. Wiggling and restless.”
Use in context. - During the long airplane trip, I had ants in my pants.

Here are a Boat Load of read-aloud books about idioms 
Birds of a Feather: A Book of Idioms and Silly Pictures by Vanita Oelschlager
Butterflies in My Stomach and Other School Hazards by Serge Bloch
In a Pickle: And Other Funny Idioms by Marvin Terban and Giulio Maestro
Mad as a Wet Hen!: And Other Funny Idioms by Marvin Terban and Giulio Maestro
Monkey Business: Fun With Idioms (Milet Wordwise) by Laura Hambleton
Parts by Tedd Arnold 
Reach for the Stars: and Other Advice for Life’s Journey by Serge Bloch 
Super Silly Sayings That Are Over Your Head: A Children's Illustrated Book of Idioms by Catherine S. Snodgrass
You Are What You Eat: and Other Mealtime Hazards by Serge Bloch

Stay Warm While Playing in the Snow in AVT

Brrrrr—it's a blustery day with about 10 inches of snow here in Chicagoland. Our dog Jade loves the snow as much as our grandsons. When I head out to face the winter weather I wear gloves. I wish I could say the same for these boys.

If they can’t stay out and play we play, listen and learn in the snow while staying warm. The boys believe I have the most magical winter mini-toys. The children receiving auditory verbal therapy couldn’t agree more. Please don’t tell my grandsons but this is an activity I’ve included in therapy way before they were born.

We fill a bin with packing styrofoam peanuts and two little shovels from the summer sandbox. Then, I hide the toys one by one under the “snow”. The child listens to a description through hearing alone.
They think and make a guess. If correct they use the snow shovel to uncover the winter-themed toys buried in the snow. The vocabulary grows and well as the exciting back and forth conversations.

Reading aloud P. D. Eastman and Roy McKie’s Snow book shares the kind of fun only a wintry-white day can bring from snowball fights and skiing to fort building and snowman-making. The youngest listeners listen and learn from my favorite author Anne Rockwell and the story, The First Snowfall .

National Puzzle Day and Fun For Kids That Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

January 29th, 2021 is National Puzzle Day. Have you heard of BUILDZI? It's a speed-stacking puzzle game with 3D pentominoes (polycubes). Players race to build the structure shown on a card.
But WAIT!
I changed the rules so the game can be played to grow listening and spoken language skills. BUILDZI is like my other Game Changes™ which are popular off the shelf games played with an auditory spin.

Here’s how to play:
Play BUILDZ as a 2-player barrier game rather than matching the picture on the card as directed..
The LISTENER must follow the instructions given by another player but does not know what they are building.
The TALKER must use clear descriptive language to be successful.

This puzzling game fosters describing, problem-solving and clarification skills.

Other Game Changes™ can be found in my Listen With Lynn TpT store and at The Listening Room, sponsored by Advanced Bionics and Phonak.