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Signing Savvy is a sign language dictionary containing several thousand high resolution videos of American Sign Language (ASL) signs, fingerspelled words, and other common signs used within the United States and Canada.

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Signing Savvy is an ideal resource to use while you learn sign language. It includes the ability to view large sign videos, build your own word lists and share them with others, create virtual flash cards and quizzes, print signs, build sign phrases, ...and more

Sign of the Day - APPEAR
(as in to show up)

Being inclusive this holiday season

Posted by John @ Signing Savvy on Thursday, December 5, 2013 as General Interest

Acceptance and being included is something all of us want in life. Think of growing up and some of the crazy things we did in order to fit in or be part of the group. For many deaf and hard of hearing children, the idea of being the part of a group is something they long for but it is difficult to have happen because of limited communication.

In my several years of teaching deaf and hard of hearing children I saw this same pattern happen over and over again, even with children that came from homes that tried hard to be able to speak their language and communicate with them. Children would work hard in school and get good grades but they struggled in the friendship department, or lacked that core group of friends that could really communicate with them on their level. This is a really tough issue that deaf teens struggle with often. They want to be fully accepted and understood but don’t quite know how to go about doing it, nor do the adults that work with them.

Offering sign classes in the general education school settings as a foreign language is definitely a step in the right direction. This offers a wider range of students to potentially communicate with and, in turn, become friends with. The use of technology is also a helpful tool to be able to put sign language in the hands (literally through computers and mobile devices) of anyone who is interested. We all need to work together to come up with creative and innovative ways to help our youth feel connected and accepted in their environment.

I recently had a deaf friend tell me that he doesn’t look forward to going back home for the holidays because he never felt a part of his family anyway. He even went as far as to say that he felt more like the family dog! This broke my heart to hear those words come from a really close friend who is an amazingly intelligent man that has so much to offer to his family!

I urged our Signing Savvy Facebook Friends a few weeks ago to take the time this holiday season to insure that everyone around the table “Has a Place at the Table”, but I wanted to repeat this sentiment via this blog article. If you have deaf, signing friends or family coming to the holiday dinner, and no one in the family is fluent in sign language, consider hiring an interpreter to come along. You will show that deaf person in your life that you really do care and want them to be a part of the conversation. If that is not possible, at least try to pick up a few signs (I think I can suggest a great site to help you out!) to show your deaf friends and family that you are willing to try.

Enjoy your Holiday Season and Keep Signing!!!

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10 signs to know for Thanksgiving

Posted by Jillian @ Signing Savvy on Sunday, November 24, 2013 as Learning Tips

#1 Thanks / Thank You

This is what Thanksgiving is all about – giving THANKS for all of your blessings. Don’t forget to say THANK YOU when the gravy is passed! You can also see this sign in the WonderGrove Kids Use Polite Words animated lesson.

#2 Turkey

TURKEY is the most common main dish of Thanksgiving dinner and sometimes Thanksgiving is called “TURKEY Day.”

#3 Ship

In 1620, the Pilgrim SHIP called the Mayflower made the historic voyage from England to the New World. The Mayflower brought about 150 people to North America – 102 passengers from Holland and London plus the SHIP’s officers and crew.

#4 Pilgrim

The first Thanksgiving was a feast in 1621 at Plymouth Colony between the PILGRAMS and the Wampanoag, a Native American tribe. The PILGRAMS left England seeking religious freedom and were early settlers of the North American colony called Plymouth Colony (present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts).

#5 Pumpkin

In addition to turkey, the first Thanksgiving feast included waterfowl, venison, fish, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, squash, and PUMPKIN. Many of these foods, with the exception of the seafood, have become a part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Many people include PUMPKIN in their Thanksgiving meal by making PUMPKIN pie.

#6 Nuts / Pecan

Although not one of the foods included in the first Thanksgiving feast, NUTS have become a popular snack during Thanksgiving time and PECAN pie is a favorite Thanksgiving dessert for many. The sign for NUT can be used for all types of NUTS. To be even more specific, use the sign for NUT and then fingerspell the name of the NUT you are talking about.

#7 Pie

Rather your favorite is apple, pecan, pumpkin, or sweet potato, make sure you know how to ask for more PIE!

#8 Hungry / Appetite

Talking about all this food is making me HUNGRY! The same sign can be used for HUNGRY and APPETITE. Bring your APPETITE to Thanksgiving dinner and surely you will not leave HUNGRY. You can also see this sign in the WonderGrove Kids Use Polite Words animation.

#9 Family

Thanksgiving is extra special when spent with FAMILY and friends. Our FAMILY and friends are an important part of what we are thankful for.

#10 Appreciate / Appreciation / Appreciating / Please

Giving thanks is all about APPRECIATING what we have, including the people in our lives that make it special. Make sure to show your APPRECIATION for others and you can also use this sign to say PLEASE. You can also see this sign in the WonderGrove Kids Use Polite Words animated lesson.

It’s hard to pick only ten signs to know for Thanksgiving! There are so many things that people do during Thanksgiving, including EAT, VISIT family, watch FOOTBALL, watch the Thanksgiving Day PARADE, SLEEP, SHOP, and more. Full Members of Signing Savvy can see our Thanksgiving Word List to learn more signs, practice the signs using the flash cards and quizzing features with the pre-built word list, or create your own word list of Thanksgiving signs.