Indiana Deaf Camp 2012

What an AWESOME time at Indiana Deaf Camp this year!  As you can see by the pictures we started the week working on craft projects that were fun and the kids loved them.  Art was in the air from beading in their bracelets to drawings of their posters, supporting the fun and pride of each age group. We Tye-dyed and decorated shirts, we braided and jeweled bracelets/necklaces, We even had a little time to squeeze in a S'More night with the craft group.   When the last night together arrived, all the kids showed their awesome talents in a talent show...We even joined the fun of it all with "Minute to Win It!"!  What a great time!!   Next year it will be 40 years for Indiana Deaf Camp!!  I can't wait to see what we are going to do next! 

As an interpreter this is a wonderful time to see all the students and also learn new language!!  This is a must for interpreters, if your interested email me and I can send you info. so you can be getting ready for next years camp, you don't want to miss it!

PGP Points

I have all my PGP points now and am certified until 2014, What a great feeling!! Time to get started on the next PGP points.  I just attended the Indiana Deaf Educators & Educational Interpreters Conference.  I took all skill classes and felt empowered to continue to work on my skills!  This was a great experience and I encourage all interpreters and Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to make this a conference that you don't miss!!

Indiana Beach and the Zoo...

What a way to end the school year!!  All students with good behavior and no missing homework got to go to Indiana Beach for a reward !!  It was a really fun day and the students had a great time!!

Then on the last day of school the whole 7th grade class went to the Zoo!!  What a great way to end the year it was cool enough out that the animals were all out.  The day went smoothly!!  Until next school year, have a great summer!!!

A Finished Art Project!

         What a cool art project.  The student really enjoyed making this and its poster board shaped into a letter.  The assignment was to create your initials there are three, first, middle and last initials of the students name.  A very fun and creative project.  Paper mache' paint and texture made up this project.

Being a Good Advocate

Sometimes we just have to be a good advocate for our students.  The student I work with doesn't have a computer at home and thanks to PC's for Youths.  This student is getting one this summer!!  When it was announced, I asked the student if they had a computer, no was the answer and...now they will!!  This student can continue to be successful.  We had to have parents fill out the application and teachers to.  When the student brought it back to school, I had an envelope ready for the student to address and then we sent it out through the schools mail.  What an excited student when they found out they had been excepted!!  It's always exciting when things work out!!!

Always Fun Art Projects

A really fun project that started with Zentangling on paper.  Then with the art work of Zentangling (see picture below) the students made copies of their art and turned it into a sculpture! The students guide lines were, the project was to stand with only 3 legs and have plenty of negative space.  The project turned out amazing!!  Here is the project of the student I work with!

Zentangle By Joggle.com

Student's work, Amazing!!

WebShops for Educational Interpreters

Working hard to get my PGP points.  It's great now that many things are on the web.  As an interpreter of smaller towns and cities, there aren't many interpreter workshops going on so I have to rely on the inter net.  I have attended a few live workshops and recorded workshops.  If you are in need of PGP points here are a couple places on the Net you can go.  DCMP.org, this is a wonderful site full of free videos of educational settings!  Another is http://www.leadershopinstuitue.com/ by AmySeiberlich.  You have to pay for these workshops but they are low cost and high educational teachings.  Hope this helps an Educational Interpreters! 

WebShop Amy Sieberlich

Science Labs

It's been a long time since I have been in 7th grade Science, let alone interpret for it.  A lot of finger spelling going on here.  But the labs are very interesting and getting to apply what is being taught helps with the understanding of it all.  We are working on speed ,time and distance.  Fun, fun fun!
X(f)-X(i)= d    d/t = v

 Finding the average of time

Things needed (car, timer, meter stick)

7th Grade Art!

Working hard in art this week!!  We finished a project that used shape, line, form, texture, color and value.  This project was fun for the student though at first she found it hard, as she worked on it and could visually see what to do, it became easier for her.  Interpreting for art is pretty easy as there's usually a visual for the student as its being explained.  It also helps because I love art myself and find the more passionate you are and knowledgeable about what you are interpreting, the easier it is to help with the visual language of sign.  Can't wait for the next project!

January to February

Picture provided by:  Community College of Indiana

         Back from Christmas Break and working  hard in Science.  We are doing labs that are all about microorganisms.  We are learning the parts of these organisms and how they help or hurt the environment.  Finger spelling is very important here.  7th grade Science is very fast paced and we do a ton of  labs which help with hands on expierments.  Learning for this student is enhanced with being able to not just read about,
but do it and see it!

November to December

I started my new Educational Interperter's job the first week of November.  The student is in all classes and it's fun to be working with many different teachers again.  Things are going nicely and at Chistmas all the 7th grade students got to go bowling on the last day before Christmas Break...what fun!

Change of Employment

I received some news that the student I worked with would not need my services for the school year 2011-2012.  As an interpreter you go where you are needed...I felt that maybe this would be the end of what I was doing as an interpreter, the licensing is changing from the DHHS to the DOE and everything is up in the air.  But in November. the Director of  district I use to work for, called me with a lead and a chance to work with another Hearing Impaired student.  I was nervous and excited at the same time...I called the contact, met with her, interviewed and with exciting news started my new job at Tippy Valley Middle School. I have always interpreted and voiced for my students in the past, but this student can voice, so yet another learning year for me...I AM EXCITED!!!

Deaf Camp 2011

Deaf Camp was a BLAST!! If you are an interpreter, I would encourage you to get involved with your local  Deaf groups!!  You will learn so much!  I look forward to this time each year.   We are having so much fun with the campers, decorating our shirts, making new crafts and learning while we go!  Oh and we even got involved this year with "MINUTE TO WIN IT!"

Almost a Year since my last BLOG!

Well it has been almost a year since my last blog post.  Much has happened since leaving off with Northfield Sigh club getting to share information, with a theater about, "Closed Captioning for Movie Theaters".  Long story short, we didn't get to go and the students were very sad.  I since then volunteered for Deaf Camp again and spent a week in July with the campers and learned even more about Deaf Culture and of course more new signs!!  What a wonderful week!!  I loved working with all the campers and our Craft Group even got involved on Talent night!!  What a blast we all had!!  I will be attending Camp again this year (2012) and am sooo EXCITED!  More to come on what I have been doing as an Interpreter!!