Joyful Saplings Learning Center

Last week!!!!!

We welcomed a new student on Thursday, and it’s been a joyful time around here!!

Dress-up is always popular, and the children often play pretend together. My personal favorite costume is worn in these pics by G, who is pretending to be me with the glasses, lol!

We’ve been doing tons of language work, refining fine motor skills, practicing lots of practical life, and so much empathy training! The most important part of our program is the social-emotional aspect. The children thrive and develop incredible empathy and social-emotional skills in a peaceful atmosphere where everyone and everything is respected, including themselves. These little folks are just learning how to BE! How to be themselves, how to relate to others…. The learning in this area at this age is immense.

I always say that they may not remember every lesson I give them when they are older, but I will have played a part in instilling a love and respect for themselves, others, and the environment. And THAT is what motivates me.

Love you all to pieces. 🤟❤️🤟

September has been gorgeous, friends.

Our little group has coalesced into an incredible school family. The girls watch out for each other and take care of each other in the most beautiful ways.

The love, respect, and empathy exemplified by these tiny humans blows me away daily.

Lately we have been doing tons of language work as well as lots and lots of art. Our puzzle maps made a grand entrance this month, and the children are still arguing with me that there’s no way that daddy works and they go to school on the same spot on the continent map, because he “works so far!” 🤣 It’s super rewarding to watch their understanding of the world expand.

Music is always a favorite, as are bubbles and outside time. I am so proud of my little busy bees!

Check out our recent pics to see what we’ve been up to lately! Such busy, incredible children! 🤟❤️🤟

From flower arranging, to working in their brand-new workbooks, to finding a little slug friend on the window, to tons of arts and crafts, lots of sensorial work, and plenty of caring for the environment, this summer has been spectacular!
These girls are truly gifts; the last few months their bond as classmates and school family has grown even more than I thought possible.
Love to all. 🤟❤️🤟

I’m posting all out of order from this summer, but anyway, lol…

Our August field trip to the Glazer Children’s Museum was a BLAST!!

Oh my, I realized I hadn’t posted much this summer about what our kids were up to so here are some updates!

More pics to come! I’ve got loads; trying to wade through them all, lol.

Have you always wanted to learn ASL but haven’t had the opportunity?!?

Here’s your chance! I am kicking off a new ASL class for beginners in September! If you’ve ever wanted to learn sign language, this is a fun and informal way to do it!

We have a lot of fun; working on conversational skills together, learning a lot about Deaf culture along the way, reading children’s books in sign, and playing games designed to increase understanding of ASL vocabulary and grammar.

Classes will be held at my home in the Shady Hills neighborhood of Spring Hill on Sunday mornings from 10-11:30am. Our first class will be September 6th.

Tuition is $60 per month, so $15 per class. After the first class, which is a free trial, you are welcome to sign up for the rest of the month. I do ask that students register and pay for the whole month in advance so we have continuity in our lessons.

A little about me: I have been studying American Sign Language since I was a child, when I first became fascinated with watching sign language interpreters at our local plays. They were spectacular and absolutely lit a spark in me to learn this incredibly fun, beautiful, expressive, and unique language. I took ASL all through high school as my foreign language, then went on to get my college degree in Sign Language Interpreting. It was a grueling four years to get that degree! Since my graduation, I have worked as an interpreter in a variety of settings, such as college classes, medical and mental health appointments, hospital work, business meetings, concerts, and more. Right now I work at the most challenging and rewarding interpreting job I’ve ever had: VRS (Video Relay Service) interpreting. This is interpreting phone calls. I adore my job and I adore this language and Deaf culture. I want to be a spark to others to learn this amazing language so after 18 years of interpreting I’ve decided to start teaching it too! I’d love to meet you and see if you’d like to learn from me!

Comment or message if you’re interested in the class! Thank you all so much! 🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟