Tracie

WELCOME!  I'm Tracie.  I have been intrigued by the beauty of American Sign Language since I was a young child, often borrowing books on ASL from the local library and working to learn the language on my own.  As a college student studying elementary education, I chose a deaf and hard of hearing resource room to be the focus of a special project in one of my classes.  This is where I fell in love with the language and was first introduced to the deaf community.  Once I graduated with my elementary education degree, I took a job as a paraprofessional in the local Early Childhood Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Program.  It was in this job that my sign language skills really improved and my interest in deaf education was sparked. 

Since graduating in 1991, I have held positions as an itinerant teacher for Deaf & hard-of-hearing (working with students birth-age 21), an elementary school substitute teacher, an ASL aid for a preschool child in a special education program, a sign language instructor in a local homeschool coop, and an early intervention teacher for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students (working with ages birth-3).  For 23 years, I owned my own family childcare business, Circle of Friends Daycare.  Over the years I enrolled several children with hearing loss in my program, and a child with Deaf parents. Sign language was used continually within my program with all children, and I saw so many benefits for each and every child.

In September of 2022, I first opened Circle of Friends Signing School on a part-time basis, providing sign language classes to child care programs and families in the evenings and a couple of weekdays each month.   There was a real interest in the community, and my schedule filled up!  Then, in September of 2024, I made the big decision to close my family childcare business, and make Circle of Friends Signing School my full-time job.  I love seeing the little faces of the children light up when we read books, sing songs, and do activities together all while learning signs from American Sign Language.  I love hearing from parents and providers about how quickly their children are learning and how helpful sign language is with all areas of development!   One of my biggest thrills was hearing a former homeschool student tell me about the time a member of the deaf community ordered food from her in her workplace, and she was comfortable enough to interact with that person in sign language!  I am thrilled that I am now able to pursue 2 of my greatest passions: early childhood education, and introducing as many people as possible to American Sign Language.

Circle of Friends Signing School provides sign language instruction to groups of children in family childcare, daycare centers, homeschool groups, families, and community education programs.  My classes incorporate ASL vocabulary, stories, songs, movement activities, and miscellaneous projects and games.  I can provide ongoing weekly, biweekly, or monthly classes.  I can also provide single session sign language instruction or story/music/sign-language workshops. Please contact me if you have any questions or ideas for a class you think would work well for your family or group.   I'd love to meet you!