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A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. In the story the boy bear unintentionally ignores his friends’ greeting, and he is unable to join in with the laughter of his friends at school lunches. While competing in the 19th series of Strictly, Ayling-Ellis performed a touching routine with dance partner Giovanni Pernice during which they paused the music and danced in silence as a tribute to the deaf community. Actor Rob Delaney was the first person to sign a CBeebies bedtime story in 2018 using Makaton, which he and his family learned to communicate with his late son Henry, who couldn’t speak due to a tracheostomy. The CLPE teaching notes are brilliant for starting discussions around this book and they also link to some brilliant resources and further reading for children who want to learn more about the Deaf community and want to improve their own ability to communicate with Deaf children and grown ups.
Can Bears Ski? - Raymond Antrobus - Google Books Can Bears Ski? - Raymond Antrobus - Google Books
When one day Bear is collected early from school and taken to an au-di-ol-o-gist we get to see Bear begin to get the support that he needs. A hearing test, an audiogram and a few more tests lead to hearing therapy, lip-reading classes and “plastic ears called hearing aids.” The story line develops the relationship of the two main characters Dad Bear and Little Bear. As they discover Little Bear's deafness a variety of emotions surface. The question “Can bears ski?” really equates to “Can you hear me?” showing the experience of deafness how noises get all muddled and messages often misunderstood. It models a father who connects with his child by reading him books. Often their communication is not always clear. Sometimes Father Bear is frustrated and can lose his temper. Yet the story speaks to love and patience, a central theme to the story line. Little Bear despite his hearing difficulties is a strong, lively and resilient character. He likes to wear bold primary colors, is energetic, proud and happy. I liked the addition of adding realistic details such as Little Bear losing his hearing aids often and his father's impatience helping to look for them. I did note there are no deaf stereotypes in this story and Little Bear is not portrayed as a victim of deafness. Some unexpected characters added a new dimension to the story with a male primary teacher and a female audiologist. Bear is not sure that he always hears his Dad right. He seems to be asking him the same question again and again. Can bears ski? Can Bears Ski? will be the first ever BSL-signed story on CBeebies and it will see Ayling-Ellis speaking only to introduce the story and at the end of the programme to say goodnight to the young audience. The story will also have subtitles. This book is a great one for showing children with hearing loss like boy Bear that there’s nothing to be afraid of and that everything works out well. The book is also a great one to share with children who don’t have hearing problems but who may encounter a child with some, like a school friend as it will show them some of the difficulties that children can face not hearing, with an ultimately positive message around the situation. I remember having a book like this at my primary school about being diagnosed with diabetes when it had first happened to me, and I remember it being a very helpful book to others in my class as they understood my condition better and therefore I do think this would be a great book for children to understand fellow kids with hearing problems.With a set inspired by Polly Dunbar's stunning illustrations, puppetry and music, Pied Piper Theatre Company is delighted to be working with Paula Garfield and Deafinitely Theatre to bring this beautiful story to the stage.
Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, Polly Dunbar | Waterstones Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, Polly Dunbar | Waterstones
I have read this book with all of my children, aged 3 to 11, and they have all absolutely loved it and have linked the story to children and adults that they know in real life. It has answered lots of questions for us and also opened up many more.
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Paula Garfield is the Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre. An actor, director, workshop leader and organiser, Paula has worked on a variety of television, film and theatre projects over the past fifteen years. In 2002 she established Deafinitely Theatre with Steven Webb and Kate Furby after becoming frustrated at the barriers that deaf actors and directors face across the arts and media. Is Little Bear ignoring his friends when they say hi, or is something else going on? A discovery opens new doors in a tale that will delight kids with deafness and all children learning to navigate their world. This year brings a very special collaboration with Paula Garfield, the Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre to create ‘Can Bears Ski?’ for both a hearing and deaf audience. Can Bears Ski? That’s what it seems Dad Bear asks at breakfast. Then again, that’s what it sounds like at the lunch table when everyone is laughing at something David Bear says. However it’s not very clear. Teacher Bear asks too, ‘Can Bears Ski’? What does it mean? On Sunday, Ayling-Ellis will make her debut in the CBeebies story corner, telling the tale in BSL of a young bear and his father on their journey into the discovery and management of deafness.
Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus – Book Review Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus – Book Review
Join Deafinitely Theatre on Saturday 23 September 2023 for a one-night special charity fundraiser performance of The Vagina Monologues!
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Even though little ones think they are only having story-time, actual learning is going on, too. One way to bring additional insight about someone with a hearing loss would be to think of other words, or sentences, that might sound different. For instance, the sentence, “can you hear me,” might sound like, “can bears ski?” Awareness of this and other challenges of hearing loss can clear up what may have seemed like a case of being ignored, to just a misunderstanding of words. Tina’s original plays have had four residencies at The Fortune Theatre in London’s West End. Her most recent titles include ‘My BIG Little sister’, 'Robin’s Winter Adventure’, The Big ENORMOUS Present’ and ‘Zoom' which she co-wrote with Nicola Sangster, alongside ‘DIG!’ Pied Piper’s first play for babies and young toddlers. Deafinitely Theatre and New Diorama Theatre present Sarah Kane’s lyrical and haunting play about mental health. ★★★★ Time Out, ★★★★ The Guadian, ★★★★ Theatre Weekly, ★★★★★ West End Wilma
Can Bears Ski? - CBeebies - BBC Rose Ayling-Ellis - Can Bears Ski? - CBeebies - BBC
Boy Bear cannot hear Dad Bear coming to wake him up in the morning but he can feel the floor vibrate with his heavy footsteps. He can only grasp little bits of what his teacher says to him at school. He cannot catch what his friends are laughing at. And, all the time, Boy Bear keeps hearing the question, “Can Bears ski?” What does it mean? With the support of Dad Bear, Boy Bear visits an audiologist and, eventually, he gets hearing aids. Suddenly, he understands the question everyone has been asking him: “CAN YOU HEAR ME?”To accompany the book for parents and teachers who would like to use it at home or in the classroom This brilliant book has shown my children and I a little of what life might be like for a deaf child From CAN BEARS SKI? written by Raymond Antrobus and illustrated by Polly Dunbar. Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London SE11 5HJ. www.walker.co.uk
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