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Do
WeeHands instructors need formal training in American Sign Language?
Do I need this training before I start teaching?
Yes, absolutely. Our instructors
have formal training in ASL and are familiar with Deaf Culture.
While teaching our instructors are also encouraged to continue their
ASL education and to be acquainted with the Deaf community in their
areas.
Our instructors also have
a background in adult education and child development. Current applicants
as of January 2008 include ASL interpreters, speech language pathologists,
teachers, communicative disorders assistants and early childhood
educators.
The ideal WeeHands instructor has formal training in
American Sign Language, experience teaching and experience with
young children.
He or she also has lots of energy, a passion for signing with young
children and a good business sense.
How do I become a WeeHands Instructor?
To start the application process, you can apply online by
clicking here.
We'll then review your application, provide you with more
information and we will forward you a WeeHands License Agreement as
well as a list of other documents that we need for your application,
e.g., your resume, reference letters, etc. After these
documents are collected and reviewed we will be in touch with
regarding your application approval status.
Once a WeeHands instructor's application has been reviewed and
reviewed, their WeeHands email account and webpage are set up and
they are introduced to our online instructors' community. They
are then eligible to purchase thier yearly WeeHands license and the
WeeHands curriculum they want to start with. Most our curriculums
have a $150.00 CDN fee.
How long does a successful application
take?
This depends on how quickly you are able to get
your application documents to us. Typically, the process takes
about 1-2 months.
What is involved in teaching with
WeeHands?
Each licensed WeeHands Instructor independently
runs their own WeeHands business. WeeHands instructors set up
their own class locations and market thier classes locally.
WeeHands Head Office is involved in promoting WeeHands nationally
both in Canada and the US.
As well, our Head Office frequently gets requests
for instructors from community and parenting centres and we pass
this information on to local instructors. Currently we have
more centres requesting instructors than we have instructors!
Each WeeHands Instructor becomes part of our
online WeeHands Instructor discussion group and here we share ideas,
promotional plans, research articles, business forms & ideas,
marketing templates for brochures, business cards, etc. This
group provides ongoing support as well as help in getting started
and marketing your WeeHands business.
I would like more information on the structure
of the company...is this a franchise?
WeeHands Instructors operate independently of WeeHands Baby Sign
Language Inc. WeeHands is not a franchise. Instructors are licensed
to teach the WeeHands program and use the WeeHands name and logo
according to the license agreement.
Is there a start up cost?
Most our curriculums have a $150.00 CDN fee. As well there are
board book and CDs that you'll use in class that you'll need to
purchase separately. If you already have some of these board
books and CDs you will not need to purchase them again.
Are
there any other fees?
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To maintain your status as a licensed WeeHands instructor, there
is an annual fee of approximately $150 CDN per year. Since
WeeHands is copyrighted, one cannot teach or promote the program
without a current license issued by WeeHands. Licensing,
maintains the integrity of the program by ensuring that it is
always offered according to standard.
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We've set a payment plan up for this, so WeeHands instructors pay
$12.50 / month after their first 6 months of being approved.
This means your first year licensing fee is $75.00.
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Your annual licensing fee also includes all professional
development & support, national marketing campaigns and
convention fees offered by WeeHands!
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If you are setting up your own program, you will need to be
prepared to make some purchases of teaching materials (a WeeHands
curriculum, music CDs and boardbooks for use in class), as well
as
marketing materials before setting up your first class.
Who supplies materials?
Your WeeHands curriculum are provided by our Head Office and do
the Family Guides that you will purchase for each of
your class participants.
How much time do you have to put in?
You can work as little or as much as you'd like. We do have
instructors working full-time, part-time and casually with thier
WeeHands business. As with any business, the more you put into
getting the word out there about your classes, the more you'll get
back. We'll let you know how to getting started, what you'll
need to do and where in your community to do it. With
WeeHands, much of the getting started questions have already been
answered for you!
What are the
guidelines for maintaining the program other than an annual fee?
More information regarding our
guidelines can be found in our WeeHands Instructors License
Agreement. These will be discussed in the 12-week online 'Business
Basics' course offered to new instructors. As well, each class
participant at the end of each class or workshop is asked to
complete a class evaluation. This feedback is an important part in
maintaining and improving upon the WeeHands program.
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