Signimalz - American Sign Language resources

Teaching Experience 1998-1999 - 2nd grade teacher, 1999-2010 - 1st grade teacher, 2010-2016t – K-5 Literacy Coach 2016-present - Associate Instructor, Reading Education Reading Leadership Experience 2002-2009 - Just Read Florida professional developer 2009 - present - National Literacy Consultant 2013-present - Center for the Collaborative Classroom National Literacy Consultant 2014-present - University of Central Florida – Adjunct Elementary Education Reading Professor

Some words that describe my teaching/coaching style: Creative, Innovative, Hands-on, FUN, Compassionate, Enthusiastic, and Standards based

Awards and Recognition: 2001 - Teacher of the Year - Astatula Elementary School, 2002 - National Board Certification EC/GEN (Early Childhood Generalist), 2003 - Disney Teacherrific Award Recipient, 2011-2012 – District Literacy Coach of the Year – Lake County Schools, 2012-2013 – District Literacy Coach of the Year – Lake County Schools 2019 - Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, University of Central Florida

1994-1998 - University of Central Florida B.S. Elementary Education Certification grades 1-6, 2010-2012 – University of Central Florida – Med Reading Education K-12

Marni Kay Martinez was introduced to American Sign Language at an early age. Her mother worked with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in an Elementary School. As an elementary school student herself, Marni would go to school with her mom and communicate with the students often. Each time, she learned more signs and had so much fun “talking” with the students. As the years passed, Marni took American Sign Language (ASL) in High School and continued to learn ASL at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She graduated from UCF with a degree in Elementary Education. She then went on to pass her knowledge of sign language to students in her 1st grade classes, elementary school, and now pre-service teachers for 24 years. When she was working as a Literacy Coach in an elementary school with a Deaf Hard of Hearing program, the idea for Signimalz was born. The students, interpreters, and teachers at the school are the inspiration for this book. David R. Martinez loves to draw. He is a licensed professional geologist, freelance illustrator, and 6th grade Science teacher who is inspired to create images that encourage creativity and produce smiles for kids of all ages. David and Marni are a husband and wife team who enjoy spending time with their two children and look forward to collaborating on many projects together