ASL in the Hearing Classroom
da Heather Best
1. Videos
1.1. K-1st teacher shows examples of ASL in class. Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS-6hFyXSM4
1.2. Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXp1_mhWHy4
1.3. ASL Pro dictionary http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi
1.4. ASL Pro signs for baby dictionary http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi
2. Narration: voice and text
3. Purpose: Informative. How can teachers incorporate basic American Sign Language signs in their classrooms? Use for classroom management, reading skills, learning letters/sounds,
4. Pictures
4.1. Text and voice description of how to sign
4.2. Video and pictures of signs http://www.lifeprint.com/index.htm
4.3. Posters for classroom http://www.newmanagement.com/main/sign_language.html
4.4. Alphabet: http://www.handspeak.com/spell/index.php?id=spell-asl
4.5. Google search results for ASL pictures https://www.google.com/search?q=american+sign+language+dictionary+with+pictures&client=firefox-a&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=944uU_W8Co-qqAGJnYCgCA&ved=0CCQQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=909
5. Focus: Teachers of young children-early grades (K-1st)
6. Articles
6.1. More Teacher Turning to Sign Lang (Wash. Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101501373.html
6.2. Singing Time! http://c0445781.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/media/sign_language_in_the_classroom.pdf
6.3. Example of Signs used in the classroom http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/sign_language.htm
6.4. Research articles: http://www.signingtime.com/resources/sign-language-research/
6.5. Benefits http://www.schoolhealth.com/benefits-of-using-sign-language-in-your-classroom/
6.6. Source for more articles: http://www.signingtime.com/resources/articles/
7. Benefits
7.1. Classroom management: less disruption (ask for bathroom using signs instead of vocally), teach children to look for signs for directions (listen, line up, etc)
7.2. Literacy: link new letters/sounds to signs, fingerspell to sound out new words
7.2.1. Improving comprehension: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/using-american-sign-language-30598.html
8. Obstacles
8.1. Parents: may be hesitant to teachers including ASL in classroom
8.2. School/District administration: have to answer to parents concerns
8.2.1. Counteract: present parents/administration with examples of uses, benefits, understanding that signs are being used as a supplement to the classroom environment not exclusive to using voices