Courses of Study

Communication
Interpersonal Mode
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 0
1) Exchange simple information in American Sign Language.

a. Communicate on some very familiar topics using single words or learned phrases.

b. Answer simple questions asked in ASL.

c. Greet peers and introduce selves.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communication
Modes Of Communication:
Interpersonal Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • demonstrate understanding of practiced key words and phrases in ASL during conversations by using appropriate memorized responses.
  • tell someone their name.
  • greet and take leave in a culturally appropriate way.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • culturally appropriate ways to greet and take leave in a Deaf culture.
  • ways to tell someone their name.
  • certain words and simple phrases in ASL.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • sign basic words using correct parameters.
  • recognize simple words and phrases that have been taught.
  • fingerspell their own name.
  • recognize when a classmate is fingerspelling their name.
  • sign HELLO and GOODBYE in ASL.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Interpretive Mode
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 0
2) Demonstrate an understanding of live and recorded American Sign Language information presented on familiar topics.

a. Recognize key words and phrases in American Sign Language.

b. Identify people and objects in their environment.

c. Understand basic instructions given using ASL.

d. Apply simple spatial referencing skills using pronominal awareness.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Modes Of Communication:
Interpretive Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • recognize learned key words and learned phrases in ASL.
  • identify learned people and learned objects in their environment.
  • understand basic practiced instructions given in ASL.
  • appropriately use spatial referencing using practiced pronominal awareness.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • simple key words and basic phrases.
  • strategies to identify people and basic objects in their daily environment.
  • vocabulary for following simple instructions in ASL.
  • strategies to use spatial referencing with practiced pronouns.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • recognize simple words and phrases that have been taught.
  • recognize their own name being fingerspelled.
  • recognize when a classmate is fingerspelling their name.
  • recognize when a greeting or leave-taking is happening.
  • use pointing(indexing) to refer to a person or object.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Presentational Mode
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 1
Classroom Resources: 1
3) Present information to an audience of viewers in American Sign Language.

a. Present information about selves with one word or simple learned phrases.

b. Memorize and perform a simple handshape or ABC story.

c. Create recordings of a topic using American Sign Language.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communication
Modes Of Communication:
Presentational Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • present one word or one phrase about themselves.
  • present a simple memorized story or poem in ASL.
  • create a video recording on a simple topic using ASL.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • vocabulary to sign one word or a simple phrase about themself.
  • vocabulary and grammar to sign a simple story or poem in ASL.
  • how to create a video recording of themself signing a simple story or poem.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • memorize and present a simple story or poem.
  • use video equipment.
  • accurately produce signed vocabulary.
  • maintain eye contact.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Cultures
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 0
4) Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the Deaf culture.

a. Use appropriate attention getting techniques.

b. Participate in culturally-authentic simulations.

c. Identify poetry and rhymes from the Deaf culture.

d. Observe and imitate simple patterns of behavior of Deaf people.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Cultures
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • tell or demonstrate attention getting techniques.
  • participate in culturally-authentic simulations.
  • identify simple poetry and rhymes from Deaf culture.
  • observe and imitate simple patterns of behavior of Deaf people.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • attention getting techniques in the Deaf culture.
  • strategies to identify a simple ASL poem or rhyme.
  • strategies for observation and imitation simple patterns of behavior of Deaf people.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • wave (HEY) to get attention.
  • tap a person's shoulder to get attention.
  • identify a simple ASL poem or rhyme.
  • imitate simple patterns of behavior of Deaf people.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in ASL fosters a better understanding of the Deaf culture and his/her own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within Deaf cultures.
  • Other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
Connections
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 1
Classroom Resources: 1
5) Link American Sign Language and other subject areas to acquire information and develop diverse cultural perspectives.

a. Attend to and acquire vocabulary related to age-appropriate school content.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • attend to vocabulary related to age-appropriate school content.
  • acquire vocabulary related to age-appropriate school content.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • ASL vocabulary related to other classes.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • inquire about signs that correspond with age-appropriate school content.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in ASL is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • ASL can be used to learn all school subjects.
Comparisons
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 0
6) Investigate, analyze, and reflect on similarities and differences between American Sign Language and English.

a. Compare the alphabet and numbers in English and handshapes in ASL.

b. Recognize difference and similarities in syntax, verb tenses, and nouns in ASL and English.

c. Experiment with forming age- and developmentally-appropriate facial expressions and non- manual markers.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Comparisons
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • compare the alphabet and numbers in English and the alphabet and numbers handshapes in ASL.
  • recognize differences and similarities in syntax in English and ASL.
  • experiment with forming age appropriate facial expressions and non-manual markers.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • similarities and differences in printed English letters and manual letters.
  • similarities and differences in numbers 1-10 and signed numbers 1-10.
  • the difference between Y/N and WH non-manual markers.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • accurately sign A-Z.
  • accurately sign 1-10.
  • identify the Y/N non-manual marker.
  • identify the WH non-manual marker.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
    • by learning another language one can better understand how the native language works.
    • other understandings will depend on theme taught.
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 0
7) Investigate, analyze, and reflect on similarities and differences between the Deaf and hearing cultures.

a. Compare gestures used to greet family, friends and acquaintances.

b. Compare and contrast tangible products of the hearing and Deaf cultures.

c. Compare simple behavior patterns in the hearing and Deaf cultures.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Comparisons
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • compare gestures used to greet others.
  • compare and contrast tangible products of hearing and Deaf cultures.
  • compare simple behavior patterns in the hearing and Deaf cultures.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • greetings in multiple cultures.
  • products of the Deaf and hearing cultures.
  • what is considered acceptable in the Deaf community regarding eye contact, pointing, and getting attention by waving or touch.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • compare gestures used for greeting in the hearing and Deaf cultures.
  • investigate tangible products of the Deaf culture.
  • compare behaviors such as eye gaze, leave taking, and attention getting.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • custom and tradition vary within the Deaf culture, as well as between Deaf and hearing cultures.
  • by studying another culture, one can better understand and appreciate their own.
  • other understanding will depend on theme being taught.
  • there are products specifically designed for Deaf people.
Communities
American Sign Language (2017)
Grade(s): K - 8
Novice Low Proficiency Range
All Resources: 0
8) Acquire the ability to interact in the Deaf community beyond the classroom and set goals for life-long learning.

Examples: Perform for school or community celebrations.
Identify places in the community where the American Sign Language is used.
Identify professions which require proficiency in American Sign Language.
Watch age appropriate recorded storytelling, poetry, VLOGs, or jokes from the target culture.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communities
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • acquire the ability to interact with the Deaf community beyond the classroom.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • places where ASL is used.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • locate places outside of their classroom where ASL is used.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • ASL is used daily by Deaf people as their primary and preferred mode of communication across all parts of their lives.
  • ASL can help one better understand the world around them.
  • the study of ASL expands one's opportunities.
  • ASL is a tool to connect with the world.