TUCSON HIGH MAGNET SCHOOL
COURSE SYLLABUS
ASL 1-2
Teacher: Ms. Melissa Brown
Course Title: American Sign Language 1-2
Contact Information:
Classroom: V115
Classroom phone number: (520) 365-0085
Campus phone number: (520)
Email:
Website: http://melbrownasl.wikispaces.com or https://sites.google.com/site/mbrownasl
Prerequisite: None for this class. (ASL 2-3 class – student must have ASL 1-2 with passing grade to enroll)
Textbook and Workbook (Provided for in class ONLY, except by special request):
· Master ASL! Level One and DVD, 2006, by Jason E. Zinza
· Master ASL! – Fingerspelling, Numbers and Glossing
Course Description:
This course introduces the principles, methods and techniques of American Sign Language, Cultural and linguistic information will also be covered. In this class, students will learn how to exchange person information, i.e., exchange names, tell where they live and talk about their families. Students will learn how to make appropriate introductions, how to get another’s attention and how to negotiate the environment of signed conversations. Students will be exposed to Deaf culture and American Sign Language Literature through videotaped presentations, and modeling of appropriate language and cultural behaviors in various situations.
Performance Objectives:
Upon completion of this year-long course, the students will be able to do the following:
1. Understand and perform a basic sign vocabulary with a minimum of at least 1500 signs and classifiers.
2. Demonstrate an expressive and receptive sign base of whole numbers 1 – 1,000,000.
3. Demonstrate expressive fingerspelling with correct posture, placement, and rhythm.
4. Demonstrate comprehension of 4-6 letter fingerspelled words
5. Demonstrate comprehension and use of basic Lexicalized Fingerspelling
6. Demonstrate and describe basic linguistics including the 5 parameters of American Sign Language and Topic/Comment sentence structure.
7. Identify different communication methods used by deaf people.
8. Discuss Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community
9. Provide and receive basic information at the word and sentence level (expressive/receptive) in American Sign Language.
Required Materials: Notebook Categories (Dividers in your 3-ring notebook):
3 Ring Notebook Bellwork
Dividers Vocabulary
College rule papers Units
Composition notebook Notes
Pen/pencil Others
Grading Procedures and Policy:
Grading (Weighted) Categories:
Bellwork 15%
Homework 15%
Organization 10%
Participation 15%
Quizzes 15%
Tests 15%
Performance 15%
Grades
For privacy and security reasons, grades can be accessed through TUSDstats and will be posted periodically throughout the school year in the classroom. The posts in the classroom will list the grades under a “number” that the student will know. Please do not share your “number” with other students.
Homework Policy:
1. Homework must be turned in on time.
2. Late homework may be turned in for a grade. If the late assignment is complete you will receive 65%.
3. Early homework = 5 points of extra credit.
4. Incomplete homework is not accepted. It will not be corrected. It will be returned to you. You can complete your incomplete homework and turn in for late assignment (65%).
5. You may change your assignment mistakes one time. Assignments that are late (65%) may not be changed.
6. Put completed homework in the box.
7. Pick up corrected homework from the files.
Test Policy
Talking is not allowed during a test. Talking is not allowed until everyone has completed and turned in the test. Talking during test will result in a 0. No reminders or warnings.
Attendance Policy
1. You must have a late slip/pass to enter class after the bell rings. If you are late without a slip/pass, then I will put down “T’’ for Tardy. Three times tardy will get Lunch Detention where you will pick up trash during lunch time.
2. If you are absent, then you can check my lesson plans (PowerPoint notes) in your notebook. Any other handouts needed should be available in a location I have indicated in the room. It is also your responsibility to ask your teacher or other student/friend for any homework that you missed. You are not permitted to interrupt class to get missed homework. You may only ask for missed homework during conference time, before school, after class, after school, or during break. Most students who attend regularly pass this class. Students who are absent frequently often fail.
3. Test and quizzes missed must be make up on your own time (conference time, during lunch or after school).
4. If you do not make up the work you missed, you will receive a 0.
5. If you will be absent due to an appointment, trip or game, homework must be turned in before you leave or it will be counted as late.
6. You may have 6 absences in quarter. You may have a total of 11 absences in one semester. If you have more absences, you may lost credit
Course Outline
Vocabulary topics are stated in the general title of the unit. Grammar and linguistic elements are outlined. Deaf culture will be addressed in various lesions for each unit.
Semester 1
/Semester 2
Unit 1: Welcome· Conjugating To Be
· Eye Contact
· Closing Signals
· One-word replies
· The Question-Maker
· Facial Expressions & NMS
· Signing Yes and NO
Unit 2: Getting Started
· The WH-Face
· The Signed Question Mark
· When signs
· The WH-Signs
Unit 3: Getting to Know You
· Topic-Comment Structure
· Possessive Signs
· Numbers 1-5
Unit 4: Family and Friends
· Gender Distinction in ASL
· Shoulder Shifting
· The Age Spot
· Listing & Ordering Technique
· Conjugating Verbs: To Go
· How to Fix Mistakes
· Pronouns and Number / Unit 5: School Days
· The Agent Marker
· Initialization
· Identifying Classifiers
· Time-Spot
· Multiple Meanings
Unit 6: Sports and Activities
· Experience & Finish
· The Five Parameters
· More Classifiers
· Using Tense in ASL
· Tense Markers & Number
Unit 7: My Daily Routine
· Spatial Organization
· Noun-verb pairs in ASL
Class Project/ Performance
· Sign the book in ASL
· Perform live or recorded
Classroom Rules
1. Be ready to work when the bell rings/flashes.
2. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
3. Bring all needed materials and homework to class.
4. Be Respectful; language, posture & facial expressions
5. Follow directions, participate and cooperate
6. Use all class time productively.
7. No Gum!
8. NO VOICE! (Reading the Information section on “Voicing Policy,” “Eye Contact,”
Information:
1. Voicing Policy - This class is conducted primarily without voice. A no-voice is observed during the class. The philosophy exercised in the classroom is the language immersion theory of learning ASL. Spoken language is used through the ears; ASL through the eyes. If you do not understand the signer, please ask for clarification. They will need to gesture, fingerspell the word, or write on white slates/paper if they don’t know the sign for that word when they are trying to express something. This also encourages the use of ASL (including the use of facial expression and body language) and introduces cultural rules. To enhance the student’s acquisition of ASL, gum chewing, talking, whispering or mouthing words is NOT permitted in class unless determined by your instructor.
2. Eye Contact – Eye contact is very important in ASL – it shows that you are paying attention to the conversation. Unlike in classes conducted in a spoken language, you must keep your eyes on the instructor, board, and classmates that are signing. It is considered rude to not look at the person that is signing. It also requires you to stand up when you sign, wait until everyone turns to look at you before you respond or to come to the front of the room so everyone can see what you’re signing. You will need to be able to move yourself around to look at the person that is signing. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure you can se what is being signed by anyone in the room. Either move yourself or ask the person to repeat what they signed. This also makes it difficult to take written notes. The instructor will provide written materials (Power Point notes, vocabulary list, etc) that are presented in class either before or after the lesson or you will be provided page numbers in your text with the information presented. If further information is needed, ask me (your teacher). Along with eye contact is hats/headgear. Hats/headgear covers your eyes and eyebrows which is a part of ASL grammar. NO hats or headgear.
3. This class have a participation grade. All students will receive 10 points = 100% for the week. If you don’t follow the voicing & eye contact policy, then you will lose points. If you are following the voicing/eye contact policy and participating in class, then points will be added. By the end of the week (Friday after class ends), it will become their individual grade for participation based on their points for the week.
Classroom Routine:
When you walk in class use your HANDS to communicate. We will use ASL! If you can’t remember a sign, then use lots of gesturing and facial expression. Use the white slates if you’re stuck!
Daily:
Bellwork (5 to 10 minutes) – when you enter the classroom, briefly greet the teacher and other students in ASL. Leave your backpacks in the back table and only grade your notebook, papers, pen/pencil. Find your assigned seat, and your notebook/paper/pencil or pen ready for the bell work.
After Bellwork, I (your teacher) will present a short vocabulary, grammar or cultural lesson. After the lesson, you (students) will engage in grouped or individual practice lessons.
Acknowledgement of Receipt of Syllabus
Please sign and return the following to the teacher.
Students: Initial each of the following to which you agree.
____ I have received my syllabus, which includes the course objectives, policies, requirements and schedule
____ I have read and understand all of the syllabus policies and requirements.
____ I have read and understand the NO VOICING and EYE CONTACT policy and will adhere to it.
____ I have no objection to receiving phone calls from the teacher at my home phone number.
____ I have no objection to receiving phone calls from the teacher at my cell phone number.
____ I have no objection to receiving phone calls from the teacher at my work phone number.
____ I have no objection to receiving email from the teacher.
____ I have permission for my teacher to e-mail any grades and materials associated with my student record for this course during this semester to the email address listed below.
Student Information:
Signature: ______Class period: ______
Name: ______
(Please print)
Id number: ______Home phone: ______Cell phone: ______
Are you working after school? Y ES or NO (Circle one)
Email address: ______
Parent Information:
Signature: ______
Name: ______
(Please print)
Home phone: ______Cell Phone: ______Work phone: ______
Email address: ______