Teaching Sign Language, FREE Art Lessons, The Math Mom
By Heather Idoni
Added Thursday, November 05, 2009
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 10 No 82 November 5, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to The Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- American Sign Language
Helpful Tip
-- The Math Mom
Winning Website
-- Art Lesson Plans
Reader Question
-- ASL vs. SEE?
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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This issue's reader question is about American Sign Language.
I am learning more ASL each day as I communicate with my 18 year
old niece who is cognitively impaired and developmentally
disabled. She is non-verbal, so she communicates with us
primarily through ASL signs she has learned over the years.
Thankfully she can hear and understand verbal English -- that
would be much more difficult if she were also hearing impaired!
It has been fun and also challenging learning enough ASL signs
to understand Charlotte, and she is very happy that we can. She
has been living with us for a little over a year now and is
very patient with us!
American Sign Language is a real language -- and as important
as any other in the world. More and more colleges are recognizing
the legitimacy of choosing ASL for foreign language credit.
My favorite place to learn new ASL signs is this video site:
It has come in VERY handy in adding to our vocabulary and aiding
in deciphering my niece's communications! If you want to begin
learning ASL casually, or spark an interest with your children,
this is a good place to start. You don't have to become a member
to use the site -- most features are available to non-members.
And here is a portal site which links to videos at several sites:
http://www.dailyasl.com/ASLdictionary.htm
-- Heather
---
Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
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Susan Wise Bauer and Gregg Harris on Knowledge Quest Maps:
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-- Susan Wise Bauer
---
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Helpful Tip
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"I have a non-profit website for Moms about Math where I illuminate
mathematics that we do daily - while shopping, cooking, mowing the
lawn, driving, parenting - and help parents see math and present it
to their kids as a toy, a tool and a friend. See if you will find
it helpful: http://www.TheMathMom.com
In addition to weekly stories, I also post daily puzzles (see upper
right corner link for a Family Puzzle Marathon). Many people find
that puzzles are a great way to present math in a non-intimidating
and engaging way to their kids."
-- The Math Mom
---
Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Winning Website
==================
http://www.dickblick.com/lessonplans/
These fantastic FREE lesson plans can be used to create a complete art
curriculum for any age child. Search by grade level or discipline --
and check-out the video lessons, too! The printable PDF links to each
project are beautifully arranged in categories, which makes it easy to
browse or find exactly what you are looking for. Scroll down the page
to view the most recent additions before you start browsing! All the
PDFs have clickable links to each recommended tool or material which
you could purchase from the site, so you know exactly what is needed,
although (of course) there is no obligation to purchase your materials
from their company.
All FREE, ORIGINAL, and really COOL art lessons from Dick Blick! :-)
-- Heather
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I was wondering if anyone has experience in, has a child interested
in, or looked at sign language as part of their children's education.
Is there anyone familiar with the differences between Signing Exact
English and American Sign Language and their usefulness in real life?
And what is your preference? What kind of credit can be given for
ASL and/or SEE? How far can they go at the high school level?
Thanks for your help." -- Anna
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Our Readers' Responses
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"I can't answer most of the questions, but I did want to weigh in
on the question of ASL vs. SEE. ASL is a language spoken (yes, the
term is actually used) by the American Deaf community. SEE is the
use of individual signs to replace words in English. Most of the
signs of SEE are based on ASL, but changes are made to make it more
English-like in various ways.
Would you ever consider teaching your child a bunch of French words,
then telling them they don't have to learn the actual language because
they can just use the French words in English sentences instead? SEE
is a denigration of an actual language, is belittling the entire deaf
community, and is really just learning a bunch of ways to move your
hands." -- Brandel in Jerusalem
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"Hi Anna -- I am not pretending to be an expert, but I did take a
fascinating class at our local community college that introduced me to
ASL and the signing Deaf culture in general. Our community college
offers two courses in it, and a local Deaf advocacy group offers more
in-depth training in ASL. From the instructor's information, I got
the idea that 'signed English' is not widely used in the Deaf community
itself and is designed for the ease of educators working with the deaf.
ASL users tend to consider themselves a minority linguistic group and
their language is often taught as a 'stand-alone' manual language
rather than trying to make it 'fit' standard English grammar (which
is what signed English is designed to do).
I assume your children are hearing; the opportunities for skilled ASL
translators can be lucrative. ASL translators who can master very
technical vocabulary (such as for lawyers and doctors) were presented
to our class as making potentially $100.00 an hour for their services.
There is a hierarchy of certification required in order to be an
official ASL translator. In any case, even a course or two will
widen your children to another culture as well as a language.
Here are some links:
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/asl.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sign_Language
Hope this helps." -- Karen C.
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"I took several semesters of ASL in college, and have taught some
of it to my children (beginning when they were babies). The basic
difference between ASL and SEE is that ASL is a different language
from English, with its own grammar and dialects. Though originally
developed for the Deaf population by those who can hear, it is now
very much a part of the Deaf culture and identity. It is primarily
used by those who identify with the Deaf culture, and those who
interpret for them.
SEE is exactly what it says - a way to sign the English language.
It is primarily used in educational settings where hearing people
want deaf children to learn to communicate in English with other
hearing people.
Pigeon Signed English (PSE) uses ASL signs, but puts them in English
word order. This makes it easier for native English speakers to use
and is generally tolerated by the Deaf community - kind of like the
way adults smile at a toddlers efforts to speak.
If you teach ASL, you can give credits just as you would for any
foreign language. If you teach SEE, you cannot count it as a
foreign language.
Teach SEE if you want you children to interact with people who are
deaf as the 'expert' who will help them be as 'normal' as possible.
Teach ASL if you want your children to be able to interact with
people who are deaf as people, with respect for the Deaf culture
and language. Yes, I'm biased toward ASL. :-)
If at all possible, try to find someone who is a native, or at
least fluent speaker of ASL to practice with. Our community has
a 'Deaf club' that opens its gatherings to the public once per
month. It was an awesome opportunity to go learn and practice
the new language I was learning. Contact a local sign language
interpreter or an ASL instructor in your area (many community
colleges offer classes) to find out about resources in your area.
Oh, and one other thing - if you can't learn from a real person,
try and find a video series rather than a book to learn from.
Books are helpful for reference to remind you of a sign you've
already learned, but it is nearly impossible to properly learn a
dynamic language from a static picture.
I think learning ASL is very worthwhile - and enjoyable besides!"
-- Laurie
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"I don't know the answer to the different types of signing, but
I suggest you contact a local association for the blind, college
or university they might be able to give you some insight.
How far can they go at the high school level? I think that really
depends on your local homeschool laws. To be on the safe side I
suggest you look into your local DOE website and see if the local
high schools give a signing course. This will give you a pretty
good idea of how far you can go, at least as a minimum because as
a homeschooler you will likely exceed the public school standard.
Using the DOE course description you can also write up your own
course description. I've done that with our students and developed
a form I use for any independent studies our children do. My form
has the following sections:
Rationale -- identify the reasons you want to take this course.
Activities -- the major initiatives you plan to take.
Resources -- specific books and materials you will use.
Objectives -- measurable tasks or projects you will complete.
Schedule -- meeting times and project completion dates.
Assessment/Evaluation -- indication of what must be accomplished
to earn an A, B, C, etc.
By the way, there is an umbrella type school that will help you
create courses at http://www.narhs.org/." -- Judy in Florida
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"ASL has its own grammar and syntax that is not at all like English.
SEE is Signed Exact English and is basically what it says. You use
the ASL signs, but in English grammatical order. Take the following
easy sentence for an example: 'The boy plays with the ball.' In SEE
you would sign 'boy plays with ball'. In ASL you would sign 'ball
boy plays with'. ASL grammar is basically object, subject, verb.
I have been slowly integrating ASL and SEE in with our lessons.
For me it is a necessity as I am newly (3 years ago) 100% deaf. I
am having to learn and thought the kids (14 and 15) would benefit
from it. They are not happy.
As far as how high they can go, there are literally thousands of
ASL signs and the object is to get them proficient enough to be
able to carry on conversations using only sign language.
Two websites that are wonderful are http://www.lifeprint.com and
http://www.aslpro.com . ASL Pro also has a link on their page for
religious signs. On Lifeprint.com you are able to print out a
workbook or work off the website. They are both free, but they
also have CDs available at a cost to be able to do the lessons if
you are on dial-up or just don't want to be on the internet at the
time.
I am also using the 'American Sign Language for Dummies' book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764554360?ie=UTF8&tag=hsaudio-20
-- as well as some sign language dictionaries from Galludet, the
Deaf university." -- Kristina
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"The difference between SEE and ASL is that SEE has a sign for EVERY
English word and can differentiate between present and past tense
of verbs, etc., while ASL has signs for the main concept but doesn't
use signs for every word. The two types of sign language have
different uses, depending on your goals. To an outsider, ASL looks
very fluid and beautiful while SEE is a little more choppy.
My perspective is a little different. I have 2 kids born with
hearing loss who started out with sign language. The first (now
5 1/2) is hard of hearing. I wanted her to know the signs for nouns,
and the signs for concepts and phrases, so we used ASL. The second
(now 3 1/2) is deaf and I wanted him to be able to translate signs
into a proper English sentence, even though he might not hear all
the words, so we used SEE.
About half of the signs are the same for ASL and SEE, so you'll be
learning many of the same signs regardless.
As far as usefulness, ASL is more universal in the US if you're
looking to interact with deaf kids and adults. SEE mirrors English
and is used primarily in educational settings for kids. SEE makes
you think about the English language (verb tenses, adverbs, adding
ING to words, etc.) and can be helpful to visually demonstrate the
difference between parts of speech. However, signing SEE for
communication is cumbersome and most adults who know SEE also know
ASL, so they can communicate faster and with more people."
-- Lisa in Washington State
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"I have been interested in sign language since I was in 5th grade.
I have been interpreting off and on since I was 13 and my sister
is married to a man who is deaf so I know a little about what you
are asking. First of all, most deaf people use ASL or a combination
of Signed English and ASL which is called Pigeon English. Signed
English is what deaf schoolchildren are taught. It is every single
word signed, in the structure that we use in English. They are
taught sign language this way so that they will understand the
English language that they will be reading, writing, etc. As they
get older and merge more into deaf culture (if they are choosing
sign language as their primary language), they will learn ASL. This
is an entirely different language structure, using signs.
Here is an example that was always used in my classes:
We would say, 'Have you been home yet?'
In ASL, we would SIGN, 'Touch home finish?'
ASL has just recently begun to be acknowledged as a 'foreign'
language and many colleges are accepting it as such. I am teaching
my children sign language using 'Signing Times' videos:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R3441G?ie=UTF8&tag=hsaudio-20
These are EXCELLENT and perfect for gaining a large repertoire of
signs. She does not teach ASL per se, but uses it in the videos
if you know how to recognize it. Once your children have a good
foundation of signs, then I would get them in a class that is more
intense and begins the basics of ASL. ASL is a very difficult
language and I don't know any hearing people who use it in Deaf
culture exclusively. All of the interpreters that I have known
use Pigeon. But then again, I never took an ASL course. I wish
that I had. Sign language interpretation is an excellent field
to get into. Many states do not require certification, and the pay
for freelance work is excellent. Also, there are only a handful of
interpreters throughout the U.S., so they are in big demand. My
sister turns down assignments often and makes a killing when she
does work. I think it is an excellent thing, especially for our
daughters, as they can pick and choose assignments based on when
they want to work or not!
If you need any further help on this, I'd be happy to oblige."
-- Allison H.
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"SEE or Signing Exact English is trading a sign or movement for
each word; there is no grammar, no historical context. ASL is a
rich language with different grammar and a history and linguistic
context (not to mention dialects).
I took ASL in college from a deaf professor with a PhD. He was
amazing to listen to as he pointed out the differences between
SEE and ASL -- and also between ASL and Dutch Sign (his father
was also Deaf and from Holland -- the prof 'spoke' both). It was
also interesting when we'd have speakers from different areas of
the country because there would be dialect differences. These
would show in where the hands were placed in relation to the body,
facial expression, and even slight differences in hand position.
We were able to meet a group of New York students and they had
the same dialect so we were able to see the difference between a
person's style and a regional thing.
Personally I would have a harder time assigning credit for SEE
than for ASL, purely because learning just signs (and not learning
the history, culture and grammar) I believe shortchanges the
opportunity to grow and learn. SEE is too much like learning
English, and by the time a student is in High School, in America,
one can assume that they can speak English. So to me SEE is not
really learning a foreign Language." -- Mia
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"Anna -- In summary, SEE was created to make the Deaf world
conform to the hearing world, whereas ASL is their actual language.
SEE has some advantages that the hard-of-hearing population (in
some cases) has adopted, but the reversal of verbs, adjectives,
adverbs and nouns, that is part of ASL, is still a key point that
sets apart the Deaf culture.
Sign Language can be considered a foreign language and even a
first language for others and should be viewed as one of the more
popular languages in the United States, even though it is usually
not listed in a ranking." -- JenniLyn
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Answer our NEW Question
=========================
"I have an 'issue' that I would LOVE some answers to.
My son is 4 years old and he will be 5 in may 2010. He goes to
Preschool 2.5 hours a day 3 days a week now and he loves it.
I want to homeschool Kindergarten and 1st grade, but I hate the
idea of all-day Kindergarten! We are not 'overly' religious;
our reason to homeschool is mainly that we think there is no
reason he needs to be away from home for that much time. Also,
there are so many things I want to do with him and teach him.
He doesn't have any learning disabilities; he's actually already
doing some Kindergarten and 1st grade stuff. He is very articulate.
He's my firstborn though, and very 'look at me'! He LOVES to be
in charge and doesn't always like to play together with other
kids unless they play HIS WAY. He's very social (especially
with older kids and adults) -- and very talkative.
My questions are:
1. Am I 'cheating' him socially if I homeschool him?
2. Am I homeschooling him because I truly think it's best for
him or is it just what I want to do?
3. Will he have a hard time adjusting to school if we send him
in 2nd or 3rd grade?
Thanks!" -- Gretchen
---
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