Basic Signs

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In recent years, there has been an increased interest in teaching sign language to young children. This interest is usually influenced by a desire to help young children acquire language or communication skills when they may not have them. Other times there may be challenges or delays with language so sign language is introduced.

Many parents and caregivers teach their children basic signs for common words that are used in daily exchanges. There are several reasons that this may be. Small children are not able to communicate their needs verbally, and often have a high success rate of acquiring and using basic sign language. 

​Children are able to acquire sign language skills similarly to the way they acquire spoken language, but often at a much earlier age. 

Also, a study done by Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn and Catherine Brown found that children who were taught sign language as early as 11 months old, had better language and cognitive development later in life (Acredolo, Goodwyn and Brown, 2000).

This training will provide videos, broken down into categories with the goal to teach the signs in their basic form and give you the chance to practice as we go along. ​ Along with about 100 basic signs that are commonly used between children and their caregivers there will also be explanations of how to use the signs in correct context. This course does not aim to teach fluent ASL, but instead to give a general introduction to the beautiful language of American Sign Language for child care professionals and teachers to use in their programs.

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1. Course Agenda
​2. Sign Language Introduction Video
3. ASL Video Discussion
4. Deaf Culture and Community
5. Cultural Influences on Language
6. Video Protecting Deaf Culture
7. Discussion Deaf Culture
8. Hand Shapes
9. Facial Expressions and Body Language
10. Signed Alphabet 
11. Discussion: Facial Expressions

12. Occupations with and without the Agent Marker
13. Basic Signs
14. Color Signs
15. Days of the Week
16. People Signs
17. Place Signs
18. Animal Signs
19. Food Signs
20. Feeling Signs
21. School Signs
22. Basic Signs
​23. Discussion: Signs in the Classroom

24. Check for Understanding
25. Where to Begin when Teaching Signs
26. Signs by Age
27. Older Children Signs
28. Classroom Management
29. Make it Fun!
30. Discussion: Make it Fun!
31. Sign Language Quiz #1
32. Sign Language Quiz #2
33. Sign Language Quiz #3
34. Sign Language Quiz #4
35. Sign Language Quiz #5
36. Evaluation Form​
​Parking Lot