CATALINA MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
COURSE SYLLABUS 2012-2013
1. Course Title: American Sign Language 5-6
2. Instructor: Natasha Escalada-Westland
3. Instructor’s Email Address and, if Applicable, Student Website:
natasha.escaladawestland@tusd1.org
westlandasl@gmail.com
www.westlandasl.com
4. Instructor’s Classroom Phone Number: 232-8452
5. Course Description:
Students will review ASL 3-4. This course includes the use of ASL syntax, sign modulation/inflection,
prosody, sign space usage, conceptual accuracy, sign vocabulary, and Deaf culture and history.
Because language and culture are inextricably linked, this course will also demonstrate how ASL
conveys the values, beliefs, customs, and history of American Deaf culture.
6. Textbook:
Signing Naturally, Workbook and DVD, 2001, Mikos/Smith/Lentz
Students in this class work from a class set of books and are not provided with an individual copy,
except by special request.
7. Other Required Materials:




Binder or large folder
Pen or pencil.
Desire to learn & enthusiasm!
Homework: 4 days/week, 15-20 min./night
8. Topics Covered in This Class:
Performance Goals:
Upon completion of this year-long course, the student will be able to do the following:
1. Develop essential skills needed to tell a story successfully using ASL
2. Develop accurate ASL interpretations of information given in written English
3. Give clear instructions using correct ASL grammatical structures
4. Discuss money matters
5. Share detailed accounts of experiences during conversations
6. Introduce complex information in an organized manner
7. Present an ASL story in a formal setting, using “key elements”
8. Express and interpret lexicalized fingerspelling
9. Express and interpret signs for mathematical calculations and functions
10. Fingerspell and interpret words in a signed discussion
11. Fingerspell and interpret acronyms of deaf related organizations and services
12. Fingerspell and interpret proper nouns
13. Use SignWriting to write an ASL story
Course Outline
Outline: Unit Topics are outlined.
Fingerspelling and SignWriting will be addressed throughout the course.
Semester 1
1. ASL Narratives
a. Role/Body Shifting
b. Maintaining spatial agreement
c. Sequencing classifiers
d. Correct timing of NMS
e. Elaborate via descriptions, thoughts
and reasons
2. Theories/Methodologies of Fingerspelling
a. Other types of manual alphabets
b. Usage of short e and other letters
c. Mixed combinations of letters and
numbers
d. Advanced expressive techniques
e. Advanced receptive techniques
f. Advanced closure techniques
3. Translation of interesting facts
a. Organize essential information by
relationship and relevance
b. Clarify meaning by explaining,
rephrasing, demonstrating, and
drawing conclusions
4. Give clear instructions: Rules for Games
a. Using classifiers
b. Using conditional sentences
c. Using rhetorical questions
d. Using relative clauses
e. Using appropriate attention getting
behaviors
Semester 2
1. SignWriting at the Story Level

Writing sentences

Writing paragraphs
2. ASL Storytelling: Recounting Reality

Classifiers: scaling up, scaling down

Use reference points

Role shift perspectives
3. Discussing Money and Math

Discussing money matters

Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

Rational numbers
4. Detailed Accounts of Experiences

Increase conversational fluency

Repeat information to a third party

Ask for clarification
5. Introduce Complex Information

Organize information

Use descriptive classifiers

Present in a concise manner
6. Present a Formal ASL Story

Use “key elements” of storytelling

Adapt written stories into ASL
9. Grading Policy:
Testing, Grading Scale and Categories
In order to pass a unit, students must receive at least 75% on Receptive and Expressive tests. These
will be taken by watching the instructor signing live or on video or by recording yourself signing or
signing live in front of the instructor. There are testing time windows, but students may retake all
tests until a score of 75% or higher is achieved, and students may test ahead if they have finished a
particular unit.
Grammar and culture knowledge tests include written English and SignWriting. Students may use
any notes they have written or printed and included in their ASL class folder. Grammar and culture
tests cannot be taken until a study guide and/or notes are completed.
Weighted Categories:
 Interpersonal & interpretive ASL skills
35% of weighted grade
(includes reading SignWriting)
 Presentational ASL skills
35% of weighted grade
(includes writing SignWriting)
 Grammar and Culture knowledge
15% of weighted grade
(Written English tests and assignments, some projects)
 Culturally Appropriate Behavior
15% of weighted grade
(use of visual communication and appropriate participation in class activities)
Grade Scale [applied after all categories are calculated (rounded up)]:
A
B
C
D
F
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
65-69%
0-64%
10. Late/Missing Work Policy:
Tests and assignments must be done to mastery. You must re-do assignments and tests until you reach
a score of 75% or higher to obtain mastery. All assignment grades will be finalized (and therefore all
assignments are due) at least 5 school days before grades are due at each quarter. Hand in
assignments to your labeled class tray on the table at the back of the room.
11. Interventions this Teacher Offers to Students Whose Performance Does Not
Meet Expectations:
The mastery expectations set out in the paragraph above are one form of intervention. Students who do not
retake or redo tests and assignments with scores lower than ~75% and/or whose overall class score is below
70% will be asked to write and submit to the instructor a signed plan of action to raise their scores.
Parents/guardians, school counselors, administrators or other key staff or faculty members will be contacted
with the details as to the plan.
13. Other Class Requirements or Expectations:
CAB Plan – Culturally and Classroom Appropriate Behavior – Earned Daily points: 10 pts. (Extra
credit is often available for observed extra effort)
You earn or lose points on a daily checklist according to your ability and willingness to adhere to
(Deaf and Classroom) Culturally Appropriate Behavior. As you gain knowledge and confidence, my
expectations will become higher. More Deaf cultural norms will be added and practiced as the year
progress. The basics are as follows:
 Visual communication - is expected for the majority of class time, as indicated by “The Sign”
located at the front of the room on the white board. “The Sign” will be orange with a picture
of signing hands, and means that you are to use sign language, not spoken language. You
may use Stickies for questions that come up during lectures or questions that you feel you
can’t express adequately using visual communications. Stickies are simply a sticky note on
which you can write your question or observation and give it to me or place it on my
computer screen. I’ll address the questions that come up as time allows during class.
 Eye contact – This will be hard for some of you at first because culturally, hearing people are
trained to mostly listen, and not all cultures value direct eye contact, some even disapprove
of it. You will be expected to watch the person who is signing in large, small and one-on-one
signing situations.
o Hat, Sunglasses & Hoodies – Please don’t wear them in class. A huge part of ASL is
facial expression and eye gaze. We won’t be able to fully access this part of the
language if you are covering it up.
o Clear sight-lines – If you can’t see the signer, move or let the signer know you can’t
see them. Communication is a two-way street.
 Distractions (tardies, food, phones, other electronics without permission, etc.) –
o Treat everyone in the room with respect. Simple. Effective. Remember it! Respect
yourself and others by focusing on our goal of learning ASL.
Set electronics to off/vibrate and in your pocket or bags. If devices cause a
continuing interruption, students will be asked to give up their devices to a monitor
or administrator.
o Be on time. The following tardy policy is in effect: minus 5 participation points each
tardy. If it becomes a habit and/or is disruptive, you will be referred for
detention/community service. Skipping out early is considered a “tardy” too.
o Keep it clean. No food. Drinks with lids only.
Attend class. Let me know if you will be absent. When you are absent, check missed work by
accessing my lesson plans or Power Points on line at http://www.westlandasl.com. Any
other handouts needed should be available in a location I have indicated in the room or
available for download on my website. Most students who attend regularly pass this class.
Students who are absent frequently often fail.
Academic Integrity. If you cheat or plagiarize individual work such as tests or written
assignments you will receive a score of zero. Your parents/guardians will be contacted and
you will be referred to administration for disciplinary measures.
Ask questions and get help. If you need further help or assistance beyond class time, please
don’t hesitate see me during lunch by appointment.
All school rules and regulations outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities or
elsewhere are, of course, in effect in this classroom as well.
o




Classroom Routine
We will use ENTIRELY ASL! You will need to practice asking questions, making polite conversation
and using lots of gesturing and facial expression when you can’t remember a sign. Use a Sticky if
you’re stuck!
As well as the expectation that you use ASL, this is how you can expect classes to proceed on a weekly
basis. There will be projects, and hopefully visitors that will insert themselves into our routine, and
of course, unexpected circumstances to deal with. The daily objectives will be displayed on the
projector or written on the board.
Daily
Bellwork (5 to 10 min.) – When you enter the classroom, briefly greet the teacher and other students
in ASL, find your assigned seat, get out your notebook, read and copy the objectives and
announcements and for the day and begin the daily bellwork practice.
After bellwork, the instructor will present a short vocabulary, grammar or culture lesson. Topics are
posted on-line at www.westlandasl.com> ASL 1-2> Calendar. After the lesson, students will engage
in grouped or individual practice lessons.
Classroom Binders or Folders
Each of you will keep a binder. In it you will keep a list of objectives, notes and track your progress
towards the objectives (assessments). You need to keep graded assignments and test scores or
progress reports. Test answer sheets will be kept by the instructor and can be viewed on request.
Practice Groupings
Assigned seating will change on a bi-weekly basis. Sometimes you will choose practice group and
sometimes you will be assigned to practice with others. These groupings may change depending on
the goal for the day and what we are trying to accomplish.