Together, we will create a classroom that is:

• Respectful

• Inclusive

• Supportive

• Engaging

• Focused on growth

Every student deserves a safe environment where they feel comfortable learning and communicating.

Students are expected to:

Come prepared

• Arrive on time

• Bring a charged device, charger, and any required materials

• Be ready to participate when class begins

Participate every day

Language is learned by using it. 

Students should:

• Actively participate in class activities

• Practice signing daily

• Be willing to communicate, even when making mistakes

• Give their best effort during every lesson

Consistent participation is one of the most important factors in becoming a successful signer.

Respect others

Students should:

• Listen while others are signing

• Encourage classmates

• Treat everyone with kindness

• Respect different learning styles and abilities

• Demonstrate respect for Deaf culture and Deaf community

Practice a Growth Mindset

Learning a language is not about being perfect. 

Students are encouraged to:

• Ask questions

• Learn from mistakes

• Practice regularly

• Celebrate improvement

• Challenge themselves

During many classroom activities, students will be asked to communicate using ASL without speaking. 

This helps students:

• Develop visual communication skills

• Build confidence

• Improve fluency

• Think in ASL rather than translating from English

Voice-off activites are an important part of learning the language naturally.

In American Sign Language, facial expressions are a large part of the language. 

Students will practice:

• Non-manual markers/morphemes (NMM)

• Eye contact

• Appropriate body language

• Expression

• Visual engagement

These skills are essential for effective communication.

Technology is an important learning tool. 

Students are expected to:

• Bring their laptop charged with a charger each day

• Use technology responsibly

• Stay on assigned websites and activities

• Follow all school technology guidelines and laws regarding certain technologies

In ASL class, there will be some assignments that will be completed using a video submission of the student signing. This will happen at teacher discretion and is not necissarily an option for every assignment. 

When submitting expressive signing assignments, your goal is to make sure your signing can be clearly seen and understood. A successful ASL video shows your language skills, facial expressions, body movement, and communication - not just your hands. 

Before submitting your video, review the guidelines below:

Video & Deaf Culture Guidelines:

• Maintain eye contact (or eye gaze)

When signing, look at your communication partner (the camera), not at your hands. When you are signing a story and it has multiple characters, make sure you are also maintaining eye gaze in the story as if those people are talking to eachother. 

Eye contact shows respect, engagement, confidence, and active communication. Remember: In ASL, your eyes and facial expressions are part of the conversation. 

• Use facial expressions (NMM)

Your face is part of the language!!! 

Make sure you are using appropriate eyebrows, mouth movements, head movements, body shifts, and facial expressions. 

Examples: questions require appropriate facial grammar, emotions should match your message, and stories should show personality and meaning. 

A blank expression makes your message lost and harder to understand. (it will also result in a loss of points on your assignment. 

• Keep your hands visible

Your hands, face, and body all communicate meaning. 

Make sure your hands do not leave the camera frame, your arms are not blocked, your face remains visible, and your signing space can be seen clearly. 

Sign languages rely on hand movements, facial expressions, and body positioning to communicate meaning, so the entire signing space needs to be visible. 

• Dress for Success

Wear clothing that allows your signing to be easily seen. 

Reccommended: 

✅ Solid-colored shirt

✅ Colors that contrast with your skin tone

✅ Hair pulled away from your face (if needed)

✅ Minimal distractions

Avoid:

❌ Busy patterns

❌ Clothing that blends into your hands

❌ Large jewelry that distracts from signing (this is also dangerous)

❌ Hats or anything covering your face

Solid clothing and strong contrast improve visibility of the hands and face. 

• Recording Setup Guidelines

Before recording: 

✅ Place your camera on a stable surface

✅ Record horizontally (landscape mode) or on your laptop

✅ Position the camera at eye level

✅  Make sure your full signing space is visible

Your video should show:

Top of your head ➡️ Waist

Your hands should be visible when signing naturally. 

Avoid holding the camera, shaky footage, extreme close-ups, being too far away, and ceiling fans. A stable camera, eye-level positioning, and full visibility of the signer help viewers understand signed communication clearly. 

• Lighting

Make sure your hands and face are easy to see. 

Best practices:

✅ Face a light source

✅ Use a well-lit room

✅ Avoid bright windows behind you

✅ Avoid shadows across your face

Do NOT record:

❌ In front of a window or lamp

❌ In a dark room 

❌ With your face appearing as a shadow

Good lighting helps preserve the visual information needed for ASL communication.

• Signing Expectations

Before Recording make sure you:

✅ Practice your signs

✅ Review your vocabulary

✅ Know your message

✅ Practice facial expressions

✅ Practice your body shifts and storytelling

Your goal is communication, not simply memorizing individual signs. 

During recording:

BE EXPRESSIVE!!!

ASL is not just hand movements. Show emotion, confidence, personality, and meaning. 

Avoid English word-for-word signing. ASL has its own grammar and structure. Focus on communicating your ideas naturally rather than translating every English word. 

Keep your signing smooth. Work on clear handshapes, accurate movements, appropriate pacing, and natural transitions. 

To help ensure that all late or missing assignments are graded accurately, students are required to complete the Missing/Late Work Form found in Google Classroom. 

Because Google Classroom does not notify me when an assignment is submitted after grades have been already posted, this form alerts me that there is new work to review. It also helps me maintain accurate documentation of late submissions and the reason they were turned in after the original due date. 

When should I complete the form?

Complete one form for each assignment if:

• You were absent

• You left class early

• You missed class due to an extracurricular activity or school event

• You are submitting an assignment after the original due date

• You completed an assignment after grades for that assignment have already been entered into the gradebook

• You were absent due to illness

If you are submitting multiple assignments, you must complete a separate form for each assignment. 

What information will I need?

The form will ask you for:

• Your full name

• Class period

• Assignment name (as shown in HAC)

• Original due date

• Date you are submitting the assignment

• Reason for the late submission

• Any additional information I should know

Please complete the form carefully and honestly to help ensure your work is processed correctly. 

Important Information

Submitting an assignment in Google Classroom (or Formative) does not automatically notify me once grades have already been posted. If the Missing/Late Work Form is not completed, I may not know that your work has been submitted, and it may remain ungraded. 

Completing the form is the student's responsibility. 

When will my late work be graded? 

Current assignments and assessments for the class are always my first priority. Late work is graded after current work has been completed. 

I typically aim to review and update late work about once each week, but this timeline may very on grading demands, and the time of year. Some assignments may be updated sooner, while others may take longer. 

Please do not expect your grade to change immediately after submitting the form. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I work to grade all submissions fairly and accurately as possible. 

Grading Policy for Late and Absence Related Work

The Missing/Late Work Form does not change the grading policy outlined in the course syllabus. It simply notifies me that an assignment has been submitted after grades were originally posted. 

Please keep the following policies in mind:

• Daily work may be turned in one class period late for a maximum grade of 80%

• Quizzes and tests are completed during class and cannot be submitted late

• Students who are absent due to illness are allowed one school day for each day of absence to make up missed work. Assignments that were assigned before the absence and due that day are the say the student returns to school. Previously scheduled quizzes or exams will be given on the day the student returns. 

• All assignments submitted after grades have been posted - including assignments turned in because of an absence, illness, extracurricular activity, or any other reason - require the Missing/Late Work form to be completed. 

If you are unsure whether an assignment qualifies as late work or absence work, please ask before submitting it. 

Students should:

• Complete assignments by the due date

• Review feedback provided on assignments

• Ask questions when clarification is needed

• Check Google Classrooom regularly for updates and resources

Google Classroom is the primary location for assignments, announcements, and course materials. 

Students demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways, including:

• Conversations

• Presentations

• Storytelling

• Vocabulary assessments

• Receptive activities

• Expressive signing

• Projects

Because ASL is a visual language, many assessments focus of their communication rather than traditional written tests. 

Students are encouraged to practice for 30-45 minutes each day. 

Simple ways to practice include:

• Reviewing vocabulary

• Fingerspelling

• Watching ASL videos

• Teaching a family member new signs

• Practicing facial expressions

• Retelling stories in ASL

Small consistent practice sessions help build long-term confidence. 

Parents play an important role in student success. 

Families can support learning by:

• Encouraging regular attendance

• Asking students about what they are learning

• Celebrating effort and progress

• Encouraging daily practice

• Checking Google Classroom when needed

No prior knowledge of ASL is required to support your students' learning journey.

My goal is not simply for students to memorize vocabulary - it is for them to become confident communicators who appreciate the language, culture, and community of Deaf individuals. 

Together, we will build communication skills, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for American Sign Language and Deaf culture.