Home Practice Tips

Encourage your student to practice signing for 30-45 minutes each day. 

Short, consistent practice sessions are much more effective than trying to study everything the night before a quiz or assessment. 

Ideas include:

• Reviewing vocabulary from class

• Practice fingerspelling names or street/road signs

• Retell a simple story using signs

• Review signs learned that week

• Practice facial expressions while signing

One of the best ways to remember something is to teach it to someone else. 

Ask your student to:

• Teach you 5 new signs each week

• Fingerspell family members' names

• Sign common household objects

• Explain what they learned in class

You don't need to know ASL - learning together can be fun!! 

Watching fluent signers helps students improve receptive skills and learn natural ASL grammar. 

Students can:

• Watch reccommended classroom videos

• Review teacher-provided practice materials

• Observe facial expressions and body language

• Pause and copy signs while watching

Seeing the language used naturally is an important part of becoming a confident signer. 

** not all signers sign the same, signs vary depending upon location, accent, family signs, and how they learned it. **

Facial expressions are an essential part of ASL.

Encourage students to practice:

• Asking questions

• Showing emotions

• Expressing excitement

• Using appropriate eye contact

• Matching facial expressions to the message

Facial expressions make up for about 70% of the language. It is how you convey tone, emotion, and much more in ASL. 

Remember: In ASL, your face is part of the language!

A mirror allows students to:

• Check handshape accuracy

• Improve facial expressions

• Build confidence

• Notice body positioning

• Practice smooth movements

Many experienced signers use mirrors while practicing. 

Turn your home into a learning environment. 

Choose a room each week and practice signing objects such as:

• Table

• Chair

• Door

• Window

• Refrigerator

• TV

• Bed

• Bathroom

• Kitchen

Students can challenge themselves by signing complete sentences using these everyday items. 

Fingerspelling becomes easier with regular practice. 

Try fingerspelling: 

• Family names

• Pets' names

• Favorite resturants

• Cities

• Grocery items

• Street signs

Even a few minutes each day can improve speed and accuracy.

Learning ASL should be enjoyable!!! 

Ideas include:

• Play charades using signs

• Challenge family members to learn a new sign

• Practice while driving by signing objects you see (when you are the passenger)

• Create a "Sign of the Week"

• Have friendly vocabulary competitions

Making mistakes is part of learning any language. 

Students should:

• Be willing to try

• Learn from corrections

• Celebrate improvement

• Continue practicing regularly

Confidence grows with consistent effort.

You don't need to be fluent in ASL to make a big difference.

You can support your student by:

• Asking what they learned in class

• Encouraging daily practice

• Celebrating progress

• Showing interest in Deaf culture

• Watching ASL videos together

• Practicing a few signs as a family

Your encouragement helps build confidence and motivation. 

Language learning is a journey, not a race.

Every conversation, every practice session, and every new sign helps students become more confident communicators. Consisten practice, curiosity, and a willingness to learn are the keys to success!!