Sign Language Recommendations for 8 year old?

[Blue Ray]

Hi:)

We know the alphabet and can sign our name. Thats about it!

Would love to add in a child's learning program for American Sign language.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks.

 

BR

[gracesteacher]

http://www.aslpro.com/

or

http://www.lifeprint.com/

[cougarmom4]

We use Signing Time with our little one, but my older children *love* to watch, too. So it might be a bit young for an 8yo, but it does teach a lot of vocabulary. The DVDs are expensive, but we are able to get it on a local educational channel, so check around. Also, our library has several copies.

[Blue Ray]

Thanks!

[Rosie_0801]

By "sign your name," you mean fingerspell your name, yes?

I use Auslan, so I haven't seen any ASL programs for real, but from researching online, Bravo ASL! looks the best. It's also horribly expensive, so the Rocket Languages program is probably best to buy, and supplement with whatever Bravo ASL! vids you can find at your local library. Or if they don't have them, ask them to buy. Better they spend that kind of money than you! Those programs both address grammar issues, which most other things I've seen don't. Signed Languages might have more flexible grammar than spoken languages (phew!), but that doesn't mean you should do without. It's those visual elements that make the signing interesting to look at. If you don't use them, it's the equivelent to listening to someone talk in a monotone.

Have fun with it!

:)

Rosie

[Blue Ray]

Rosie! Great idea about the library! I sometimes forget about that resource.

 

Thanks again:)

[gracesteacher]

http://commtechlab.msu.edu/Sites/aslweb/browser.htm

Here is another one that give you the visual of the sign. Facial expressions are very very important in sign as two hand movements could be exactly the same for two completely different words.

[Doodle]

I sign and teach my son. I'd suggest using one of the free ASL online dictionaries (I prefer ASL Browser posted above) and learning some vocabulary yourself for things that touch your everyday life. Then simple use them. When I write out my lesson plans for the next week, I add relating ASL vocabulary. For example, we've been learning about clouds so our ASL words were:clouds, water, camera (we took pictures of clouds), rain, sun, weather, cold. I use Saxon math, so while we are doing the calendar portion of the lesson I sign: today, yesterday, tomorrow, year, month etc. This month also includes the signs for Christmas and Santa.

[Blue Ray]

Great! Thanks!

 

Doodle...what a great idea. I am so going to copy you.:D

 

I am going to add this in after Christmas.

 

:)

 

..lol..I just turned to my son and signed "a lot" and we got the giggles. This is going to be fun.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Blue Ray

[Rosie_0801]

Vocab is a good start, but the online dictionaries don't provide grammar, classifiers, role shift, short and distance focus etc. Of course it depends whether you want to learn some signs, which certainly come in handy, or if you want to learn the language.

 

:)

Rosie

[Blue Ray]

Vocab is a good start, but the online dictionaries don't provide grammar, classifiers, role shift, short and distance focus etc. Of course it depends whether you want to learn some signs, which certainly come in handy, or if you want to learn the language.

 

:)

Rosie

 

Ahh..good point Rosie. I will start with vocab and see what I can rent from the library as we progress. This is going to be fun! I hope:)

[MomOfOneFunOne]

If you just want to learn some cute signs to add to your day, I think the unit/calendar ideas is really neat. On the other hand, if you want to study ASL as a language, it requires diligent, organized study just as (if not more than) any other language. It is a language. period.

 

I haven't looked in a long time so I don't really know what's out there. However, if you do decide to study ASL as a language, this is my advice:

 

Contact your local interpreter referral service. You do surely have one (or the nearest town) b/c ADA requires interpreters for so many things. Certified professional interpreters have to have CEUs like any other profession. You may be able to find a 'terp through your local irs who would be willing to teach a class for CEUs. If not, your IRS may offer community classes (ours does) for cheap or free.

 

To be honest, I would **consider** teaching the classes for free IF the parents were committed to serious language study and seeing that their students followed through. IF it didn't cost me anything (parents bought the books, paid for copies, et c). IF the parents were on hand so I wouldn't have to bother with behaviour issues. IF the parents managed all the logistical issues (location, et c). IF the families worked around my schedule. IF I could get enough CEUs to make it worth my while.

 

That's a lot of IFs but it is doable, I think.