American Sign Language

SYLLABUS 2023 - 2024

American Sign Language (ASL) is an integration of expressive and

Course receptive skills with emphasis on fingerspelling, numbers, glossing, signs,

phrases and sentences at the beginning level. Please note that ASL is NOT

Overview English. Deaf people have their own culture, and their language has its
own syntax, grammar, and rules. This course will provide students with
information on general usage of signs and grammatical structure for
simple and complex sentences, as well as introduce them to the culture of
the Deaf.

Teacher Communication Grades Breakdown

● Email: mmendoza@esusd. Major Grades: 50%
● Room K213
● This category includes all unit exams, video assessments, and presentations. These
● 310-615-2662, EXT. 2393 are the major assessments that will demonstrate your understanding of the
material and your ability to apply what you've learned.

Daily Grades (including Participation): 35%

Supplies ● This category covers your daily classwork and participation. Regular practice and
active involvement in class are crucial for mastering American Sign Language, so
these activities will be graded regularly.
● Chromebooks
● Notebook/section in binder Final: 15%

(recommended for any notes ● This category includes your Final Assessments for Semester 1 and Semester 2.
or writing activities) These comprehensive evaluations will assess your overall progress and proficiency
in ASL by the end of each semester.

Major Assessment Types:

● Unit exams- Multiple choice & Open Ended Questions on Google Forms utilizing GIFS & Videos
● Expressive Assessments- You sign! Video Recordings & Presentations.
● Updated ESHS Academic Honesty Policy (linked)

Method of Instruction: Units of Study:

1. Traits and Tendencies
● This class focuses on introducing language in context and
reinforcing what is learned by engaging you into various
2. Community
interactive activities. A conversational curriculum requires 3. Making Plans
you to be an active learner . You need to come prepared to 4. Housing
sign with me and other classmates. You are immersed in the 5. Occupations
language to maximize your language learning. The teacher 6. Travel
will use gesture, signs, drawings and acting out situations to 7. Bucket List
relay information, your job is to keep trying to understand the 8. Devia Art
concept being presented. Everyday will be a “voices off”
*other cultural units will be
environment. This may sound a bit daunting at first, but trust
me it works!
integrated within each unit.
Expectations & Policies
Chromebooks Food & Drinks
Almost every classwork assignment and assessment
There is absolutely no food
will be completed digitally using chromebooks. It is
or drink allowed in the
your responsibility to make sure that your
chromebooks are charged and ready to use for each classroom.
class session. Not having a working chromebook will (Water is fine.)
result in participation points being deducted.

Late Work: Absences:

It is your responsibility to be up to date Students with excused absences
with assignments. Late, assignments will may complete assignments and
be accepted up until the end of our
tests missed during the excused
current UNIT for HALF credit.
- Once we reached the end of the absence period. Students have the
unit and we have had our number of days equal to the duration
assessment (test or presentation) I of the excused absence to make up
will no longer be accepting work missed
assignments from this unit.

It is recognized that cell phones are a part of

daily life; however, they often take away from
daily instruction and become a distraction,
Attendance
especially in a class where they must be
looking up to understand. Therefore Cell phone
Students are expected to be in class and ready to
Cell Phone

learn when the bell rings. Late students are disruptive

but be placed in the cell phone holder at the
Policy

to teaching and learning.

start of each class. Attendance will be taken
based on the cell phone being in the phone
holder. Tardy Policy (Per week)
1st Tardy = Warning from teacher.
1st offense- warning asked to put away 2nd Tardy = Warning from teacher.
2nd offense- teacher takes up the device Email
3rd Tardy = Call or email to parent by teacher
home and Detention. and detention assigned.

ESHS Graduate Profile

THINKER LEARNER LEADER INDIVIDUAL

COMMUNICATOR
I maximize my I actively listen and I demonstrate
I approach I actively listen to
potential by contribute ideas, emotional
learning others, striving to
setting goals, perspectives, and intelligence and
opportunities understand,
learning with experiences to act ethically
with curiosity, connect, apply, and
purpose, cultivate a local while taking
creativity, and amplify my learning
embracing and global accountability
innovative in meaningful ways.
challenges and community with for my actions.
solutions.
being resilient. shared trust and
accountability.