American Sign Language

Instructor: Mr. Dean Papalia

E-mail: PapaliaD@dlshs.org (include your name and class in the
subject line)
Office: De La Salle High School – Room 408
Office hours: by appointment only (email me for appointments)
Class: ASL 1
Text: Signing Naturally Units 1-6 Student Workbook/DVD
Smith, Lentz, and Mikos
DawnSign Press, San Diego

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is the first class of four courses in American Sign Language (ASL) that utilizes heavily on
visual and non-speech language. This course will include both text book as mentioned above
and to become comfortable in everyday communication that is used widely by Deaf
community. This course will provide with exclusively hands on experience with ASL in
conversations.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1)Develop basic language skills in order to participate in and produce conversations,
narratives and discussions in ASL.
2)Identify key aspects of American Deaf Culture.
3)Use digital media and tools to demonstrate emerging language skills.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1) Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in comprehension of American Sign
Language (ASL) for daily living contexts.
2) Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in expressive ASL grammatical functions
for daily living contexts.
3) Students will demonstrate comprehension of Deaf Culture by attending at least one Deaf
Community event.

COURSE OUTLINE USING TEXTBOOK:

Signing Naturally
 Unit 1: Introducing Oneself Unit 4: Talking about Family
Unit 2: Exchanging Personal Information Unit 5: Talking about Everyday Activities
Unit 3: Talking about Where You Live Unit 6: Storytelling

REQUIREMENTS:
Class attendance/participation (lack thereof can impact your grade!)
Outside of class practice/Student Workbook (a must)
Homework (late homework = 5 points off, only accepted during the unit of study)
Unit quizzes (units 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Classroom demonstrations/evaluations
Presentation (Storytelling video)
Final exam (Units 1-6)

Curriculum:
- ASL 1- Signing Naturally Units 1-6 (Introductions/ Exchanging Personal
Information/Discussing Living Situations/Talking about Family/Talking about
Activities/Storytelling
- Dr. Bill Vicars – www.lifeprint.com (Fingerspelling and Basic Signs)
- The Elephant Game (ASL & Deaf Culture Activity Series)
- Supplemental materials will include, but are not limited to, Learning American Sign
Language, Master ASL, ASL games and films regarding Deaf History, Deaf Culture and Deaf
Poetry

COURSE CONTENT:
Student Workbook/DVD – we will cover units 1-6 in the text, including the cumulative
review. The instructor will also supplement vocabulary as needed for stories and additional
units. You will need to maintain a ‘Running Record’ of all supplementary vocabulary (I would
suggest a 3-ring binder for all paperwork). I will check the workbook and Running Records
periodically, so you will need to bring these (along with the handouts, paper and writing
utensil) to every class session.

VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS (papers and videos)

At the beginning of the semester, you will film yourself signing a story presented in your text
or other review activities, to demonstrate vocabulary and grammatical mastery of the topics
covered within the unit.

ASL games – we will participate in several ASL games and activities with each unit.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
De La Salle High School expects students to be honest in their academic work. Academic
dishonesty is viewed as a serious ethical issue and a violation of the principles of justice and
personal responsibility inherent in the school’s ideals.

Should a student violate this policy, there will be consequences in all cases. The teacher will
confer with the student; the teacher will inform the Vice President for Academic Life of the
violation; and the parent will be contacted. Repeat offenses and behaviors not included in the
following list will be assessed on an individual basis by the administration and personnel
involved. Cheating, of any kind, may result in the loss of credit and/or academic honors.
Students may be suspended from classes as a result of cheating. This will depend on the facts of
a situation. Whether class suspension occurs or not, students will be required to participate in
up to forty (40) hours of service to the school community as a result of the violation of the
Academic Honesty policy. The community service requirement may not be completed in less
than ten (10) school days from the time a ruling on the cheating incident has been made.
Beginning on the eleventh (11th) calendar day following the beginning of the community
service, a student may complete the remaining hours according to the needs of the school, the
availability of prefects, and the schedule of the student. Until the completion of the community
service hours and a review meeting with the Vice President for Academic Life occurs, the
student is prohibited from participation in co- curricular activities. A second offense brings
serious consideration to a decision to expel the student.

The following academic consequences are considered if a student violates this policy:

1. Homework: The student may receive a grade of zero (0) for the assignment. Other than
assignments that are determined to be “cooperative assignments,” this includes a
student who copies another student’s homework, or a student who allows others to
copy his work.
2. Cheating on a Quiz or Examination: The student may receive a grade of zero (0) for the
quiz or examination.
3. Unauthorized Viewing of an Examination: The student may be dropped from the
course with a grade of F.
4. Plagiarism: “The use of quotations within a paper is a way of representing the continuity
of research within a field and introducing the ideas of others by referring directly to
their works. By definition, a research paper involves the assimilation of prior scholarship
and entails the responsibility to give proper acknowledgment whenever one is indebted
to another for either words or an idea. Failure to give credit is plagiarism” (Cf. Kate L.
Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Sections 5.1
and 5.2). The student may receive a grade of zero (0) on any assignment that is
plagiarized.

(De La Salle High School’s Parent-Student Handbook, 2017-2018)

https://www.dlshs.org/campus-life/deans-office/parent-student-handbook#bookmark48

Behavior – Inside the ASL classroom is a learning environment. Students are expected to
behave appropriately in classroom. Please be respectful for classmates and the instructor.
Inappropriate or disruptive behavior – for example, persistent loud talking during lectures or
student presentations, yelling, sexist or racist remarks, or harassment of any kind will not be
tolerated. If a disruption is serious enough, a disruptive student may be asked to leave the
classroom and be sent over to Mr. Aliotti for the disciplinary action.
If you must be absent because of an illness or emergency, please check the Schoology for
agenda and course work. You can also contact classmate(s) so that he can pick up handouts for
you and let you know what you missed. It is your responsibility to catch up any missed classes.

Technology will be used to record lectures, vocabulary lists, examples of signed sentences
and Deaf Culture stories. iPads and/or other devices will be used regularly, in class, by the
permission given by the teacher, to record yourself and classmates while you practice. This
will give you an opportunity to reflect on the lesson and give you a tool to take with you to
practice at home.

Course Work:
Quizzes 20%
Exam 20%
Participation 15%
Projects 20%
Assignments/Homework 25%
Total 100%
Points are used to determine the value of work.
All events, projects, reaction papers and reports must be typed (Size 12, Times New Roman,
double spaced; MLA), appropriately formatted and stapled.

GRADING SYSTEM GRADE POINT SCALE

GRADEPERCENTAGEMARKGRADE POINT

A ≥ 93.5 A 4.0

A- ≥ 89.5 < 93.5 A- 3.7

B+ ≥ 86.5 < 89.5 B+ 3.3

B ≥ 83.5 < 86.5 B 3.0

B- ≥ 79.5 < 83.5 B- 2.7

 C+ ≥ 76.5 < 79.5 C+ 2.3

C ≥ 73.5 < 76.5 C 2.0

C- ≥ 69.5 < 73.5 C- 1.7

D+ ≥ 66.5 < 69.5 D+ 1.3

D ≥ 63.5 < 66.5 D 1.0

D- ≥ 59.5 < 63.5 D- 0.7

F < 59.5 Failing F 0.0

P Passing

NC No Credit

INC Incomplete

 Families have access to student grades via PowerSchool throughout the year. Grades in
PowerSchool are updated regularly.
 The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned
during a student’s high school career by the total number of courses taken at DLS and is
posted on the transcript. Class rank is not calculated.
 Quarter grades are progress grades for one marking period and do not appear on the
transcript.
 “Pass/Fail” grades are given only for non-academic courses.
 Incomplete grades must be made up within two weeks from the time grades are
officially stored. Incomplete grades that are not made up within that timeframe become
a grade of F. Exceptions are made in extraordinary circumstances.

(De La Salle High School’s Parent-Student Handbook, 2017-2018)

https://www.dlshs.org/campus-life/deans-office/parent-student-handbook#bookmark48

Tests, Quizzes, Homework – We will have a quiz at the end of units 3, 4, 5 & 6, and a final
exam. Quizzes, presentations, and the final exam CAN NOT within 2 days. Cheating on a test,
will result in zero points on that test, which will seriously impact your grade. Late homework
will be assigned 5 points off (regardless of the reason) and will only be accepted during the
units of study, so be sure to get assignments from classmates. DO NOT email assignments to
the instructor. Please include your full registered name and the class level on all assignments
(assignments turned in after the first week without this information will be given ½ credit). As
with all classes, it is expected that you will do all of the homework and homework done in class
will be considered late. I will follow the De La Salle student handbook’s policy with respect to
plagiarized assignments.

Academic Calendar -
August 15 Classes begin
September 4 Holiday - Labor Day (no classes)
September 8 Professional Development (No classes, office closed)
October 9 Holiday- Columbus Day (No classes, offices closed)
October 10 Professional Development (No classes, office closed)
November 10 Holiday- Veteran’s Day (No classes, Offices Closed)
November 22-24 Thanksgiving Recess (No classes)
December 15 End of First Semester
December 18-20 Semester exams
December 21 Professional Development (No classes, office closed)
December 22 Winter recess begins
January 10 Classes begin
January 15 Holiday – Martin Luther King’s Birthday (no classes)
February 16 Professional Development (No classes, office closed)
February 19 Holiday – President’s Day (no classes)
March 16 Professional Development (No classes, office closed)
March 28 Professional Development (No classes, office closed)
March 29 Spring recess begins
April 2 Classes begin
May 24 End of Second Semester
May 25 Semester exams
May 28 Holiday – Memorial’s Day (no classes)
May 29-30 Semester exams
June 1 Summer recess begins

January
Date Activity Homework Quiz
10 Review Syllabus
Share vacation activities
11 Unit 3 - 3.6 Giving Basic Directions:
Around the Classroom
12 Unit 3 - 3.6 Giving Basic Directions: 3.6
Around the Classroom & Evaluate Review 3.6
 16 Unit 3 - 3.7 Identifying Which Square 1
17 Unit 3 - 3.7 Identifying Which Square 1 3.7
Unit 3 - 3.8 - Cardinal numbers 30-66 Review 3.7
19 Unit 3 - 3.8 - Cardinal numbers 30-66
22 Unit 3 - 3.8 - Cardinal numbers 30-66 3.8
23 Unit 3 - 3.9 Talking about Roommates Review 3.8
24 Unit 3 - 3.9 Talking about Roommates
26 3.9
29 Unit 3 - 3.10 Giving Basic Directions:
Expressing Needs
Unit 3 - 3.10 Giving Basic Directions:

30 Unit 3 - 3.11 Fingerspelling: Down 3.10

Letters P, Q, Y Review 3.10
31 Unit 3 - 3.11 Fingerspelling: Down 3.11
Letters P, Q, Y Review 3.11

February
Date Activity Homework Quiz
2 Unit 3 - 3.12 Telling How Long
5 Unit 3 - 3.12 Telling How Long
6 Unit 3 - 3.12 Telling How Long 3.12
7 Unit 3 - 3.13 Traveling to School Review 3.12
or Work
9 Unit 3 - 3.13 Traveling to School
or Work
12 Unit 3 - 3.13 Traveling to School 3.13
or Work Review 3.13
13 Unit 3 - 3.14 Identifying Which
Square 2
14 Unit 3 - 3.14 Identifying Which
Square 2
20 Unit 3 - 3.14 Identifying Which 3.14
 Square 2 Review 3.14
21 Unit 3 - 3.15 Asking What is the sign
23 Unit 3 - 3.15 Asking What is the sign 3.15
Review 3.15
26 Unit 3 3.16 Reviewing Cardinal
Numbers 30-66
27 Unit 3 Review
28 Unit 3 Quiz Quiz
Practice Gum
Unit 6 - Gum Story Story
March
Date Activity Homework Quiz
2 Unit 6 - Gum Story
5 Unit 6 - Gum Story
6 Unit 6 - Gum Story
7 Unit 6 - Gum Story 6
Unit 4 - 4.1 Talking about Immediate
Family
9 Unit 4 - 4.1 Talking about Immediate
Family
12 Unit 4 - 4.1 Talking about Immediate 4.1
Family
13 Unit 4 - 4.2 Negation 1 Review 4.1
14 Unit 4 - 4.2 Negation 1
19 Unit 4 - 4.2 Negation 1 4.2
20 Unit 4 - 4.3 Rocking Numbers
21 Unit 4 - 4.3 Rocking Numbers 4.3
Unit 4 - 4.4 Have, Like, Want & Need Review 4.3
23 Unit 4 - 4.4 Have, Like, Want & Need
26 Unit 4 - 4.4 Have, Like, Want & Need 4.4
4.1-
27 Quiz 4.5
April
Date Activity Homework Quiz
9 Unit 4 - 4.5 Talking about Siblings
10 Unit 4 - 4.5 Talking about Siblings
11 Unit 4 - 4.5 Talking about Siblings 4.5
Unit 4 - 4.6 - Moving Letter 1
13 Unit 4 - 4.6 - Moving Letter 1 4.6
16 Unit 4 - 4.7 Telling How Old
17 Unit 4 - 4.7 Telling How Old 4.7
18 Unit 4 - 4.7 Telling How Old
Unit 4 - 4.8 Talking about Extended
Family
20 Unit 4 - 4.8 Talking about Extended
Family 4.8
23 Unit 4 - 4.8 Talking about Extended
Family
Unit 4 - 4.9 Telling How Family Members
Are Related
Unit 4 - 4.9 Telling How Family
24 Members 4.9
Are Related
25 Unit 4 - 4.10 Negation 2 4.10
Unit 4 - 4.11 Discussing Family Variations
Unit 4 - 4.11 Discussing Family
27 Variations 4.11
30 Unit 4 - 4.14 Commenting on Family
Members
May
Date Activity Homework Quiz
1 Unit 4 - 4.14 Commenting on Family 4.14
2 Unit 4 - 4.14 Commenting on Family
4 Unit 4 Review
Unit 5 - 5.1 Talking about Everyday
Activities
 7 Unit 4 Quiz Quiz
8 Unit 5 - 5.1 Talking about Everyday
Activities 5.1
9 Unit 5 - 5.2 Agreement Verbs 5.2
11 Unit 5 - 5.4 Talking about Chores
14 Unit 5 - 5.4 Talking about Chores 5.4
15 Unit 5 - 5.5 Asking if Done 5.5
16 Unit 5 - 5.6 Talking about Errands 5.6
Unit 5 - 5.8 Talking about Activities
with Others 5.8
18 Unit 5 Review
21 Unit 5 Quiz Quiz
22 Unit 1-6 Review
24 Unit 1-6 Review
29 Unit 1-6 Comprehensive Exam Exam
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all classes. Prompt and regular attendance at school is
essential for academic success.

Attendance Requirements for Participation in Athletic and Co-curricular Activities

In order to be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletic practices/contests or co-curricular

activities on school days, a student must attend a minimum of two-thirds of the school day in
class or participating in school-sponsored activities. Two-thirds is measured in relation to the
number of instructional minutes in a school day and does not include time given for break and
lunch.

Absence

When a student is absent from school, his parent or another person designated by the parent
on the student’s Emergency Card must notify the Attendance Office of this fact before 9:00
a.m. on each day of an absence.

The Attendance Office telephone number is (925) 288-8222. The Attendance Office is open and
staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on school days. (You may leave messages on the
Attendance Office voicemail 24 hours a day.)
Please leave a message stating your son’s name, grade, and the reason for his absence. Due to
the volume of messages that can be received in the Attendance Office on some days, please
leave a message. If a reply is necessary, you will be contacted as soon as possible.

The school makes the final determination regarding all absences and tardies.

Excused Absence
Requests for permission to miss part or all of a school day for any other cause that may be
defined under the term “anticipated personal reasons” must be submitted in writing, using the
Absence Permission Form, five (5) school days before a decision is needed. Each of the
student’s teachers must acknowledge the absence and sign the “Absence Permission Form” in
order for it to be excused without further consideration. The “Absence Permission Form” can be
obtained in the Attendance Office.

The school strongly discourages vacations that extend beyond school holiday and vacation
periods. The Deans will neither necessarily nor easily approve requests for such absence and
are under no obligation to do so—especially during the time allocated for final examinations.
Parents must consider the effect such vacation plans have on the student’s ability to resume
studies and on the added burdens placed on teachers.

Tardy
Students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings. Similarly, students are to be on
time for all scheduled school events.

1. All “unexcused” tardies will result in detention.

2. Students returning from appointments should report to the Attendance Office for an
Admit Slip.

Unexcused Absence
Unexcused absences from class, announcement periods, or assigned activities are considered a
serious breach of conduct. Accordingly, the Deans will issue sanctions for such behavior.
Sanctions may range from detention to expulsion for repeated violations. Credit may be
withheld from class work or tests missed during the period of an unexcused absence. When
work is allowed to be made up, it is the responsibility of the student to attend to the matter
according to instructions given by the teachers.

Unexcused absences are considered “cuts,” and a teacher may refuse to provide assignments or
accept make-up work for such absences.

Excessive Absences and Tardies

The school reserves the right to deny credit for any class in which a student has a combined
absent/tardy sum of ten (10) or more for a class per semester.

(De La Salle High School’s Parent-Student Handbook, 2017-2018)

https://www.dlshs.org/campus-life/deans-office/parent-student-handbook#bookmark48

*Deaf Friendly Environment – this class will be taught in ASL. Using your voice in the class
room is NOT permitted. Verbal conversations are not only a disturbance to hearing students
trying to attend and process visually; they deny DEAF access to the communication process (it is
considered extremely rude to not sign while communicating). When you step into the
classroom, start signing and your thinking English stay outside of the classroom. No voicing,
English mouthing or other systems are to be used in class or any class related event (that
includes note passing). Students that are engaged in verbal dialogue or not attending visually
may be moved to another desk. No electronic devices are to be used in class. (This includes
laptops/textbooks/tablets, cell phones, iPod/iTouch/any audio listening devices) All cell phones
are to be turned off and leave yours away in front of me before the class bell rings. With an
exception, you MAY use your electronic devices that is needed for your class work by GETTING
the permission by the teacher first. With the loss of instructional time to students using voices
or electronic devices in class, will receive a zero (points) for participation for the day which may
impact your grade. As often as possible, we will need to rearrange the classroom to ensure
equal access in a visual environment. Try not to visually disrupt the class during the session.
Do not ask a classmate to explain what is being signed or how to sign something…Simply ASK
ME!

** Deaf Events are a wonderfully rich cultural experience for our students, therefore I highly
encourage them to partake in an event during the school year. It is not a requirement to
attend, and there is no grade given or extra credit given to those who choose to attend an
event.

***no rounding up of grades (for those on the border (89.9=89%).

no extra credit work given beyond the assigned course work.

****Water is the only beverage that is allowed in the classroom. Food or gum aren’t allowed in
the classroom.
 Lesson Plan
Week 19 – January 11, 2018

1. Welcome back - activity

a. ASL game
b. Review last year’s signs
i. Student practice signs and dialogue with another student
c. Student share their winter break
i. Mingle by signing with another student

2. Begin Unit 3.6 – Giving Basic Directions: Around the Classroom

d. Grammar/Vocabulary
e. Direction Vocabulary
f. Where
g. Ordinary Numbers 1-9
h. Discuss Deaf Sports

2. Culture Information
a. Getting Attention

Homework for the Week:

1. Find Deaf Sports via website and Sign in video your readings about the highlights of Deaf
Sports