1. Learning American Sign Language 101 Target audience 3 rd grade

2. Guidelines You only dominate hand to fingerspell or to show movement unless it takes both hand to explain what you are talking about. Eye contact is very important when using Sign Language to communicate to see people’s emotions and meanings of their conversation. Stand close about 2-3 feet

3. Learning the Basics…ABC’s Handshape and placement are very important in sign language.

4. Learning the Basics 1,2,3… Numbers 1-5 face you and numbers 6 and up face outward.

5. Fingerspelling Fingerspelling is spelling a with your fingers for words that do not have a particular designated sign. In general, Fingerspelling is used to give: Names of people Names of cities and states Titles of movies or books Brand names

6. Facts American Sign Language is not universal 90% of Deaf children have hearing parents In 1817, Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet established the first school for the Deaf in the United States.

7. Becoming an expert Now that was easy… right? You can review the slides and practice your alphabet and numbers to be an expert in the basics in American Sign Language =) Good Luck!