Course Overview:
This specialized online course is designed for certified teachers working with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) students in a sign language educational setting. The primary focus is on developing and mastering the subject-specific sign language vocabulary necessary to deliver grade-level content across core academic disciplines effectively. Participants will move beyond general conversation signs to acquire the precise, technical, and conceptual signs required for subjects like Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Literature, ensuring DHH students have full linguistic access to the curriculum and are prepared for academic success.
Who Should Enroll?
This course is essential for:
1. Teachers of DHH students.
2. Sign Language Interpreters working in educational settings.
3. DHH Program Specialists and Coordinators.
4. Prerequisite: A functional fluency in the regional/local Sign Language (e.g. ISL) is required.
Key Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Master Technical Signs: Demonstrate proficiency in signing the complex, subject-specific terminology for core academic areas.
2. Conceptual Clarity: Understand and correctly apply the appropriate sign modifications, mouth movements, and non-manual markers that convey conceptual accuracy within each subject.
3. Curriculum Alignment: Identify and integrate the required technical sign vocabulary that aligns with specific curriculum standards and learning objectives.
4. Effective Pedagogy: Design and implement instructional strategies that introduce and reinforce new technical signs and concepts to DHH students in an engaging and accessible manner.
5. Resource Development: Create a professional, subject-specific sign lexicon and resource library for ongoing use in the classroom.