Homeschool Kids are Learning ASL Online with Mr. D Math!
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So, the kids want to learn American Sign Language, but not sure how to make it happen? Learning ASL online is a great option for a number of reasons!
Whether you’re familiar with the ins and outs of ASL or you are a complete novice, teaching kids a new-to-them language is not for the faint of heart. Either way, enrolling your kids in the Mr. D Math ASL 1 course could be a great fit!
When my youngest expressed an interest in learning ASL, I was thrilled. Not only had I used ASL in my past life as a special education teacher, but I have hearing loss myself. The deaf & hard of hearing community will always be near and dear to my heart.
Want to hear a quick story? Well, taking a foreign language class was part of my college requirement. My college offered typical languages like Spanish & French, but I didn’t feel like knowing those languages would benefit my career. I noticed that the local community college was offering ASL classes and, being that I could transfer credits, was able to successfully convince my college counselor to let me take an ASL class instead!
That was almost 20 years ago (oh dear!) and I still look back on my experience learning ASL fondly.
Why Learn ASL?
There are a number of reasons why learning ASL can be beneficial for kids! (and even adults)
Inclusion
Just as kids would learn any spoken language to communicate with those that do not speak English, learning American Sign Language will allow kids to communicate with those in the deaf and hard of hearing community. We want our kids to be well-rounded and able to communicate with people from all walks of life, right?
Educational Benefits
This 2009 educational study found that hearing children who learned ASL along with their typical curriculum achieved higher test scores than their peers that were not taught ASL. In addition, this 2010 educational study found that hearing children who were taught ASL in addition to their standard curriculum made significant gains in their receptive language when compared to peers that were not taught ASL.
Now, I’m not usually one to compare kids. We all learn in different ways and at different times, but seeing the research results in regarding to learning ASL is pretty awesome, right?!
Communication
ASL can be a fabulous way of communicating in settings in which silence is required/important! While some of these examples might be silly, they’re just the start of a seemingly endless list:
Why ASL with Mr. D Math?
I know what you have to be thinking…“why would I sign up for an ASL class with a site that has the word ‘math’ in the name?” Hear me out.
While Mr. D Math has roots in the world of mathematics, the company has grown to provide both self-paced and live classes in a variety of subjects and grade levels. The classes are taught by qualified professionals who are passionate about the content they’re presenting.
Classes currently being offered by the Mr. D Math team include:
Our Experience Learning ASL with Mr. D Math
Since my 9 year old was a complete newbie when it came to learning asl, he started with the ASL I class. A self-led, all online class, this was the perfect fit for us because our schedule can be a little chaotic when we’ve got co-op and homeschool travel going on.
Getting Started
After I got him all signed up with his own username and password, we started exploring the dashboard where all of the class assignments were detailed. After he completed his regular lessons, he was to work on his asl class.
It took some time for him to get used to having an additional class to compete each day, but I was actually impressed with how well he did! Before long, he was actually looking forward to his asl class and would even remind me about the class. “Mommy, remember we can’t go {wherever} until I finish my sign language class!”
While there were some varying requirements for each set of lessons, each lesson tended to include the following:
- a pre-recorded instructional video
- a worksheet or printable of some sort
- an optional video assignment
For some reason, my “I want to be a famous You-Tuber” kid is camera shy (who knew?!), so he opted out of the video assignments. While I would’ve loved for him to do the video assignments, I kept reminding myself that giving him the ability to take ownership over is education is part of the beauty of homeschooling.
Record Keeping
In addition to the online lessons, users also have access to a record of assignments and grades. We do not currently keep detailed records of grades (thank you, New Jersey!), but this would be especially helpful for those states requiring such homeschool documentation.
Generalization
As my son progressed through his lessons, he was super proud to show off his new skills. He’d often say things like “Hey, Mommy! Do you know how to sign {word/animal/etc.}?” and then would show me the sign.
You know what else? Learning asl led to him wanting to learn about the history of asl and about the various types of sign language.
Did you know ever stop to think about if there were other versions of sign language other than “American?” Well, there are! Thanks to my inquisitive little guy, we learned that there are more than 300 different types of sign language! I knew there were others, but I never even dreamed there were than many variations of sign language!
One of the reasons we homeschool is because we feel it’s important for our kids to learn skills that they will actually use (generalize) in their lives. We want them to have a love of learning and for them to always want to learn more. We certainly don’t know the future, but I do feel like learning asl will be helpful for them now and in the future.
Give it a Try!
If you’re interested in learning more about the classes offered by Mr. D Math or have specific questions about the ASL I class my son took, please email me or leave a comment below. I’m happy to help!
To explore even more of the Mr. D Math offerings, check out my review of his TEACH book (filled with “aha!” moments for me) and consider listening to his podcast: A+ Parents.
Until next time, stay safe and enjoy quality time with your family,
Elizabeth Dukart is a proud born and raised Jersey Girl, wife, and mom of 2 human boys & 1 canine boy.
Created in 2021, Elizabeth owns and publishes That Homeschool Family: a free resource for homeschooling parents and beyond! A seasoned blogger, Elizabeth previously published a popular location-specific family resource blog, but decided to “Pivot!” her blogging focus after she started homeschooling her two boys in 2020. In addition to this blog, you can follow Elizabeth’s homeschooling and family adventures on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.
When she’s not busy taking over the world or homeschooling, Elizabeth can be found listening to music (especially The Beatles & Harry Styles!), being silly with her boys, watching movies with family, shopping, or traveling!
Have a question or want to work with Elizabeth? Send her an email!
