For those of you who have contacted me about wanting to HOMESCHOOL your children, I stumbled on a site that offers READY MADE LESSON PLANS for you. This is also something that would be EXCELLENT for those of you who have children at home that you are interested in teaching ASL to as well. Can't ever hurt.
***DISCLAIMER: I've not really checked out the lesson plans, but I do endorse the site from which they come, therefore, I'm assuming that they are great as well!!! I did notice that they offered Lesson Plans for Level I, Level II and even Deaf Culture, so that is AWESOME!!!
You will find the information in a sticky thread (which means at the top) of the \"Online Dictionaries\" thread in the \"WONDERFUL WORLD OF DEAFNESS\" forum.
I just wanted to share with you that this board was initially developed for the purpose of using in the classroom as a GREAT tool!
I need to add a DISCLAIMER for the general public who may not be aware that American Sign Language (ASL) IS a Language, and as such, requires quite a bit of time to master. The program that I teach is a two year Technical (AAS) Degree, and quite a bit of time is spent on the Interpreter Code of Professional Conduct while students are enrolled in the ITP Curriculum.
Many states now have licensure laws, Mississippi included, and we strive to not only teach ASL proficiency, we also strive to teach students to excel in, and learn to apply the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID's) Code of Professional Conduct.
Simply learning sign language does not an Interpreter make!!! In Mississippi, you must be Licensed to be an Interpreter, and if you earn money as an Interpreter without having proper credentials, you can be fined and/or serve jail time.
So, have fun with the VLOGs, see if sign language is something you are interested in, however, IF you are thinking of BECOMING an Interpreter, please search for an ITP near you that can help you fully prepare to serve your consumers effectively!
To find an ITP you can go to:Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf On the left you will see a search toolbar. You can click on FIND INTERPRETER EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Thank you for visiting our site. I just felt it necessary to state that just because a person knows some Sign Language, doesn't necessarily mean that they can interpret!
I'm so glad you decided to join us here at STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Please stop on in and take a seat and enjoy yourself right away. I've tried to make this a friendly environment for practicing your American Sign Language (ASL) skills. You will also have the opportunity to interact with folks from around the Coast, hopefully around the state, and maybe someday perhaps, around the world.
When the concept of this site started, my plan was to make a free site for a hometown friend of mine, who had just recently moved out to Granada Hills, CA. She was always asking me about what it is that I do as an Interpreter. So, in preparing the "free discussion forum", I decided to add a Category called "Welcome to my World". One of my students (and she knows who she is ) was telling me about the video blogs or "vlogs" that Deaf people use. So, I decided to import a few of those over, for a two fold purpose: 1) to give my friend a sense of what it is that I do, and 2) to give my students a way to keep up their skills over the summer.
Well, two free boards later, and after purchasing my own domain, here we are at SteelMagnolias.biz. And the entire focus has sort of shifted. I decided to import more and more of the VLOGS to one place, AND add some Deaf Culture and Deaf History as well as ASL Linguistics and such. All of this information can be found at the bottom of the forum in Shelby's Shorties, under the Forum "Welcome to my World".
My dream now is for the site to become a LEARNING ENVIRONMENT for students. I'm talking about students, Present, Past, and Future. After all, aren't we always learning? My dear, dear father used to say, "you can never know too much".
This place is here as a fun place too. There is also some really great features here at SteelMagnolias. In addition to Personal Messaging (PM's), there is also the ability to create Blogs, there is an Image Gallery where you can share photos of your latest workshop or trip, or just of your favorite pet, there is a cool ShoutBox where you can talk back and forth with friends in real time, plus we have a ton of specialized smilies chosen just for you.
This place wouldn't be what is is without the help of my other very dear Cali Peach named Deeg. She is my dream friend. An internet friend whom I have met in real life, Deeg is one of the most giving people I know. She helped me move everything from the free forums, and enlisted the help of another internet friend whom I also have met. Without the two of them, this board would not have come to life. So every now and then give a shout out and some love to Deeg. She just told me yesterday that she is going to embark on some ASL studies, and I'm very proud of her for that!!
So, sit back, relax, grab a glass of sweet tea, and enjoy your stay here at Steel Magnolias. Who knows, this just may be your next assignment in one of your classes!
that they are great as well!!! I did notice that they offered Lesson Plans for Level I, Level II and even Deaf Culture, so that is AWESOME!!! 
In Mississippi, you must be Licensed to be an Interpreter, and if you earn money as an Interpreter without having proper credentials, you can be fined and/or serve jail time. 
) was telling me about the video blogs or "vlogs" that Deaf people use. So, I decided to import a few of those over, for a two fold purpose: 1) to give my friend a sense of what it is that I do, and 2) to give my students a way to keep up their skills over the summer. 
An internet friend whom I have met in real life, Deeg is one of the most giving people I know. She helped me move everything from the free forums, and enlisted the help of another internet friend whom I also have met. Without the two of them, this board would not have come to life. So every now and then give a shout out and some love to Deeg. She just told me yesterday that she is going to embark on some ASL studies, and I'm very proud of her for that!! 
