ASL Course for Middle School
ASL course for middle school students
Middle school is the sweet spot where many kids are old enough for real course lessons, but still benefit from kid-friendly video practice, short wins, visual routines, and parent support.
- Built for grades 6-8, homeschool learners, families, and older beginners.
- Compares app-first practice, kids courses, parent-led courses, and credit planning.
- Helps families choose a paid course only when it matches the learner.
Affiliate disclosure: Course buttons may use affiliate links. ASL Kids may earn a commission if you enroll through them, at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate disclosure: Some course and Amazon links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through these links, ASL Kids may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Course access, age ranges, certificates, pricing, and credit policies can change, so check the provider’s current page before enrolling.
Quick answer
The best ASL course for middle school students is usually a kid-friendly online course plus short app practice between lessons. A sixth or seventh grader who is new to ASL may start app-first. A motivated middle schooler who can follow video lessons, pause and copy signs, use a workbook, and practice with a parent can move into a structured kids course. If an eighth grader may need high-school credit later, confirm the credit rules before relying on any course.
Which middle school ASL path fits?
| Learner situation | Best first path | Why it fits | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth grader, younger middle schooler, or reluctant beginner | ASL Kids app plus first-signs practice | Short video practice lowers pressure and helps the learner see signs in motion before committing to a paid course. | Start with the app |
| Middle schooler ready for lessons, workbook practice, and a sequence | SignLanguage101 kids course plus app review | The kids course page currently positions Level 1A for learners ages 10-18 and includes video lessons, workbook support, vocabulary, grammar, and a completion certificate. | View kids course |
| Homeschool family building a semester plan | Course spine, weekly planner, printables, and parent check-ins | A homeschool setup works better when the family tracks lessons, practice time, review, and small projects. | Use the homeschool course guide |
| Parent or teacher wants to lead the student | Parent/adult beginner course plus student app practice | An adult course can help the grown-up learn enough ASL structure to model signs, correct routines, and keep practice respectful. | View parent course |
| Eighth grader moving toward high-school language credit | Credit planning before purchase | Credit rules depend on the school, homeschool program, umbrella school, district, charter, or transcript plan. | Plan high-school credit |
What is the best ASL course for middle school?
For many middle school families, the strongest setup is not only “buy a course.” It is a simple learning system: one structured video course, one short daily practice routine, one place to look up signs, and one record of progress.
- A course should teach fingerspelling, numbers, common words, questions, facial expression, basic grammar, and receptive practice.
- The student should sign with real movement, not only memorize static pictures.
- Parents should check whether the student needs a fun elective, homeschool record, certificate, or future credit path.
- Families should choose a course level based on independence, not only age or grade.
9-week middle school ASL plan
Use this plan with the ASL Kids app, a kids course, a homeschool schedule, or a parent-led beginner path. Keep sessions short enough that the student still wants to return.
Week 1: alphabet, names, and why ASL matters
Practice the manual alphabet, fingerspell names, and learn that ASL is a complete visual language, not signed English.
Week 2: greetings, numbers, age, and grade
Build a signed introduction with name, age, grade, family, and one learning goal.
Week 3: home, meals, and daily routine signs
Choose signs the student can use at home every day, then review them in the app between lessons.
Week 4: school signs and classroom language
Add teacher, student, book, read, write, help, bathroom, finished, again, yes, no, and question signs.
Week 5: feelings, needs, and respectful expression
Practice signs for tired, frustrated, happy, sick, break, help, don’t understand, and all done.
Week 6: questions and facial expression
Practice who, what, where, when, why, how, yes/no questions, and the facial expression that carries ASL grammar.
Week 7: receptive practice
Watch another signer and identify signs without seeing the written answer first. Slow the video down when needed.
Week 8: project week
Create a signed introduction, school routine, family tree, meal routine, or short signed story.
Week 9: choose the next level
Decide whether to continue the kids course, add parent lessons, move into teen/high-school planning, or keep an app-first practice rhythm.
If your middle schooler may need credit later
A middle school ASL course can be a strong foundation, but do not assume it automatically counts for high-school foreign language credit. Course certificates, homeschool records, hours, grades, and school approval are separate issues. If credit matters, get the rules in writing before you buy or before you list the work on a transcript.
Build the foundation
Use the app, a kids course, a workbook, and weekly projects to build comfort with fingerspelling, vocabulary, questions, facial expression, and receptive practice.
Ask the credit questions
Check who awards credit, what counts as a credit hour, whether the course provider is accepted, and what documentation the family must keep.
Use the ASL course for high-school credit guide when your student is ready for transcript planning.
Use ASL Kids between course lessons
Middle school learners usually need repeat exposure. Use the ASL Kids app for quick movement review, the dictionary when a new word comes up, and printables when a parent or teacher wants a visible record of progress.
Helpful middle school ASL materials
Keep physical materials simple. The paid course or app should teach the signs in motion; these materials are just practice supports.
ASL flash cards
Good for quick recall games after a student has already watched the sign in motion.
Small dry erase board
Useful for quick lesson goals, fingerspelling prompts, memory games, and homeschool record notes.
Visual schedule cards
Helpful when ASL practice is tied to daily routines, transitions, homeschool blocks, or support-needs communication.
Related ASL Kids guides
SignLanguage101 for Kids
Read the kids-course review before choosing a paid route for an older child or middle schooler.
Homeschool ASL Course
Build a homeschool-friendly course plan with app practice, PDF planning, and family routines.
ASL Course for Teens
Use this when your learner is closer to high school, adult-course pacing, or formal credit planning.
Sources and references
- SignLanguage101 course catalog
- SignLanguage101 Kids Level 1A course details
- SignLanguage101 adult beginner course details
- Start ASL school-credit guidance
- Gallaudet ASL Connect online courses
- Gallaudet Clerc Center K-12 ASL Content Standards
- SchoolhouseTeachers ASL Adventures course overview
- NIDCD: What Is American Sign Language?
ASL course for middle school FAQ
What is the best ASL course for middle school?
The best ASL course for middle school is usually a kid-friendly video course with workbook or lesson support, plus short app practice between lessons. The right choice depends on independence, grade, parent support, and whether the family needs homeschool records or future credit planning.
Can middle school students learn ASL online?
Yes. Middle school students can learn ASL online when the course shows signs clearly in motion, includes fingerspelling, numbers, facial expression, grammar, receptive practice, review, and regular real-life practice.
Should a middle schooler use a kids course or an adult course?
Most middle school beginners should start with a kids or teen-friendly course. An adult course can work when the learner is mature, self-directed, and comfortable with more adult pacing. Parents may also use an adult course to support the student.
Can this count toward high-school credit later?
Maybe, but only if the school, homeschool parent, umbrella program, charter, district, or transcript plan accepts the work. Confirm approval, hours, documentation, grades, and certificate requirements before relying on a middle school course for credit.
What should middle school students practice between lessons?
Practice fingerspelling, greetings, numbers, family signs, school signs, everyday routines, questions, facial expression, and receptive watching. The ASL Kids app and dictionary can help with quick daily review.
Teaching ASL to an elementary student?
The ASL Course for Elementary Students guide helps families choose between app-first practice, weekly lessons, printables, curriculum, a kids course, and parent support.
Need ASL to count for high school credit?
Use the ASL Course for High School Credit guide to choose between homeschool records, school approval, certificates, and formal credit before buying a course.