6 Best ASL Learning Curriculums for Homeschools That Engage the Whole Family

You’ve decided to bring American Sign Language into your homeschool, and the whole family is excited. But a quick search reveals a dozen different programs, each claiming to be the best. How do you choose between a fun, song-based program for your five-year-old and a structured course that will count for your teen’s high school credit? Choosing a curriculum isn’t just about learning signs; it’s about finding a rhythm that fits your family’s unique goals, ages, and learning style.

Choosing the Right ASL Path for Your Family

The "best" curriculum is the one your family will actually use and enjoy. Before you even look at specific programs, it’s crucial to define what success looks like for you. Are you aiming for basic conversational skills for a family trip, or is your high schooler pursuing a foreign language credit? The answer changes everything.

Consider your children’s developmental stages. A program built on songs and games is perfect for capturing the attention of a six-year-old, but it will likely fall flat with a teenager who needs clear grammatical instruction and cultural context. Conversely, a university-level, text-heavy resource might overwhelm a younger child who just wants to learn how to sign "cookie."

Take a moment to map out your family’s needs. Your primary goal should be your guide.

• Exposure and Enrichment (Ages 3-7): The goal is fun and vocabulary building, not grammatical perfection. Look for music, repetition, and play.
• Elementary Skill Building (Ages 8-12): Kids at this age can handle more structure. Gamified lessons, interactive activities, and clear, bite-sized instruction work well.
• Academic Credit (Ages 13+): You’ll need a comprehensive program with structured lessons, quizzes, and a focus on grammar, syntax, and Deaf culture to meet high school requirements.
• Family-Wide Learning: Look for a program with multiple levels or a flexible structure that allows parents and kids of different ages to learn together, even if at their own pace.

Signing Time: Play-Based Learning for Young Kids

If you have toddlers, preschoolers, or early elementary students, you know that learning has to feel like play. This is where Signing Time shines. It was designed specifically for this age group, using a brilliant combination of music, colorful videos, and repetition that makes learning signs feel effortless and joyful.

Think of it less as a formal curriculum and more as a language-rich environment, much like a beloved children’s television show. The focus is on vocabulary acquisition for everyday objects, animals, feelings, and actions. It’s an incredible tool for building a foundational vocabulary and fostering a positive, early connection to the language without the pressure of formal grammar lessons. It’s the perfect first step for the youngest learners in your home.

Lifeprint: A Free, University-Level Resource

For the self-motivated high schooler or the parent who wants to learn alongside their kids, Lifeprint is an invaluable resource. Developed by Dr. Bill Vicars, a Deaf professor, this entire university-level curriculum is available for free. It’s structured into formal lessons, complete with vocabulary lists, instructional videos, and cultural notes.

This is not a plug-and-play program for young children; it requires a parent to act as the teacher, adapting the lessons for their family. But for families on a budget or those with older, independent learners, the value is unbeatable. You can use it as a primary curriculum or as a fantastic supplement to another program, using its extensive dictionary and clear video examples to look up signs as you encounter them in daily life.

ASLdeafined: Gamified Lessons for All Ages

What do you do when your 10-year-old’s enthusiasm for worksheets is nonexistent? You find a program that speaks their language: games. ASLdeafined is a web-based curriculum that uses gamification—points, progress tracking, and interactive challenges—to keep learners engaged. It’s a fantastic middle-ground option that works well for a wide range of ages.

The curriculum includes a massive video dictionary, story-telling practice, and lessons on Deaf culture, all presented by Deaf experts. Because it’s self-paced and tracks individual progress, it’s a great choice for families with multiple kids who can each work at their own level. This is the program for the child who is motivated by seeing their progress bar fill up and unlocking the next level.

Sign It ASL: Teen-Focused High School Credit

Fulfilling a high school foreign language requirement can be a challenge in a homeschool setting. Sign It ASL is specifically designed to solve this problem. It’s a comprehensive, video-centric course created with teens in mind, featuring engaging instructors and storylines that are far more relatable than a generic language program.

This curriculum is structured to be used for official high school credit, covering everything from vocabulary and grammar to the nuances of Deaf culture. The production quality is high, and the lessons are designed for independent learning, freeing up parent time. If your primary goal is a verifiable, credit-worthy course for your middle or high schooler, this is one of the strongest contenders available.

Gallaudet ASL Connect for Authentic Instruction

When you want to learn from the source, you go to Gallaudet University—the world’s leading university for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Their ASL Connect program offers online courses that provide an unparalleled level of authentic instruction. This is more than just learning signs; it’s a deep dive into the language as it is used by the Deaf community.

These are structured, instructor-led courses, making them a more significant investment of time and money. However, for families who are serious about fluency and want to ensure they are learning from native signers within a culturally appropriate context, this is the gold standard. It’s an excellent choice for high schoolers or parents who are deeply committed to their ASL journey and value direct connection to the Deaf community.

Start ASL: A Complete Homeschool Curriculum

For the homeschooling parent who wants a complete, "open-and-go" package, Start ASL is a top choice. It was designed with homeschoolers in mind, offering structured lesson plans, workbooks, progress tracking, and extensive support. It removes the guesswork of piecing together your own curriculum.

The program is available in different levels, from beginner to advanced, allowing a family to stick with one curriculum for years. It combines video lessons with written instruction and provides feedback from teachers, creating a well-rounded learning experience. If you value a clear, step-by-step path and the convenience of an all-in-one system, Start ASL provides the structure and resources to make it happen.

Integrating ASL into Your Daily Family Routine

Purchasing a curriculum is only the first step. The real magic happens when ASL moves from a "subject" to a living part of your family’s communication. The goal is to make signing as natural as speaking, and you can do this through small, consistent habits.

Start by labeling items in your house with a picture of the sign. At the dinner table, challenge everyone to sign the name of a food they’re eating. Use simple signs for common commands like "please," "thank you," "all done," or "time for bed." You don’t have to be fluent; you just have to be willing to try together.

Create "sign-only" moments, even if it’s just for five minutes. Maybe the first part of your morning basket time is a no-voices-allowed challenge. This encourages creative thinking and reinforces what everyone has learned. The more you use ASL in your everyday context, the more meaningful and permanent the learning will be.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s connection. Choosing the right curriculum is about finding the tool that best helps your family connect with each other and with a beautiful, expressive language. Start where you are, have fun with the process, and celebrate every small step you take together.