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Teaser: "What does being Deaf feel like?" "What every day struggles do these individuals face?" "What should hearing individuals not say to a Deaf person?" Did you have the same questions or did you want to know the answers to these? This poem is written by a Deaf teenager in the hopes of engaging hearing individuals and informing them of what they experience in a day-to-day life.

Teaching Idea: I would begin Deaf Awareness Week by reading this poem. I think it perfectly sums up what I will be trying to teach my students.

1. Print the poem out for each student

2. Begin by having a conversation and ask the students what they know about Deafness, Hearing Impairments, if they know anybody who is Deaf

3. Read the poem out loud to the students

4. Have another discussion and ask the students to infer what they think Deafness is using context from the poem

5. Activity: Have students cover their ears and the teacher will talk to them in a whisper. This will vaguely simulate what it is like for a Deaf student in a classroom and will help the students to understand a different point of view

*Written by a Deaf teenager for Deaf Awareness Week
http://www.deafdirect.org.uk/deaf-awareness-week-poem/

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Teaser: "How do I communicate with someone who is Deaf? I want to learn sign language!" Signing Savvy is an online sign language dictionary. It contains thousands of words with videos of ASL (American Sign Language) signs, fingerspelled words, and many other commons signs used in America. Every day, signingsavvy.com has a word of the day video (check out what that word is today!) Have you been dying to know how to sign your favorite word? Click on the link below and you might just become fluent in ASL!

Teaching Idea: This website will be used and introduced after the students learn the ASL alphabet.

1. Start off the day by going to signingsavvy.com and having all of the students sign the word of the day.

2. The video should be pulled up on the smart board in order for everyone to see.

3. Show the students the video, teacher repeats it to the students (explaining hand placement and correcting mistakes), students follow and sign the word on their own

4. Have 2 students raise their hands and use the sign in a sentence (the sentence can be spoken, but they have to sign the word when they get to it in the sentence)

5. Everyday, go through each letter of the alphabet and have each student pick out a word from the list that they want to learn.

6. Activity: Students will go back to their seats with their word in mind. They will write down a sentence with their word and sign it to the entire class one by one.

https://www.signingsavvy.com/

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Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2904595-i-can-sign-my-abcs?ac=1&from_search=true
By: Susan Gibbons Chaplin
Illustrated by: Laura McCaul
Publication Date: January 1, 1987
Genre: Children's
Approximate Interest Level: 2+ years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: PreK-2
Lexile® Measure: N/A
DRA level: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: Have you ever been out in public and noticed people signing? Did you find it interesting and fascinating? Did it make you want to learn sign language? This book will teach you the letters of the alphabet as well as a sign that starts with that letter!
Teaching Idea: Kickoff Deaf Awareness Week by reading this book to the class (after the poem). This is a great book for kinesthetic learners, and it will help students with their rote learning. Begin each day of the week going over the alphabet to help the students memorize the letters.
Activity: Have every student sign their name in front of the class. Also, if there is a new vocabulary list for that week, have every student sign each word as a class to spell it out and add the word to the vocabulary wall.

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Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20967619-greetings-and-phrases?from_search=true
By: Kathy Thornborough
Illustrated by: Kathleen Petelinsek
Publication Date: August 1, 2014

Genre: Reference and Home Learning, Series (Talking Hands)

Approximate Interest Level: 5-8 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: K-3
Lexile® Measure: 450L
DRA level: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: Have you ever wanted to learn how to sign? Do you know someone with a hearing impairment that you would like to communicate with? Greetings and Phrases is a wonderful way to begin learning basic signs to communicate with a Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing individual. Along with the signs, this book also teaches you how to say the phrases in a different language! (ex: Hello in ASL, but also in Spanish) If you like this book, Kathy has written many others you can check out to learn even more signs!
Teaching Idea: This is a great book to use in order to teach simple phrases in sign language. As a teacher, I would use this book to encourage students to become friendly with their peers who have a hearing impairment.

1. The first and most important sign to learn is "Hello." This is an extremely basic sign to learn and anyone can greet a hearing impaired person with this simple sign.

2. The next few signs that would be taught are please and thank you. Manners are always extremely important and these can be used every day, multiple times a day. Any time a "please" or "thank you" would be said, students will sign those words instead. This would be mandatory only during Deaf Awareness week, but my hope would be that it continues after Deaf Awareness week because of how frequently the students will be using them.

3. Next, I would teach the students the sign for "Excuse Me." This is also important to know if the student is trying to get the attention of another student or the teacher. This will teach the students to learn respect as well as patience.

4. Every hour, I would teach the students two signs (three if they are in the same "category") in order to finish the book that day. Every day following, we would go over the signs in order to engrain them in the students brains.

5. Activity: Two of the pages teach the phrases "What is your name?" and "My name is..." Have students pair up with each other and form two lines. One side will sign, YOUR NAME WHAT, then the other side will respond with MY NAME ______. (ex: *J-E-S-S-I-E).

* The dashed lines between the letters means that the word is fingerspelled.

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Book Wizard:
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/helen-keller-by-pam-walker/
Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2272738.Helen_Keller?from_search=true
By: Pamela Walker
Publication Date: June 23, 2010
Genre: Non-fiction
Approximate Interest Level: 4-7 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: PreK-K, 1-2
Lexile® Measure: 150L
DRA level: 10
Guided Reading: F
Teaser: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be Deaf AND Blind? Hard to imagine, isn't it? Welcome to the life of a woman, Helen Keller, who became both Deaf and Blind from scarlet fever when she was two years old. This book walks you through the life of Helen and how she learned to communicate as well as how she taught the world about people who are Deaf and Blind.
Teaching Idea:
- Discuss challenges and overcoming obstacles (student's can share their experiences with this)
- Historic figures
- Living with illness and disabilities

Other ideas:
Activities to help understand how Helen learned to communicate:
http://www.dscl.org/kids/nest-activity-resources/helenkeller.pdf

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By: Cheryl & Jim Goldfeder
Publication Date: June 1973
Genre: Non-fiction
Approximate Interest Level: 4-6 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: PreK-2
Lexile® Measure: N/A
DRA: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: A girl named Robin was born into a hearing family, but her parents soon found out that she was Deaf. This book goes through Robin's childhood of not being able to hear as well as her parents trying to figure out what was wrong with her. Are you a sucker for happy endings? Read this book to get some happy chills!
Teaching Idea: Read this book aloud to students with a pre and post discussion. Begin by asking students why they think the book is titled the way it is. After reading, see how many of the students were correct. Teach the students the sign for I Love You, so they can use this at home or show the sign to people they love!

Other ideas:
Students learning to sign for Deaf classmate:
http://www.today.com/health/5th-graders-form-sign-language-club-communicate-deaf-classmate-t77386
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/entire-class-learns-sign-language-to-communicate-with-deaf-classmate-a6860756.html

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I Know Someone With a Hearing Impairment

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I Know Someone With a Hearing Impairment

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Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14442786-i-know-someone-with-a-hearing-impairment?from_search=true
By: Victoria Parker
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Genre: Children's, Non-Fiction
Approximate Interest Level: 6-8 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: 1-3
Lexile® Measure: NC850L
DRA: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: Do YOU know someone with a Hearing Impairment? You may know the basics of what a Hearing Impairment is, but do you know how it can effect someone? This book introduces what a hearing impairments is, the effects it can have on an individual, and most importantly, how you can be a good friend to someone with a Hearing Impairment!
Teaching Idea: Have an open discussion and talk about what makes a good friend. Then further the discussion by asking how they can be good friends to someone with a Hearing Impairment.
- Inclusion!!!!!

Other ideas:
Hearing loss simulator:
http://www.starkey.com/hearing-loss-simulator

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By: Linda O'Neill
Publication Date: January 1, 2001
Genre: Series (Imagine)
Approximate Interest Level: Elementary level (4+ years old)
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: 1-2
Lexile® Measure: N/A
DRA: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: Ever wondered how one becomes deaf? Are they born Deaf or do they become Deaf? This book introduces the basics of everything you should know about deafness.
Teaching Idea:
- New vocabulary words (can fingerspell them when learned)
- Understanding the definition of deafness, the possible causes of deafness, and how individuals can communicate through sign language (add these new words to the vocab wall!)

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Book Wizard:
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/let-rsquo-s-talk-about-deafness-by-melanie-apel-gordon/
Good Reads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2080092.Let_s_Talk_about_Deafness?from_search=true
By: Melanie Apel Gordon
Publication Date: January 1, 2003
Genre: Children's, Series (Let's Talk About...)
Approximate Interest Level: 8-11 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: 3-5
Lexile® Measure: 770L
DRA: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: Do you know anything about Deafness? Have you ever wondered how someone becomes Deaf? Ever wondered how do these individuals communicate? This book answers all of these  questions and more!
Teaching Idea:
- Culture and Diversity
- Science and Technology

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https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/moses-goes-to-school-by-isaac-millman/
Written and Illustrated by: Isaac Millman
Publication Date: August 29, 2000
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Series (Moses Goes To)
Approximate Interest Level: 5-8 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: PreK-3
Lexile® Measure: 460L
DRA: N/A
Guided Reading: N/A
Teaser: The main character, Moses, attends a special school where he fits in perfectly! They communicate just how all Deaf people communicate; by using all aspects of American Sign Language - visual signs and facial expressions! Want to learn a song in sign language? At the end of this book you can learn "Take Me Out To The Ballgame!"
Teaching Idea: Culture & Diversity

Other ideas:
Creative extension activities:
http://malorystoel.weebly.com/uploads/1/7/6/6/17663313/moses_goes_to_school-_inventorypdf.pdf

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http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/deaf.pdf
By: Jeane Whitehouse Peterson
Illustrated by: Deborah Kogan Ray
Publication Date: May 23, 1984
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Series (Reading Rainbow Books)
Approximate Interest Level: 4-8 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: K-3
Lexile® Measure: 520L
DRA: 16
Guided Reading: J
Teaser: "Deaf people can do anything hearing people can, except hear." - Dr. I King Jordan
This book is a good example of things that Deaf people can still do even though they are Deaf. Some examples from the text that may be a surprise to people are: The sister plays the piano, she knows when the dog is barking or when the cat is meowing, etc. This is a wonderful book that digs into the life of a Deaf child and beautifully explains how the narrator's sister interacts with the world around her.
Teaching Idea:
- Character & Values
- Overcoming Obstacles

Other ideas:
Lip reading practice: https://www.slideshare.net/CrystalRose2/lip-reading-activity

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https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/el-deafo-by-cece-bell/
Written and Illustrated by: Cece Bell
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Genre: Semi-autobiographical, Non-fiction
Approximate Interest Level: 8-12 years old
Approximate Text Level:
Grade Level Equivalent: 3-7
Lexile® Measure: GN420L
DRA: 40
Guided Reading: Q
Teaser: Think in your head if you have ever felt alone and why that may have been. Was it something that could have been fixed or overcome? Imagine having to overcome this feeling all of a sudden. Learning about individuality and having to try to fit in are both struggles the main character, Cece, had to overcome. Read this book to find out what happened to Cece and why the author titled it "El Deafo!"
Teaching Idea:
- Challenges & Overcoming Obstacles
- Individuality
- Fitting In

Other ideas:
Book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEmrTJOscvo
Author's book discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFDGoX77mPw
I Am Thumbody!
http://classroom.synonym.com/classroom-activities-individuality-7655644.html