CAN YOU HEAR ME? BATTLING STEREOTYPES & RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DISABILITIES By Samantha Marcus & Jacquelyn Blayer

Introduction Third grade classroom Neighborhood public school Issue: Stereotypes & Stigmas about people with disabilities Special focus on English Language Learners (ELL) and the deaf

Objectives Students will gain awareness about hearing disabilities in the world and local community. Students will learn about communication skills through sign language and be able to relate these communication differences to those of ELL students. Students will learn to identify and dismiss stereotypes about disabilities.

Objectives Students will investigate the use of technology and its importance to the deaf community. Students will improve reading comprehension through analysis of Kate Gaynor’s, A Birthday for Ben and apply knowledge to real life scenarios. Students will expand their perspective-taking and epithetical skills through critical evaluation of complex situations in regard to their own lives.

Day 1: Monday Flow chart activity: “DEAF” written on chart paper, students asked to call out words that come to mind Administer True/False quiz: highlights misconstrued ideas about deaf people Review quiz and answers Photo activity: mixed ability groups will study a photo of people with intention of identifying the deaf member and will present to class their findings and logic Teacher will read A Birthday for Ben, mixed ability groups will discuss themes and underlying messages

Activities Day 1: Monday Day 2: Tuesday Day 3: Wednesday Day 4: Thursday Day 5: Friday Introduction to deaf lesson Flow chart activity Short True/False quiz Unveil truths about common myths/ misconceptions Photo activity to identify deaf people Read A Birthday for Ben- group discussion about story/ underlying messages Guest speaker from American School for the Deaf to teach a brief sign language lesson Sign language worksheet Lip reading activity Essential question: “what does it feel like when you cannot understand others?”  ELL connection Field trip to American School for the Deaf (West Hartford) Apply sign language knowledge from Tuesday Sit in on classroom and observe different learning styles/ teaching methods Field trip reflection- 2 things you learned, 1 question Introduction to deaf technology- with focus on cochlear implants/ hearing aids YouTube video showing hearing through cochlear implants Group discussion: “how would living with c. implant affect your own life?” & “how has tech. affected your own life?” Evaluation & reflection Essential question: “how would your life be different if you could not hear?” Invite 6 th grade ELL students to share their experiences & teach words in native language Same True/False quiz from day 1

Common Core Standard Addressed CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2 Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6 Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the character.

Resources Gaynor, Kate, and Karen Quirke. A Birthday for Ben. Dublin: Special Stories, Print. Cochlear Implant Video: "Simulation of Cochlear Implants." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Jan Web. 04 May Sign Language Worksheet: cdn.com/files/225101_225200/225163/file_ gifhttp://00.edu- cdn.com/files/225101_225200/225163/file_ gif NCDS. “Look, Smile, Chat: Deaf Awareness Lesson Plans for Teachers.” NCDS (2016). Web. 4 May 2016 "English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Literature » Grade 3." Common Core State Standards Initiative. National Governors Association, 21 May Web. 04 May Photo activity photos: content/uploads/files/article_images/10.04.HowToBea_PeopleReaching_ jp g content/uploads/files/article_images/10.04.HowToBea_PeopleReaching_ jp g