MEET MOLLY!
“Hi! I’m Molly! I’m Deaf with a capital D. That means I identify more with Deaf people who use American Sign Language [ASL] than with people who can hear and use English. It’s a cultural thing that not everybody understands. It’s different than being deaf with a lower case ‘d’ or being hard-of-hearing. Those things only mean people who can’t hear as well as others. I’m proud to be Deaf! This means more than not being able to hear. I’m part of a community of Deaf people. Our language is ASL. It’s different than English. We think in pictures, not words. It’s so cool!
I used to go to a Deaf school, but when I was ready for fifth grade, I decided I wanted to go to the same school with the kids in my neighborhood. This new school, where everyone could hear except for me, turned out to be far more difficult than I expected. Read my story to find out the many challenges a Deaf kid like me faces in a hearing school and – here’s the best part – see how I was able to succeed all with the help of Deaf ghosts! No kidding!”
MEET THE AUTHOR!
This book is inspired by the author’s twenty-five years of interpreting in mainstream education for students who identified as Deaf, deaf, or hard-of-hearing. The purpose of this book is two-fold. It is a work of literary fiction filled with symbolism that is both entertaining and educational. Young people will be fascinated with the Deaf ghosts, the intriguing cast of characters, and will relate to Molly through the overall theme of overcoming challenges. Educators and parents will notice this chapter book exposes readers to a wide variety of challenging vocabulary and figurative language that can be used to support reading goals and promote in-depth discussions on language. Use this book to enhance literacy skills in a fun and unique way!
FROM THE AUTHOR!
After 25 years of working as a sign language interpreter in mainstream education and watching students like Molly struggle, I decided to create a fictional story for educators that could be used as a tool to support literacy and language development in middle grade students. It is not common knowledge, even among educators, that students who cannot hear comparably to their hearing peers often struggle with the English language. One of the defining moments in my career was when a teacher of the deaf revealed her secret for success to me: find a good book that a student loves instead of focusing on worksheets. Hence, my passion for supporting literacy moved me to write this book inspired by my personal experiences!
How can educators and parents implement this tool? Classroom teachers: Use this novel for read aloud time. The whole class will benefit and what a perfect story to read in the fall as Halloween approaches! Teachers of the deaf, speech language pathologists, special education teachers, and teachers who specialize in instructing multilingual learners: Reinforce what is taking place in the classroom by using parts or all of this book when working with your students. Professors: Use this book in teacher and interpreter training programs to educate upcoming educators with the language challenges Deaf students often face in the classroom. Parents: Looking for a good story to read with your 8-12 year old? Want a fun way to support your child’s language development? Looking for a special gift? Look no further!
Lastly, I’ll share a secret with you – this is the first book in an upcoming Deaf Ghost series! I’ll share more details about that later, but for now, read how Molly overcomes her challenges with the help of Deaf ghosts. You might be surprised how much you will learn too!
Sincerely,
Author: Deborah Love, M.Ed.
Pen name: Litterah C. Atwork
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