Deaf Child Crossing for a Book Perhaps?

Note from Cris the Professor:

I think that working with 2 to 3 teens to read a book and discuss it in your Ning would be a great project. If you could get some teens from your church to participate then I think that would be ideal. Please don’t consider this “research” – it really isn’t research at all. You’re teaching reflectively, that’s all. You’re researching the literature to learn all you can, planning an Action Learning Project, and then reflecting on what you learned. You’re also checking with the teens to see what they thought of the project.

As for a permission form, if you work with a few teens from your church then I’d suggest that you simply write a brief letter that explains what you’re doing , that you’re doing this for a class, and that parents are welcome to join the Ning if they’d like. Be sure to explain that you have total control and that it is private, safe, and secure. Remember that your goal is not to discuss controversial issues about deafness and HI (that would turn some parents off) rather you are simply interested in using a new text-based tool to help student read and discuss a novel for young people their age that represents deaf and/or HI people in a non-stereotypical way. No need to have them sign – I just think they’d appreciate knowing what you’re doing.
Hope that helps.



Email from me to the teens participating:

I have considered a book. If you can I would love to get a third person especially someone you know. I have to write a letter to your parents so that they feel comfortable with it. We will be communicating via a blog called Ning and it's only for us four to see it. All you will be doing is reading a book called Deaf Child Crossing written by a deaf actress Marlee Matlin who was also on Dancing with the Stars. This is a possible book I have considered. What you will do is read it and post your responses to the book. I will have questions on Ning for you to answer and I am hoping to get to meet you all in a group. You attend East Wake right? I was a student there in the 90s. I have not gotten Ning set up yet but if you can, try to get that book from the library. If you are unable to get it, I might buy it from Barnes and Noble for you three. I could just use you two but we will get much more feedback with a third person.

I work at Combs Elementary in Raleigh in a special education program for children who have hearing loss. My students use sign language to communicate. Deaf Education is my career and am always wanted to expand my knowledge of it. The purpose of this book is to see your perspectives of the characters in the book as they are related to most of the students I work with. It's always good to know how people feel about specific disabilities.