Recently we were discussing Helen Keller's life before Anne Sullivan became her teacher and then how her life changed because of Ms. Sullivan. Students were giving some pretty good examples but they were missing "the big picture". Students said she was angry in the beginning and then she was calm. I kept trying to get think to think deeper about why the change happened and they just had a block.
Luckily I got one of those moments where you just know what to do. I slowly walked around the room and turned off every light, all monitors, and the promethean board. I sat and just listened as they were surrounded by darkness. After a quick minute, I slowly started turning on the lights.
Then I heard great comments from several students! Anne brought the light into her dark world. She didn't have to be scared anymore, she had a "voice with Annie". Such a wonderful moment!
Later that afternoon I brought the class to our Wonder Room. Students were very curious and wondered how Helen could learn without being able to see or hear anything. We rotated thru six stations: 1. Scented markers and items to smell 2. a variety of feathers, shells, and plastic animals 3. Pattern blocks 4. Light table with colored overhead tiles and wonder bottles 5. Magnets 6. Sound station
Students soon discovered their senses taught them so much!
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