CommonLit - The Girl Who Listened with Her Feet

The Girl Who Listened with Her Feet Lesson by CommonLit

*This lesson was developed by CommonLit and links to an external source.

Summary:
Students read an informational text about Laura Bridgman, the first deaf-blind person to learn to read and write a language, and explore how she developed her own ways of communicating and learning before and after attending the Perkins Institution. Through reading and discussion, students consider how access to education shapes what people are able to do, and what assumptions about disability can get in the way of that access.

Our suggestions when teaching this lesson:

• The text states that Laura Bridgman was 'the first deaf-blind person to learn to read and write a language.' A more accurate framing: she was the first deaf-blind person to receive formal education within the US school system who became widely known. The absence of records about others does not mean no one else was educated. Be prepared to discuss with students the difference between what is recorded in history and what actually happened.

• This is a good opportunity to let students know that deaf-blind people are part of our communities today. Some contemporary examples: Haben Girma, John Lee Clark, Jelica Nuccio.

• The lesson uses figurative language that may need some unpacking. Be prepared to help students distinguish between the author's literary choices and factual statements about Bridgman's experience.

• Consider adding these discussion questions:

• How have Laura's life achievements changed how deaf-blind people are treated?

• Who was judging Laura and deciding she was worthy? What did she need to do to be seen as worthy, and is that fair?

• What signs were there that Laura was already learning before she had formal education?

• Have you ever felt like you had to act a certain way to be accepted by someone?

• Who needed to be pleased?

• Recommended further reading to pair with this lesson: She Touched the World by Sally Hobart Alexander.

Subject and topic:

English Language Arts (ELA)

Grade level:

5th

Duration:

30 - 45 minutes

Links to download lessons:

CommonLit Lessons can be used as a downloadable resource with teacher and student copy PDFs along with a slide deck, or can be assigned through the website to have students complete digitally.

Registering/logging in is required to access these lesson plans: https://www.commonlit.org/

See the lesson plan on CommonLit: https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/the-girl-who-listened-with-her-feet