helen keller reading response.content journal · true/false – helen keller was born blind and...

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In a small group, brainstorm different ways people communicate. Write your ideas in the thought bubble below.

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What I know about Helen Keller:

What I want to know about Helen Keller:

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Chapter 1: A Strange Fever

The three words below are found in your reading. Define each word, give the number of syllables and part of speech.

1. Scarlet Fever

Definition:

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Number of syllables: _____________________

Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Blind

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. Deaf

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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A Strange Fever

1. What kind of fever did Helen have when she was a baby?

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2. How did Helen feel about eating as a baby?

a. She did not like it

b. She only liked peas

c. She liked it a lot

3. What convinced Helen’s mother that she was blind? How did she react?

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4. What signal did the family use to indicate it was time to eat?

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5. What did Helen’s mother use to test her hearing as a baby?

a. Music

b. A rattle

c. Singing

d. Sirens

6. How many years ago was Helen born? Why was this important tot the story?

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7. True/False – Helen Keller was born blind and deaf

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Chapter 1 Journal Reflection

Helen Keller was a normal child until she was 18 months old. When she was just over a year, she caught scarlet fever, became deaf and blind. Her life would never be the same. Write about what life would be like if you could not see or hear today.

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Chapter 2: The Dark Silence


1. Dumb

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Tantrum

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. Asylum

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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The Dark Silence

1. What town and state was Helen Keller living in?

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2. On page 12 the author writes “She smiled very seldom.” What does seldom mean?

a. Not sure

b. Not often

c. Not happy

3. What did Helen do when she lost her words but wanted people to understand her? Give an example from the story.

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4. Helen was very angry as a child as there were many things she did not understand. How would you describe Helen when she was angry? Give an example from the story to support your answer.

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5. Where did Helen’s parents think she should go to cope with her anger and frustrations with life?

a. Home

b. Perkins Institute

c. School

d. State Insane Asylum

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Helen Keller was adjusting to life as a blind and deaf child but one thing still seemed strange to her, lips moving. She did not know what was going on often and this caused her to become angry and lash out. What do you do when you are angry? What makes you feel better?

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Chapter 3: The Stranger Comes

The three words below are found in your reading. Define each word, give the number of syllables and part of speech. Choose 1 more word to define.

1. Vibrations

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Plung(ed)

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. __________________________

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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The Stranger Comes

1. Why did Helen’s father think Helen would hurt Miss Annie?

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2. How is Helen feeling when she is being held by Miss Annie?

a. Happy

b. Afraid

c. Angry

3. How could Helen tell the present was a doll? Who was the doll from?

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4. What was the first lesson Miss Annie taught Helen? How does Helen respond to her teachings? Use details from the text to support your answer.

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5. What does Helen do when she knows Miss Annie is hurt?

a. Screams

b. Laughs

c. Cries

d. Smiles

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Miss Annie has come to Helen’s home to help her and teach her. During her first lesson with the doll, Helen lashes out at Miss Annie when she takes the doll away. Her parents insist she gives it back but Miss Annie does not listen. What would you do if you were in Miss Annie’s shoes?

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Chapter 4: The Worst Fight of All


1. Wriggle(d)

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Crept

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. Plunk(ed)

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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The Worst Fight of All

1. Why was Helen being so cruel and mean to Annie?

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2. On page 32 the author writes “Helen had the table manners of a pig.” What does this mean?

a. She is violent

b. She is messy

c. She is fat

3. During the fight, Helen tries to eat Miss Annie’s food. Why does Helen do this? How does Miss Annie react? How do Helen’s parents react?

Why _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Miss Annie______________________________________________________________________________________

Parents_________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What lesson does Miss Annie teach Helen during their breakfast fight?

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5. How does Helen know everyone is gone?

a. She does not feel vibrations

b. The door is locked

c. She feels empty chairs

d. She holds her mother’s skirt as she leaves

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During this chapter Helen has her worst fight yet – because of food. Helen’s parents believe Annie should allow Helen to take her food. Annie does not. Who do you think is right, Annie or Mr. and Mrs. Keller? Why do you think this?

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Chapter 5: W – A - T – E - R


1. Gamble

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Clenched

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. _________________________

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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W – A - T – E – R

1. What is Miss Annie’s plan for Helen? Why does she want this for Helen?

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2. Where does Miss Annie take Helen to live?

a. A little garden house

b. Perkin’s Institute

c. The Keller’s farm

3. What is the first step that needs to be taken in Helen’s new home? How does Miss Annie know this step is taken care of?

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4. What happens when Miss Annie takes Helen to the pump?

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5. What does Helen mean when she points at the window?

a. Close the window

b. Let’s go outside

c. Open the window

d. It is raining

6. Who were the two new people that came out of the pump house?

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During this chapter Helen finally found out the words she has been spelling have meanings to them. She becomes over-whelmed with many feelings. Put yourself in her shoes. How would you feel and why? Be sure to use details from the text to support your answer.

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Chapter 6: So Much to Learn


1. Whoop

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Chuckle

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. Frantic(ally)

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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So Much to Learn

1. Helen is now 7 yrs old. In the last 5 years, what had she forgotten?

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2. Where does Miss Annie do most of her teachings?

a. In a classroom with cards

b. Perkin’s Institute

c. Outside

3. What do you think Helen was most afraid of when she was in the tree?

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4. Miss Annie teaches Helen what a chick is by having her hold a hatching egg. But what about the things that are too big for her to grasp, how will she learn them?

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5. What does Davidson mean when she says the world was coming to life in her hand?

a. She is touching all things in the world

b. She is learning about all things in the palm of her hand

c. She is writing about the world

d. She is reading about the world

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In this chapter we see a whole new side of Helen Keller. Describe how she has changed from the beginning of the story until this point. Be sure to use details from the text to support your answer.

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Chapter 7: A Time to Move On


1. Snatch

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Spangle(d)

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. Braille

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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A Time to Move On

1. Why does Helen’s nose twitch when she goes to the circus?

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2. How do the people from the circus make Helen feel special?

a. They show her the animals

b. They make her a part of the circus act

c. They feed her all of the circus food

3. Why do you think the animals were Helen’s favorite part of the circus?

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4. Miss Annie teaches Helen about Christmas. Why do you think up until now Christmas did not have much significance to Helen?

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5. Why does Mrs. Keller have tears in her eyes Christmas morning?

a. She is sad to see Miss Annie go

b. She is sad to see Helen does not understand Christmas

c. She is happy to have Miss Annie in Helen’s life

d. She is happy to see Helen enjoying Christmas

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In this chapter Helen experiences many new things including the circus and Christmas. Then, Helen is invited to visit Perkin’s Institute. What do you predict will happen to Helen when she goes to visit Perkin’s Institute.

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Chapter 8: “I Am Not Dumb Now”


1. Bitter(ness)

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Swollen

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. _________________________

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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“I Am Not Dumb Now!”

1. What do you think was Helen’s favorite part of Perkin’s Institute?

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2. The author writes “The teachers at Perkin’s all made a fuss over Helen” What do you think the word “fuss” means?

a. Big deal

b. Bad attitude

c. Scared outlook

3. Why does Helen suddenly become bitter in this chapter? What does she realize?

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4. What does Helen want to learn next? Why does she want to learn this?

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5. Who is going to teach Helen to speak?

a. Miss Annie

b. Mrs. Keller

c. Mr. Keller

d. Mrs. Fuller

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In this chapter Helen learns many new things, including speaking. Do you think anything can hold Helen back from achieving her dreams at this point? What do you think is in store for her next in her life?

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Chapter 9: College


1. Tandem bicycle

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

2. Diploma

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

3. Cum laude

Definition:

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Part of Speech: ___________________________

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College

1. How could she distinguish where she was when rowing her boat?

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2. What is a tandem?

a. A bicycle for two

b. A tent

c. A book with braille

3. Why was Miss Annie nervous about Helen going to college? How does she respond when Helen says she wants to go to college?

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4. How does Helen handle college? Is she successful? Why or why not?

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5. What was Radcliffe College?

a. A famous men’s college

b. A famous women’s college

c. A college for blind students

d. A college for deaf students

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In this chapter Helen decides she wants to go to college. When she tries to go to Radcliffe, the president says “no” because he does not think she can handle it. This makes Helen want to work even harder to achieve her goal. So she writes letter, gets accepted and works harder than she ever has. Have you ever had to work really hard towards something? What was this like?

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The Busy Years

1. How does Helen feel about her life at this point?

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2. What does Helen decide to do with her life at 24 yrs old?

a. Write a book about herself

b. Write about ways to help the blind and deaf

c. Write letters of thanks to all who helped her

3. Why were these years so “busy”? What was Helen doing?

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4. What happens to Helen as she grows old? Use details from the text to support your answer?

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5. Why does Helen go to Europe?

a. To continue giving her speeches

b. To study writing

c. To visit soldiers at war

d. To visit Miss Annie

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Learn about the ear

Ear diagram

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All about the eye

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Verb Review: Directions: Circle the verbs in the following sentences.

1. Helen Keller loves books.

2. Helen goes horseback riding.

3. Annie Sullivan taught Helen.

4. Helen types fast on her typewriter.

5. Helen’s father fought in the Civil War.

6. The flowers smell sweet.

7. Helen grew roses in her garden.

8. Helen traveled to many countries.

9. The wind blew on Helen’s face.

10. Helen Keller worked for the American Foundation for the Blind.

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Daily Oral Language—Week 1 1. when helen was little, she became sick she had a high fever 2. helen keller couldnt see here or talk 3. do you think helen was sad when she was young 4. how could she tell someone she was sick how could she tell

someone she was tired or how could she tell someone she was

scared

5. helen kicked her parents and helen scratched her parents when

they tried to touch her

6. helens parents didnt no what to do 7. alexander graham bell new a great deal about teach deaf people 8. why couldnt helen speak 9. helens teacher, annie, helped helen see the world in a new way

10. helens world was dark and silent

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Daily Oral Language—Week 2 1. me and sandy was reading a great book about helen keller

2. was you reading about her, too

3. helen lost her sense of sight helen lost her sense of hearing

4. annie spell word after word into helen hand

5. helen was quick to learn other words helen learned thirty words in

one day

6. braille is a form of writing. braille was invented by louis braille

7. i reads with my eyes but helen read with her fingers

8. helen could read braille. helen could read lips

9. people was amazed to here her speak

10. me and my mom is learning sign language

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Daily Oral Language—Week 3 1. helen fingers could see what her eyes couldnt

2. johanna hurwitz writed the book helen keller, courage in the dark

3. helen kellers life were filled with silence and darkness

4. helen had courage. helen had determination

5. she been the subject of plays books movies and television shows

6. helen were kind helpful and caring

7. has you met helen keller

8. i wish i could of met her

9. we was learning sign language at school

10. does you no how to do the alphabet with your hands

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Daily Oral Language—Week 4

1. helen studied english and german

2. helen learn to speak at school

3. sarah fuller teached helen to speak

4. helen learn how to read people lips

5. for three years helen work hard to prepare for the entrance

exams

6. my sister is best at american sign language than me

7. helen couldnt here the music, but she could feel the vibrations

8. helen was a amazing person

9. little helen had grew into an beautiful educated women

10. helen write an book called the story of my life

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Compare and Contrast: Movie and Book

Movie Book Characters

Characters

Setting

Setting

Plot

Plot

Problem

Problem

Solution

Solution

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Movie OR Book?

Which did you like better, the movie or the book? Why?

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Thank You

Teacher

helen keller reading response.content journal · true/false – helen keller was born blind and...

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