Show Me a Sign Novel Study

Level 1 Novel Studies are designed for 2nd to 5th graders. 

This novel study contains:

• 14 Sentence-Level Writing Activities
• Character Journal note-taking project & discussion
• Vocabulary Journal & Vocab Words
• Plot Discussion
• 10 Discussion Questions
• Guided teaching for writing and note-taking activities
• Book Club Activity Ideas

This is a 4-week (or 16-day) novel study that includes sentence-level writing activities, a guided note-taking project, and a vocabulary journal.

For 14 days, your learner will read, take notes, complete sentence-level writing activities, and study vocabulary. On day 15, you will discuss the plot and the note-taking project with your learner to gain a big-picture understanding of the novel. On day 16 you can have a themed book club with further discussion questions, snacks, and activities.

We recommend doing 6 to 10 novel studies per year.

Click here for more info and placement recommendations.

 **This is a digital PDF for single-family use. If you are a teacher, you can purchase an extended use license here.**

Content Warning: Halfway through the book, the main character is kidnapped and subjected to experiments and abuse. She is rescued, and it has an uplifting ending.

About Show Me a Sign:

Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard. Her great-great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there -- including Mary -- are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language. Mary has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage.

But recent events have delivered winds of change. Mary's brother died, leaving her family shattered. Tensions over land disputes are mounting between English settlers and the Wampanoag people. And a cunning young scientist has arrived, hoping to discover the origin of the island's prevalent deafness. His maniacal drive to find answers soon renders Mary a "live specimen" in a cruel experiment. Her struggle to save herself is at the core of this penetrating and poignant novel that probes our perceptions of ability and disability.

Deaf author Ann Clare LeZotte weaves a riveting story inspired by the true history of a thriving deaf community on Martha's Vineyard in the early 19th century. This piercing exploration of ableism, racism, and colonialism will inspire readers to examine core beliefs and question what is considered normal. - Amazon