In the late 1990s, a family visited the school where I taught deaf students. They said they would be moving here and planned to send their deaf daughter to my school as a first grader. They were upset that their child’s kindergarten teacher told them not to have high hopes for her. The teacher painted a bleak (暗淡的) picture for their little girl’s future. Standing behind them was Katherine, a beautiful five-year-old with long hair and dark eyes. The whole time her parents were there she didn’t make a sound or use sign language, even when her parents asked her to do so.
After a few weeks with Katherine, I discovered I was dealing with a very bright child. Although I was able to make her join in different learning activities, writing was always a struggle. I tried all kinds of methods to interest her in writing. Every time the pencils came out, she would refuse to write.
