MEET MEET ROSINAROSINA

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VOCABULARYVOCABULARY

Deaf:Deaf:

not able to hear wellnot able to hear well

oror

not able to hear at allnot able to hear at all

Language:Language:

a set of signs, a set of signs, symbols, or symbols, or

movements that have movements that have meaning meaning

Signing:Signing:

using hands and using hands and movements to talkmovements to talk

Culture:Culture:

a way of life, ideas, a way of life, ideas, customs and customs and traditions traditions

Relatives:Relatives:

people in your people in your

familyfamily

Celebrate:Celebrate:

do something special do something special for a special reasonfor a special reason

A SPECIAL A SPECIAL CAMPCAMP

Camp Taloali in OregonCamp Taloali in Oregon

is a special place.is a special place.

The campers and theThe campers and the

counselors come fromcounselors come from

many backgroundsmany backgrounds

and cultures.and cultures.

Almost everyone at Almost everyone at

the camp is deaf,the camp is deaf,

which means theywhich means they

cannot hear.cannot hear.

If campers can notIf campers can not

hear, how do theyhear, how do they

know what people areknow what people are

saying?saying?

SIGN LANGUAGESIGN LANGUAGE

Sign language is a Sign language is a

way people can talk way people can talk

to one another withoutto one another without

speaking.speaking.

Signing is a way toSigning is a way to

show letters andshow letters and

words with yourwords with your

hands and fingers.hands and fingers.

Sign language is like Sign language is like

a code.a code.

Relatives of deaf Relatives of deaf children started the children started the camp. They wanted camp. They wanted deaf children to have deaf children to have summer camp fun just summer camp fun just like hearing children.like hearing children.

At the end of each At the end of each summer, campers summer, campers

celebrate with a big celebrate with a big party.party.

They remember all the They remember all the fun they had together.fun they had together.

Then they signThen they sign

GOOD-BYE.GOOD-BYE.

MEET MEET ROSINAROSINA

by by

George AnconaGeorge Ancona

““Hi! I’m Rosina. Hi! I’m Rosina.

I am deaf, so I talkI am deaf, so I talk

with my hands.with my hands.

I go to a special I go to a special school for the Deaf .school for the Deaf .All of the teachers All of the teachers teach using Signteach using Sign

Language.Language.

We call itWe call it

SIGNING.SIGNING.

We study math,We study math,

writing, reading, and art.writing, reading, and art.

We also play sports.We also play sports.

It is the same as otherIt is the same as other

schools.schools.

My brother also goesMy brother also goes

to my school.to my school.

After lunch, we playAfter lunch, we play

basketball duringbasketball during

recess.recess.

My mom and aunt are deaf, My mom and aunt are deaf, too. too.

They work at theThey work at the

school.school.

Mom came from Mexico when Mom came from Mexico when she was little.she was little.

She had to learn SignShe had to learn Sign

Language so she Language so she

could learn English.could learn English.

Aunt Carla’s job is toAunt Carla’s job is to

help students learnhelp students learn

about different cultures.about different cultures.

She also takes care ofShe also takes care of

the school museum.the school museum.

The museum is filledThe museum is filled

with pictures of ourwith pictures of our

relatives who went torelatives who went to

the school.the school.

Sometimes we go toSometimes we go to

the school library.the school library.

Our librarian signs storiesOur librarian signs stories

from the books.from the books.

She is very good atShe is very good at

telling stories.telling stories.

She makes us feel likeShe makes us feel like

we are in the story.we are in the story.

Stories can make youStories can make you

feel sad, or scared, feel sad, or scared,

or worried or happy.or worried or happy.

I love going to art class.I love going to art class.

I like to paint withI like to paint with

watercolors.watercolors.

When I was in secondWhen I was in second

grade my class wrotegrade my class wrote

a book about a deafa book about a deaf

dad with four arms.dad with four arms.

“ “TOO MANY HANDS”TOO MANY HANDS”

Our book wasOur book was

published!published!

We had a book signing.We had a book signing.

We wrote our names inWe wrote our names in

the books that peoplethe books that people

bought.bought.

I like sports.I like sports.

This year I am playing rugby.This year I am playing rugby.

I try to tag the personI try to tag the person

with the ball beforewith the ball before

they cross the goal line.they cross the goal line.

Our team beat all Our team beat all

the other teams the other teams

and we won a bigand we won a big

trophy.trophy.

Rosina’s Team

We wanted toWe wanted to

celebrate.celebrate.

We splashed coldWe splashed cold

water on our coach.water on our coach.

After school we getAfter school we get

ready for dinner.ready for dinner.

We all help mom cookWe all help mom cook

Mexican meals.Mexican meals.

After dinner we play After dinner we play

a game of chess.a game of chess.

Mom, Dad, my brotherMom, Dad, my brother

and me.and me.

That is my family – butThat is my family – but

there are many more, too.there are many more, too.

We have a big family.We have a big family.

I have lots of uncles,I have lots of uncles,

aunts, cousins,aunts, cousins,

grandpas and grandmas.grandpas and grandmas.

Most of my mom’sMost of my mom’s

family are deaf.family are deaf.

My whole family usesMy whole family uses

sign language to talksign language to talk

to each other.to each other.

““Good-bye.”Good-bye.”