Class 3 :: English Literature :: My Special Sister by Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson (Mulberry)
My Special Sister
by Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson
(Mulberry)
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick answers
1. Put a tick (✓) against the sentences that are true and a cross (X) against those that are false.
a. Jeanne's sister is older that Jeanne. [X]
b. Her ears hurt because she cannot hear. [X]
c. The other children in her school can hear. [✓]
d. She is afraid of storms. [X]
e. She can shout loudly when she wants to. [✓]
Reference to context
2. "I am the one who listens for small sounds. She is the one who watches for hoof marks and quick movements in the grass."
a. Where do the sisters like to go?
= The sisters like to go out to the grassy lot behind their house.
b. What do they sometimes do together?
= They sometimes track deer together.
c. Why do you think Jeanne's sister can see quick movements in the grass better than Jeanne can?
= I think Jeanne's sister can see quick movements in the grass better than Jeanne can because she had to apprehend things by using her eyes. As she could not hear, she got well accustomed to understand things by seeing the movements of the same.
3. "I understand my sister. My sister understands what I say to, especially if I speak slowly and move my hands a lot. But not always."
a. The teacher and the children at school do not understand every word Jeanne's sister says. Why is it so?
= The teacher and the children at school do not understand every word Jeanne's sister says. Because Jeanne's sister could not pronounce words in proper way due to her hearing disability. The teacher and children at school did not have the empathy or technique to understand her words as well.
b. How does Jeanne help her sister understand what she says?
= Jeanne spoke slowly and moved her hands a lot to help her sister understand what she says.
c. What is one funny confusion that happened when Jeanne's sister did not understand what Jeanne wanted?
= The previous night, Jeanne asked her sister where were her pyjamas. Jeanne's sister could not understand the word 'pyjamas' properly. She took it as 'bananas'. She went into the kitchen and brought out a bunch of bananas from the fruit bowl on the table.
Read, reflect and write
4. Do you think Jeanne's sister enjoys playing? How do you know?
= Yes, I think Jeanne's sister enjoys playing. She also loves all the childish activities. She wants to enjoy playing. She could dance with a partner or march in a line. She liked to leap, to tumble, to roll and to climb to the top of the monkey bars. She laughed and swung backward and tried to catch Jeanne's legs while being on the monkey bars.
5. What are a few things that Jeanne's sister cannot do?
= Jeanne's sister cannot sing as she can not hear the tune. She can not know if the telephone is ringing. She can not know is someone is knocking at the door. She can not watch the television with turning on the sound.
6. Jeanne says that her sister is 'special'. What do you think she means by that?
= Jeanne says that her sister is 'special'. The author means to express her love for her sister. She is fond of her sister. She pays special attention and care for her sister always. She tries her best for her sister not to feel dejected. Jeanne has a very special emotional bond with her sister.
About the Author :
Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson (b. 1939) is a writer and poet who has written many books for children including I Have a Sister and My Sister is Deaf. She wrote these books to share with others the love she has for her sister.