This is the last post in my Disabilitiy Awareness Activities Unit series. Every day this week I've broken down how I use multiple texts, with corresponding writing activities, to increase students' knowledge and understanding about disabilities.

If you were in elementary school in the 1980's (like I was) you know Ann M. Martin as the author of the ever-popular Baby-Sitters Club book series. Her most recent novel is New York Times Best Seller Rain Reign. I honestly could not put this book down. I just had to find out how things turned out for the main character, Rose, and her beloved dog Rain.

Rain Reign Synposis

Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. She's thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose's rules of homonyms, is very special. Not everyone understands Rose's obsessions, her rules, and the other things that make her different – not her teachers, not other kids, and not her single father.

When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, the roads are flooded, and Rain goes missing. Rose's father shouldn't have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places in order to search for her. Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story, brilliantly told from Rose's point of view.

Rain Reign is my latest addition to the disabilities awareness unit. I will ask some students to read it independently, some students will use it in a book club, and others will use it during small group work. I like to give my students choices when it comes to reading, so Rain Reign is another option for my students to select. In my disabilities awareness unit, I have tried to choose books focusing on a variety of different disabilities to create awareness. Having a myriad of books also provides students with more opportunity to compare and contrast characters and storylines across texts.

Rose's obsession with homonyms led to the writing activity that is part of my Disability Awareness Activities Unit. I have recorded the homonyms that are most important to the storyline in a teacher's guide for you to use. For the students, there are “Homonym Organizers” where they will record the definition of the homonyms, create an illustration, and state the homonyms' relevance to the story. This activity builds vocabulary and comprehension at the same time. You are going to really enjoy using the download with your students!

This is the last of the four novels that I am sharing from my disability awareness unit. I would like to say that I saved the best for last, but I believe that all four books are equally powerful and inspirational. Each book touched me in such a profound way that I cannot pick a favorite.

If you want to learn more about my unit for teaching students about disabilities and acceptance, read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.