October at Memphis Oral School for the Deaf was filled with growth, connection, and hands-on learning experiences that supported our children’s listening, language, and communication skills every single day. As the fall season settled in, our classrooms embraced new vocabulary, rich sensory play, and meaningful interactions that helped students build confidence and strengthen their spoken language.
Learning Through Fall Themes
Throughout the month, students explored classic fall concepts—leaves, pumpkins, weather changes, and seasonal colors. In both classrooms and therapy rooms, children practiced answering questions, following directions, identifying sounds, expanding sentences, and using new vocabulary during play-based learning.
Pumpkin investigations, fall sensory bins, and outdoor nature walks sparked curiosity and created countless opportunities for teachers and SLPs to model language, encourage conversations, and help children build the communication skills they need for kindergarten success.
Community Partners Bringing Language to Life
Real-world experiences are a core part of how children at MOSD learn to listen and talk. October brought an incredible lineup of partners who helped us turn everyday moments into rich language opportunities.
Houston High School Volunteers
Students from Houston High School joined us to paint pumpkins, make fall-themed slime, and interact with our preschoolers. These activities promoted vocabulary, turn-taking, social communication, and sensory exploration—all while building meaningful connections across generations.
Whole Foods Garden Project
Whole Foods generously donated new flower bulbs and spent the day planting with us in our MOSD garden. Our students practiced new words like “dig,” “plant,” “root,” and “soil,” and engaged in hands-on outdoor learning that strengthened listening and descriptive language skills.
Iris Collective Music Experience
The Iris Collective visited our school, performing for our students and giving them the chance to touch real instruments, feel vibrations, and “read music” on digital tablets. These musical experiences help children learn to listen in new ways and build auditory awareness—critical for spoken language development.
Petting Zoo + First Joy & Byway Coffee
Our parking lot transformed into a lively fall experience with a petting zoo and a visit from First Joy and Byway Coffee. Children practiced greeting animals, describing textures and sounds, and using functional language during an exciting, sensory-rich morning outdoors.
Kendra Scott Fundraiser at Saddle Creek
MOSD hosted our first-ever Kendra Scott fundraiser, bringing supporters and families together for a day of shopping that gave back to our school. We are grateful to everyone who attended and helped raise funds to support listening and spoken language education.
Mustangs of Memphis Support at the Bartlett Car Show
Mustangs of Memphis represented MOSD proudly at the Bartlett Car Show, helping spread awareness of our mission throughout the Mid-South. Their ongoing support ensures more people learn about the life-changing work happening at MOSD every day.
Official School Photo Days
We wrapped up the month with school photo days—capturing big smiles, sweet personalities, and the milestones our students work so hard to achieve. These keepsakes reflect not only adorable moments but also the confidence and communication growth happening inside our classrooms.
Halloween Carnival Presented by Pickler Companies
On October 31st, Pickler Companies hosted a school-wide Halloween Carnival that our children absolutely loved. Employees from Pickler Companies arrived in costume and filled our halls with carnival-style games, Halloween prizes, and trick-or-treat stations designed to encourage communication.
Children practiced functional language like “I want,” “My turn,” and “Thank you,” interacted with new adults, and enjoyed a festive morning that supported social skills, listening, and expressive language development.
We are incredibly grateful for Pickler Companies’ creativity, kindness, and continued commitment to MOSD.
Looking Ahead
As we move into November, our classrooms will embrace themes of gratitude, family, and community traditions. We look forward to welcoming more partners, providing more hands-on learning experiences, and sharing even more joyful milestones as our students continue progressing toward kindergarten readiness.
Thank you for supporting the mission of MOSD and helping every child listen, learn, and talk.
