November at Memphis Oral School for the Deaf was a month filled with gratitude, hands-on learning, and meaningful community engagement that enriched our students’ listening and spoken language journeys. With seasonal activities, special events, and educational moments for families, this month highlighted the power of partnership and purposeful early intervention.
Learning Through Gratitude and Fall Traditions
Throughout November, our classrooms explored vocabulary related to thankfulness, family, food, and fall celebrations. Children practiced expressing what they were grateful for, describing seasonal items, and participating in themed story times and sensory play.
In therapy, students continued progressing through individualized listening and spoken language goals—answering questions, identifying sounds, following directions, and expanding sentences during play and structured activities.
Thanksgiving Feasts at MOSD
This month, several classrooms hosted their own Thanksgiving Feasts, giving students the perfect opportunity to practice real-world communication skills.
Children worked on:
requesting and sharing foods
using complete sentences
describing what they tasted
engaging in conversations with peers and teachers
These moments help strengthen social language, confidence, and independence—cornerstones of kindergarten readiness.
Our First-Ever Happy Fallidays Carnival
We proudly launched our first Happy Fallidays Carnival in November, welcoming families, friends, and supporters for an afternoon of fun.
The event included:
local vendors
carnival-style games
food trucks
bouncy houses
fall activities for all ages
Children practiced functional communication—requesting items, greeting volunteers, taking turns, and making choices—all while enjoying a festive community celebration. We are grateful to every partner and vendor who made this inaugural event such a success.
Educational Pep Talk with Audiologist Rachel
One of the most impactful moments this month came from Audiologist Rachel, who hosted an educational “pep talk” for our parents and families.
Rachel explained:
how our students’ hearing devices work, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and bone-anchored devices
how to read a child’s audiogram and understand hearing test results
how sound travels and how devices make sound accessible
the role of technology, including how parents can use their phones and connectivity features to support listening at home
the essential reminder that hearing devices do not restore normal hearing—they do not “fix” hearing loss, but instead amplify and deliver sound to help children access speech
Her session empowered families with the knowledge they need to confidently support listening and spoken language development every day. A full video of the presentation will be released soon.
Farm Visit at Ménagerie Farms in Collierville
Our students enjoyed a hands-on learning adventure at Ménagerie Farms, where they met animals, explored new textures, and expanded vocabulary related to the farm environment. Experiences like these deepen comprehension, build expressive language, and help children apply listening skills in real-world settings.
Giving Tuesday: A Day of Impact
Giving Tuesday was a meaningful day for MOSD as families, alumni, community members, and supporters came together to invest in our mission.
Every gift helps MOSD:
expand therapy and clinical services
update audiology equipment and technology
build strong early intervention programs
ensure no child is ever turned away
We are deeply grateful for this generosity and belief in our work.
Looking Ahead
As we move into December, our school will embrace winter themes, holiday traditions, and sensory-rich learning activities that give children countless opportunities to practice listening and spoken language skills. We are excited for everything the final month of the year will bring.
Thank you for supporting the mission of MOSD. Together, we are helping every child learn to listen, learn, and talk—and building brighter futures one sound, one word, and one moment at a time.
