Deer Run Home

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Mr. Bart, Effie’s new teacher, is inspired by Effie to dedicate a bulletin board in the classroom to student poetry. While you don’t have to offer extra credit as Mr. Bart did for every poem a student shares on the board, ask students to help fill it—first by writing an original poem that responds thoughtfully to Deer Run Home.

This could be a found poem or blackout poem that uses words from the novel, free verse, a letter poem to a character, a narrative poem, or whatever best reflects the connection students made between the story and their own experiences. Before posting them on the bulletin board, have students read their poems aloud and invite conversations about what they hope others will feel or understand from their piece.

As students share their poems, they may begin to notice that their voices—like Effie’s—have the power to reach others, to name something true, or to ask a question that matters. From there, the poetry bulletin board becomes more than a response to one book; it becomes a space for students to continue using poetry to communicate what they need to say—about who they are, what they wonder, and what they hope others might understand.

Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing

1. What is the significance of this story being told in verse? Why do you think the author chose this form? How does this style help you understand what Effie is thinking or feeling? Did it make the story feel different from others you’ve read? Why or why not?
2. How would you describe Effie’s relationships with her father, mother, stepfather, and sister, Deja. How do these relationships grow and change over the course of the story? What enables Effie to display resilience and thrive despite this complicated family dynamic?
3. What does Cait’s decision to learn sign language mean to Effie? Why don’t any of Effie’s family members learn sign language? How does this impact her? What would it feel like to grow up in a family with whom you could not communicate?
4. What do the displaced deer—especially Effie’s connection to Goldeneye—symbolize? Why is it so important to her to protect the deer? Have you ever wanted to protect something or someone important to you?
5. Why does Miss Kathy do so much to try to help Effie? How does Effie feel about her? Who is someone in your life who helps you feel seen and heard?
6. Deer Run Home was inspired by a real court case. Did Effie’s story inspire you to learn more about disability rights and child protection? What could you do to show that you care about these issues?

Related Resources

Deer Run Home Discussion Guide from Scholastic

Deer Run Home Book Guide from Scholastic

Every Student Can Be a Poet from Edutopia

“Father Loses Custody of Deaf Girl Judge Cites Dad’s Use of Alcohol, Refusal to Learn Sign Language” from The Spokesman-Review

“Custody of Deaf Girl Given to Sign-Language Speaker” from the New York TImes Archives