Question

How did Miss Sullivan teach Keller the connection between words and meanings?

Answer 1

Miss Sullivan was an expert teacher who was trained to teach the blind children. However, she had to be very patient and innovative while teaching Helen as she had hearing disability too. Miss Sullivan would often write the spelling of the object on Helen's hand after allowing her to touch it. For example after giving her doll for a while, she would spell the word "d-o-l-l" on her hand. Miss Sullivan had to face a great difficulty many times making things clear to Helen. Once Helen got stuck at knowing the difference between 'water' and 'mug'. Miss Sullivan took Helen out; she put her hand under the spout and let Helen feel the cool stream on one hand, and on her other hand Miss Sullivan spelled the word "w-a-t-e-r". That living word awakened her soul to the secret of learning words with their meanings.