In Wonder, Auggie's condition is further complicated by another unnamed syndrome that makes his particular set of craniofacial differences unique. Hearing loss is also associated with this syndrome. The ears are frequently abnormal and part of the outer ear is usually absent. Children with this condition have very small or partially absent cheek bones and notches in or stretching of the lower eyelids. TCS is a condition in which the cheek-bones and jawbones are underdeveloped. This is an inherited developmental disorder with a prevalence estimated to range between 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 70,000 of live births. In Wonder, Auggie refers to his condition as Mandibulofacial Dysostosis, which is also known as Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS). It's an amazing reference source, and I highly recommend it (and thank him for sharing it with the world). W went to the time and trouble of creating a visual resource companion guide-basically an annotated Wonder-to use while reading Wonder aloud to his classes. One of R.J.P.'s personal favorite teacher-created resources was written by Mr. Now, in partnership with, Facing History has created a curriculum for Wonder that explores topics such as inclusion and exclusion, difference, and multiple points of view:

Independent, critical thinking is at the heart of a free society, and adolescence is the time to develop those skills. Facing History and Ourselves is an organization that works to instill intellectual vigor and curiosity in the world’s secondary school students, by providing ideas and tools that support the needs of teachers.

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