Ah. I’m starting to feel as though my head might explode. I can’t begin to tell you the hours. Hours, I say, h.o.u.r.s. I have spent researching how a kid with Down syndrome learns.
First, there isn’t a whole lot out there to go by that doesn’t come with a ginormous price tag.
Out of the Box.
Love and Learning.
NACD.
ICAN.
As far as just general information you can read and apply to your own experience on how a child with Ds learns…………there ain’t so much. Barbara’s site has been a favorite.
So, any of you homeschooling a child with Down syndrome? What is working? What isn’t?
And, yeah. I’ll be taking notes. Lots and lots and lots of ‘em.
I think as with any kid, all kids with Ds learn differently. While I’m not a homeschooler, I do know what works best for Kaia as far as learning goes. Whatever holds her interest is key. She has always been VERY strong at sign language, so anything that has any kind of hand motions to it (like finger play songs) will hold her interest for hours on end and she will soak it up like a sponge. Luckily enough, our school system uses the Jolly phonics program to teach kids how to read. Each letter has an “action” (almost like a sign) that helps them to remember the sound of the letter. For example, the letter “F”. The action is pretending to be squeezing the air out of a balloon. The sound of that makes a “fffffffffffff” sound, as does the letter “F”!
I guess maybe that means she’s a visual learner.
Junior does not have DS but does have sever learning disabilities. I have found that using things that he is the most into at the time really helps him focus. Last year it was cars so we counted cars, did adding and subtracting with cars, even found a set of flash cards that had a different vehicle for each letter sound. He also has done well with the preK-1st grade level of hooked on phonics. Reading is his biggest struggle but by using pictures and the actual objects along with words he is catching on. Good luck
Heidi
I am sorry for your loss. Hopefully things will calm for you.
While I know nothing about schooling a child, I just wanted to let you know that Parker and the family are in my prayers. I belong to two different organizations that pray for children and adults with special needs, and I am going to leave the links here for you if you would like to visit.
http://www.freewebs.com/prayerbears
http://www.colesfoundation.com
I might suggest that you begin with the Doman book, How to Teach Your Baby to Read, which will give you insight into the best thing that ICAN & NACD do – teach reading early to children w/ds. In fact, borrow it from the library and it will be free!
Much of the research you are doing now has already been done by those who have been homeschooling longer so feel free to ask your questions and we will be glad to help or point you in the right direction!
My hat goes off to you. I am considering homeschool for the future, but have no advice for now. I just know that you will do an amazing job for Parker!
Tammy,
as with any child our kiddos learn differently. That is why things are so difficult to find and at a hefty price tag. I have found that with Drake he learns things best by hands on. I have made a lot of activities for him that are laminated and velcro so he can stick the items in the right spots.That is how he learned to count by 1′s, 2′s , 5′s, 10′s, 25′s. which then carried over into rote counting and also money skills. That is just one example as I have time I will try and add other things that have worked with Drake. Right now he is sick and sitting on my lap.
Kay and Drake
Tammy,
I have a set of videos I bought a while back for Renee but never really used them. She watched the first one a few times but that is all. Honestly, I can’t remember why we didn’t keep up with the program. It is a 5 DVD set called “Your Baby Can Read”. I would be willing to send these to you if you are interested in them.
Hi Tammy,
Thought this would be a good time to de-lurk. I’m a homeshcooling mom, my daughter (Goldie)w/ DS is almost 2. But, some homeshcooling w/ DS blogs that I follow are:
http://adventuresofhomeschoolingnoah.blogspot.com/
http://mi2boys.blogspot.com/
Here is another link I’ve saved for when Goldie is older:
http://www.dsfoc.org/learning_program.htm
I’d love to know if you find anything else. I didn’t send my older girls to pre-k. I truly believe a preschooler can learn everything they need from loving, involved parents.
I have a friend who has 3 down syndrome kids, and a couple with autism in their family. I can’t remember if they are home schooled or not. Email me if you want her email address…I know she is more than willing to impart any wisdom she has…