Archive for September, 2011

Home Schooling and Down Syndrome

Making the decision to home school any child is difficult – if not daunting – for any parent, and especially those that have children with special needs, such as Down syndrome.

Do the benefits of educating a child at home outweigh those of an education within the public sector? How can one be sure that homeschooling is appropriate for their child? These questions can only be answered by each individual considering the option. However, once the decision for home schooling has been made, there are several things that should be done that will help your child reach their maximum potential in this educational arena.

First and foremost are the child’s individual needs and their learning process. What spectrum, or how severe, is their learning disability? How are their interaction skills with others? What goals are sought and how do you get there? Because each child is different, an individualized plan is critical. Read the rest of this entry »

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How To Tell If Your Student/Child Has Dyslexia

I work with students, either in small groups or individually, who have difficulty reading. Every once in a while, a pupil comes to me who just doesn’t get it. Usually, accommodating the varied learning styles of each student, results in success. When that doesn’t work, I start questioning my ability as a reading teacher. The first time it happened I felt that I had let my student down. My next step was to consult the special education experts and the school psychologist. They suggested the possibility that my pupil may have dyslexia. I was surprised to find out how many young people suffer from dyslexia. Dyslexia is difficult to determine until a young person is in their teens.

We all agreed, including the parents, to test the student. Sure enough, he has dyslexia, which got in the way of his ability to process language. I changed my approach to reading instruction, which resulted in some small successes. This high school student is now reading, with minimal difficulty, on a fifth grade level. One year ago he was reading on a second grade level.

Use your team of experts, which includes parents, to be ever vigilant for signs. Because we caught this when we did, this particular student has a fighting chance to go on to bigger and better things. Read the rest of this entry »

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