Educational Strategies
Ipa Specialized Social Skills Training:
Alternative programming goals can be identified in the HELP resource, as well as the FISH resourse (listed below). Looking at the individual needs of the students, it is important to create attainable goals to develop their social skills.
For example: My student who I previously taught that had Down Syndrome was always hugging people (other students, teachers, EAs, and strangers). His mother was very concerned about this so we worked on more appropriate ways to greet people including a high five, handshake, a wave, or using verbal skills.
Literacy and Numeracy Training:
Just like everyone else, students with Down Syndrome are all different, and therefore require different educational support based on their needs. There are some excellent resources available to educators as a starting point to help develop hands-on learners, and creating programs with real-world applications.
See below for a detailed list of literacy and numeracy support.
Use of Technology:
Many students with Down Syndrome use assistive technology to help with their learning. Many Down Syndrome students are visual and kinesthetic learners. Ipads have been able to aid students with speech output, and help teach concepts such as language, literacy and speech sounds. The Down Syndrome research foundation offers slide show presentations on how educators can incorperate technology into their classrooms. Below is the link to the slide shows
http://www.dsrf.org/programs-&-resources/our-resources/dsrf-educational-resources/
Workplace Preparation Training:
Many of the students in my school with high special needs are involved in a Life Skills Program which is facilitated by the Resource Teacher. Jobs including: kitchen safety (cooking, dishwasher, food preparation and storage), collecting recycling each week, pick up and drop off of the attendance folders, stocking supplies, etc., are ideas for ways to give students valuable jobs within their school community.
In Sarnia, we have a secondary school that specializes in job-training programs, and has a staff that is highly qualified in Special Education to accommodate the needs of all students. Most students who attend this high school have been identified, and are on an IEP. For more information on the school, visit: http://amss.lkdsb.net/Default.htm
Alternative programming goals can be identified in the HELP resource, as well as the FISH resourse (listed below). Looking at the individual needs of the students, it is important to create attainable goals to develop their social skills.
For example: My student who I previously taught that had Down Syndrome was always hugging people (other students, teachers, EAs, and strangers). His mother was very concerned about this so we worked on more appropriate ways to greet people including a high five, handshake, a wave, or using verbal skills.
Literacy and Numeracy Training:
Just like everyone else, students with Down Syndrome are all different, and therefore require different educational support based on their needs. There are some excellent resources available to educators as a starting point to help develop hands-on learners, and creating programs with real-world applications.
See below for a detailed list of literacy and numeracy support.
Use of Technology:
Many students with Down Syndrome use assistive technology to help with their learning. Many Down Syndrome students are visual and kinesthetic learners. Ipads have been able to aid students with speech output, and help teach concepts such as language, literacy and speech sounds. The Down Syndrome research foundation offers slide show presentations on how educators can incorperate technology into their classrooms. Below is the link to the slide shows
http://www.dsrf.org/programs-&-resources/our-resources/dsrf-educational-resources/
Workplace Preparation Training:
Many of the students in my school with high special needs are involved in a Life Skills Program which is facilitated by the Resource Teacher. Jobs including: kitchen safety (cooking, dishwasher, food preparation and storage), collecting recycling each week, pick up and drop off of the attendance folders, stocking supplies, etc., are ideas for ways to give students valuable jobs within their school community.
In Sarnia, we have a secondary school that specializes in job-training programs, and has a staff that is highly qualified in Special Education to accommodate the needs of all students. Most students who attend this high school have been identified, and are on an IEP. For more information on the school, visit: http://amss.lkdsb.net/Default.htm
Community Agency Involvement
CCAC- Community Care Access Centre (Eerie St. Clair)
CCAC is a fantastic, non for profit organization that supports families and schools. They provide a variety of services, some of which can be very beneficial for students with Down Syndrome. Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, and speeth therapy are a few of the services they offer. CCAC is coordinated through the Program Resource Teacher, the Principal, Classroom Teacher, and Parents.
Children's Treatment Centre (of Chatham Kent)
The Children's Treatment Centre works with families and schools. Their mission is to provide specialized therapy and programs to help children reach their unique potential
https://ctc-ck.com
Community Living
Community Living serves to give a voice to those with intellectual disabilities. They are a wonderful support for those with Down Syndrome. Support can start early on, and continue into their adult years.
http://www.clc-k.ca
CCAC is a fantastic, non for profit organization that supports families and schools. They provide a variety of services, some of which can be very beneficial for students with Down Syndrome. Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, and speeth therapy are a few of the services they offer. CCAC is coordinated through the Program Resource Teacher, the Principal, Classroom Teacher, and Parents.
Children's Treatment Centre (of Chatham Kent)
The Children's Treatment Centre works with families and schools. Their mission is to provide specialized therapy and programs to help children reach their unique potential
https://ctc-ck.com
Community Living
Community Living serves to give a voice to those with intellectual disabilities. They are a wonderful support for those with Down Syndrome. Support can start early on, and continue into their adult years.
http://www.clc-k.ca
Take Caution!
I think that it is important to recognize the student's limitations (academic, social, physical), and to also know their strengths. It is important to work with your school team to develop a program to capitalize on these strengths for each individual learner. I've found using positive reinforcement over punishment has been a successful tool, especially for exceptional students.
Great Educator Resources to Check Out:
Educator Package: A Guide To Inclusive Education for students with Down Syndrome - This guide is found on the Canadian Down Syndrome Society website. This package is used frequently by the LKDSB to support educators working with students with Down Syndrome, and provides excellent information, including: task and assignment modification, transition planning, promoting inclusion, and much more http://cdss.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CDSS-Educator-Package-English.pdf Literacy Skill Development for Students with Special Learning Needs - This book has an excellent reading program called "Match, Select, Name". I have had personal use of this program with a student with Down Syndrome and saw firsthand how successful this program can be. It teaches students to read by looking at the whole word from memory, rather than phonetically. Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome ** I have never had the opportunity to sit down and explore this resource, so I am basing my judgement from online reviews of other educators** - This resource contains hands-on activities that focus on real-life problems that are accessible for students of all ages. It also suggests teaching the math curriculum centered around student interest, and gives many uses of manipulatives to teach abstract concepts Boardmaker Software - This program uses pictures and symbols to help students communicate more effectively. I have used this program with one of my students with Down Syndrome, and he was always so proud that he could read his own work back to me. HELP for Preschools Document and FISH (Functional Independence Skills Handbook) - Used to create alternative programming goals to use on a student's IEP. |