| Question: |
I have 4 children. The older 3 will be in 7th, 5th, and 3rd grades this fall. My youngest son will be 6 in January and he has Down Syndrome. We are leaving [structured, pre-packaged curriculu] to come to your program. We are all excited!!! My major concern is about what to do with my youngest son. He had on/off hearing for his first 4 years of life, so he is just learning how to speak. He is a bright little boy and knows his letters and how to pronounce their main sounds. He knows that letters make words and he tries to sound them out. He is still working on the concept of numbers. I am thinking that Kindergarten is too advanced for him, yet I don't want to hold him back. He enjoys playing "school." I have also been told time and time again that he needs to learn how to read by sight. Frankly, I prefer that he read phonetically. I am rambling... Is it prudent to place him in Kindergarten? I am not after him graduating grade for grade every year. I want him to love the learning process and simply continue to progress. Thank you for your assistance and advice. God bless you. |
| Answer: |
Dear Parent,
Thank you for your question!
Welcome to Catholic Heritage Curricula! I think you will find that CHC will be the perfect fit for your family's needs.
I am excited to hear about the progress of your youngest son. It sounds as though your work with him is going well. The important thing, as you have discovered, is that you are going at his pace and not worrying about his grade placement.
A book I would highly recommend is called Early Education for Children With Down Syndrome, by Valentin Dmitriev, who is an expert at teaching children with Down Syndrome. She was an early and strong proponent of step by step phonics-based reading for Downs students, with the result that her Downs students read well at five and six years old!
Because he knows the basics, it appears that he will be ready for Kindergarten. So, my suggestion is that you get the Preschool/Kindergarten lesson plans, which uses Little Stories for Little Folks, as it provides a strong phonics foundation, and also follows a learning program similar to that outlined by Valentin Dmitriev.
As you have said, you want him to love the learning process. With CHC's materials, you can go at your own pace, in a relaxed environment, and enjoy teaching him.
God bless you and your family!
Laura Nicholson |
