Teaching to read

Wow! Teaching to read! I honestly think that teaching to read any child is a challenge. I have taken the challenge to teach Tommy to read. So I am using mixed resources to teach Tommy to read because these teaching methods are easy, don't required much time and are fun. Because it is proven kids with Trisomy 21 learn to read and then they learn to speak, I have my hands on to help to Tommy to speak. The teaching methods I am using are:

• Technology. We have to admit technology makes our lives easier, so I have to take advantage of that to keep helping Tommy and keep working full time. I am using different sight reading apps. So Tommy and I can practice our sight works everywhere we go. There are special characteristics I look in the sight reading/flash-card apps, those are: an option to shuffle the cards, an option to present the flash-cards very quick, different presentations for the same work, incorporated sounds and an extensive variety of categories. Soon, Tommy will get his iPad, so it will take our teaching method to the next level. I am using BillKids app as our favorite app. 
• Improving Auditory processing with Phonic Awareness. Tommy's former Speech Therapist introduced the ZooPhonics to us for helping Tommy with his speech development and it has been working really good for him. It is proven that good speech is linked to good spelling. I am not into teaching Tommy phonics, but I am into train his auditory processing to distinguish sounds and Zoophonics is just perfect for it. The best his auditory processing is, the better he will pronounce speech sounds.

Other reason, I feel confident to teach Tommy to read is that he enjoys books since he was a newborn. His motivator when he was learning to sit it was "Books" instead toys. I have heard many comments from therapists, teachers and relatives how much Tommy loves books and how much he enjoys to be read. Lately, he has been interested in reading Spanish books. He picks the books from his book basket and hand them to me to read before bed time. So teaching him to read is the right thing to do for him. I am anxious to see how many words he will read in the coming months. I know Tommy recognizes some printed words and I am almost sure he can sight read some words he has picked up from reading, flash-cards, educational videos and school; but, I will be sure when the times comes. Meanwhile, I am just teaching and not testing.

If Tommy wouldn't have a genetic disorder, I will wait until the average age where kids learn to read. But I have done my search and I know learning to read is beneficial for him. Would I teach Francis to read at an early age? I don't think so, but it will happen because he is always around when I am doing play therapy with Tommy, so he will pick it by just being around.

Tommy showed earlier interest in books than Francis.

Francis is just starting to get interested in books.

I like the idea my kids like books because

books are the door for knowledge.

Pajama Party

Tommy and I went to a Pajama Party for toddlers this evening. Kids were jumping around and having fun. Tommy was looking at them very curious. We were there for 45 minutes doing crafts. Tommy did his first snow man book. It is time for Tommy to spend more time with other toddlers. Waooo! He is not a baby anymore.

Tommy helped to glue the construction paper

Tommy is enrolled in Parents as Teachers

As any other parents, we want the best for our child; therefore, we are providing to our son with all the tools he needs to reach his full potential and we have great people who are guiding us to nurture our son's brain.

Tommy is currently enrolled in the Parents as Teacher program, which provides parents with child development knowledge and parenting support. The program's goals are:

• Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices
• Provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues
• Prevent child abuse and neglect
• Increase children's school readiness and school success

This is a very neat program because it is FREE. We have once a month home visit by a teacher. She gives us hand-outs about child development and positive parent-child relationships, which have became very helpful for me. Our teacher uses the same materials and activities she currently uses with other kids of Tommy's age. She hasn't modified the program because he is responding to the games and activities according to his age. She said Tommy has good attention span (it is not the first time we heard it), which is very important to learn in the school years. The activity of our last visit was about Music and Tommy was shaking his head according to the rhythm and incorporating his hands as part of his dance, he finds the way to shake is booty; even although, he is not walking yet. He is a funny guy!

I think the key of success, for kids with or without the syndrome, is STIMULATION. It seems, there are more and more kids with T21 who are doing many things according to their ages. The blog "My life with Gabriel" is a true examples of what stimulation can do. Gabriel is doing great regardless the syndrome. Read what his mom says about their Parent-Teacher interview:

T and I had our parent-teacher interview this morning before school started. We brought along the kids who played while Gabe's teacher caught us up to speed. I guess I expected more -- maybe more negative? -- I don't know -- but I came away from the meeting realizing that Gabe is doing great. In fact, he's right in line with his little peers right now. Other than needing more help in the French department, he seems to be participating in every other aspect, and his "scores" in certain areas (counting to 39, shape sorting, word recognition, patterning, etc.) are above or the same as his classmates...click here for the full story

I think we cannot know the future, but we can build a better future in the present. How we stimulate our son today will help him tomorrow.