Down Syndrome

[mschackow]

I have two children with Down Syndrome. They are both boys one is 6 years old and the other is 5 weeks old. Has anyone used Heart of Dakota with a child with Down Syndrome? Did you add anything to it or use anything different like handwriting, math, or phonics? Which program did you use and at what age? HOD is the best that I have seen and will be using it with my other four children. We will be doing BLHFHG, LHTH, and CTC. Thanks for your help.

Blessings,
Michelle

[Mom2Monkeys]

I've seen some moms on here using HOD with children with LDs of all kinds. So, I'm sure it could be done! Can you give a better picture of his abilities...writing skills, listening skills (for read alouds-- chapter books or picture books), math skills, etc.... Where would you think he placed on the placement chart? Has he had any intro to phonics or math skills yet?

My first thought is to let him join in on LHTH with your others and add in the K math, handwriting, and phonics if he's ready- or any of the 3 if he's not ready for them all- you could even do the Singapore math level before the K books. It's also called Earlybird Kindergarten but it's 1A/B instead of 2A/B. I think Reading Made Easy is a great phonics program for all learning styles and there is a new set of workbooks to go along with it that is similar to Explode the Code (and optional). They may not be up on her site yet though. You can take it at his pace and the workbooks provide great review and fun reinforcement. There's review built into the actual lessons as well.
LHTH has so much learning in it and many use it for Kindergarten as is or add in the K math/phonics/handwriting. It's for ages 2-5, so if he falls in that skill bracket, that could work.
Little Hearts could also work and could be taken at half pace if needed, making sure to continue or review phonics and math skills on the days you are doing the left side of the plans (Learning Through History), but not the right (Learning The Basics). Depending on his listening skills, you might be able to let him take part in the left side of Beyond with your others and do the right side of Little Hearts or even do LHTH for his early math/phonics skills.

We can all help you work through it if you can provide some more insight. Knowing his skills will help us help you much better! Hope this gets you brainstorming. I know it could be done! I can't think of a better curriculum to make it happen with!

[mschackow]

I have been doing hands on things with him like colors, counting, puzzles, matching and things like that. He has not been able to do workbooks. He likes to do things with his three year old sister and she will be doing LHTH. He loves books and being read to that one of the things I like about HOD. He also likes to color and draw. On the placement chart LHTH I think will be the best for him. Thanks for your help.

Blessings,
Michelle

[netpea]

My niece has down syndrome. She is not homeschooled, so she hasn't done any of HOD. But I am very familiar with her abilities and I don't think anything in HOD would give her trouble. She would just go through each program at a slower pace because she has to do something over and over before it finally clicks. If you find the right placement for your sons' ability, I think they'll do fine. You can slow it down for them if you need to. HOD covers most things but is gentle in its appoach.

[Carrie]

Michelle,

We actually have many moms who use HOD with kiddos with all types of different special needs. As we've been doing conventions this year, we have often heard from moms who are so glad to have found HOD, as it fits their kiddos with special needs well and makes their school day less stressful.

I just wanted to encourage you that LHTH looks like a fit for your little guy, based on the placement chart. It will be good for your little guy, and you will find many things within the plans that will be successful with him.

Blessings,
Carrie