New reading methods for kids with Down syndrome being tested in UK

A well organized trial of new methods of teaching children with Down syndrome to read is underway in the United Kingdom, conducted by DownsEd International. The experiment will finish in summer of 2011 and the results evaluated. Few studies of this kind have been conducted due to lack of funding for Down syndrome when compared to other conditions, like autism, and resistance to change, which is a shame considering how promising  the preliminary results look,

The research team today presented their findings during a symposium on reading at the 3rd European Regional Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities. Dr Kelly Burgoyne, the psychologist leading the study at Down Syndrome Education International, reported that the children in the study made significantly better progress after only 20 weeks of teaching using the specialist programme, when compared to children with Down syndrome receiving ordinary classroom instruction. Dr Burgoyne commented: "This is exciting because it shows that the programme can be effective in a short period of time. We will now continue to follow the children to see if they make further gains in their language and reading skills."

I say, let our methods be informed by solid research and results, and look forward to reading the study when it is available.

Read the entire article at DownsEd International website.

Book Re-readers unite!

OK, I know you're out there! There are readers of this blog who re-read books. Faith and Family Live blog has a post for you.
I did, before I had three blogs and three kids. . . and it was one of the best ways of learning grammar and literary style. I grew up when teaching grammar was out of style (is it back yet? I homeschool, so I'm out of touch with public educational trends).
From learning the difference between subject and predicate in second grade to my monumental struggles to understand indirect object in seventh grade French (it would have been easier to learn in English first, NON?) I had NO grammar in grammar school. I even got a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language without a single course in grammar. Oh, I paid for a grammar course, and bought a $100 grammar book, but the professor was bored by teaching grammar and preferred to chat during class time. I was shortchanged on grammar.
But, like my Irish gran who wasn't able to get as much formal education as she would have liked,
I read, and I read, and I read. CS Lewis, Alcott, Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder, James Herriott, and when I was 13 I read 1037 page "Gone with the Wind" in a record 3 days, while my worried mother brought meals to my room. It was actually due for re-release in my local movie theatre, and besides, I was enthralled by the story.
These and many other wonderful authors taught me grammar and literary style. Plus, living through a great story more than once is one of life's great pleasures.
If you like my writing, now you know my secret; READ READ and RE-READ great writers!

Educating teachers about Down syndrome

Here is a program in Omaha which trains one teacher per school to be an expert in educating children with T21.
The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City started the program in 2004 after finding that both parents and teachers were nervous about educating students with Down syndrome.
"We thought that we need to get everybody together and create a collaborative, cooperative, welcoming environment so everyone's not anxious," said Amy Allison, executive director of the guild.
Read the entire story here.
HT Omaha World Herald