The Learning Program

While the program featured here is targeting the Down Syndrome population, it may be used with any disability that might benefit from the program. Many families look for ways to supplement the school's literacy and numeracy programs and/or are homeschooling their children. This resource might provide some guidance and materials to do so. You must create a free account to access the materials: http://www.dsfoc.org/learning_program_registration.php

Why

The Learning Program was created to bridge the gap between research and practice. Although researchers continue to discover more about how people with Down syndrome learn, their insight has been slow to filter to parents and teachers. The program focuses on parents as first-teachers for their children, bringing the fruits of research into practice. Knowledgeable parents can work more effectively with their children and give them a jump-start on education. The program also arms parents to serve as capable advocates for their children in the educational process. The Learning Program is designed to supplement traditional education. Despite some wonderful teachers, traditional education too often fails children with Down syndrome due to poor educational placement, lack of trained assistants and outdated stereotypes. Through this program, we hope to strengthen the educational potential for children with Down syndrome, irrespective of their formal educational setting. The Learning Program section of this website enables parents and teachers to access informational guides, download materials and follow links to reliable information about best practices for instruction.

What

The Learning Program complements formal instruction in literacy and math. It also has occupational and speech therapy components. DSF has partnered with educators, researchers, therapists and administrators to develop a program that uses effective teaching strategies and customized materials to support parents, teachers and children in the educational process. Literacy Materials include Instructional Materials, DSF Sight Word readers (books and worksheets), Lakeshore Emergent Readers (worksheets), and alphabet and phonics worksheets. Math Materials are aimed at prenumber and early number concepts (Introduction to Numbers) and progress toaddition and subtraction as well as time and money concepts. Daily Activity Guides are documents that we provide to parents monthly and serve as a list of suggested activities.