A Rainbow-rific Day

 This post is actually a day late. Our internet has been all wigged out and I was unable to post it on time. 

On many posts I have shared Vada working on different color recognition coloring books. I've never followed up on what we do with these books and recently I have had a couple of emails from curious parents wondering what we do with the books after Vada colors in them...

I save them. I laminate them all, place little rings in them to keep them connected and we keep them by the rocking chair in Vada's room where I read to her before her nap and bedtime and where she has easy access to them.

Today Vada and I read through her color recognition book once all of the way through and then on the second time around we matched the colors on the pages to the colors on Elmer the stuffed elephant.

We followed that activity up with an Elmer's book.

And continued to do some more color recognition activities with this gear puzzle from Melissa and Doug. 

We did more color sorting with the Farmer's Market set from Learning Resources. She seemed to have a hard time with this certain activity the other day. I am having a hard time knowing if it comes from not knowing the actual colors, not paying attention or being bored. So I thought that we should try again, at least once more this week.

She did great with this when she was focused but she really had to pay attention. Again, it was hard to tell if it was just luck when she was getting it correct so I brought out the crayon color sorters again as well. She really likes those and I figured repetition of a good thing never hurts.

The same thing went with this color sorting activity. Was it by chance or was it on purpose? Hmm...?

Vada and I did two interesting coloring worksheets. I say interesting because it was hard for Vada, yet I really wanted to have her finish the activity, yet I wasn't for sure if it was age appropriate and should press it. It turns out that we did two of the worksheets. The uppercase 'E' and the lowercase 'e' worksheets. They had Large, medium and small sizes for each upper and lowercase letter and for each size you were suppose to color each a different color. It was difficult and took a great deal of restraint on Vada's behalf but with my help and guidance, she did do it. She yelled at me a bit, she got frusterated a little but she completed the pages and I was proud of her but I did question myself...should I have stopped the lesson when she got frustrated? or what it good to push her a little even though she wasn't pleased about it? Seriously...Im looking for opinions and advice here...what do you think?

While Vada did put up a stink about coloring the upper and lowercase 'Ee's, she was all for writing practice, We used an orange dry erase marker for our hand over hand practice writing but Vada used a purple marker on her own. If you haven't already figured it out, I chose these two colors because they are are our colors of the week.

Vada's grasp does seem better with the mini markers. Thanks Christy, your awesome!

Check out Vada's horizontal line attempts! Not bad for a three and a half year old, ehh?

Notice the little 'v' as well...

Now check out this uppercase 'V'. Pure accident? Probably, but I am telling myself that there was some effort put into this letter 'V'.

I asked Vada to connect the "big E to the little e" and look what she did! All on her own! With NO, assistance or guidance from me! She is awesome, right? This is great, right?!? Oh my gosh, I am just smitten with this little girl!

After Vada had her own practice writing time we moved on to shape tracing. 

These last two sheeting activities came from 3Dinosaurs.com.

After talking about the tracing sheet we moved onto another puzzle-like activity. 

We also turned this activity into a math and color recognition activity.

At first Vada had a hard time getting the shape pieces off of the posts but once she figured it out she didn't want to stop. We did this activity two times.

Since I used the last activity as a counting activity (as well other things) I also used it as a sort of transition activity. We went from the puzzle onto the number one TouchMath flash card and counting single object activities.

After doing everything we did in our last activity yesterday, I added another step. It was simple but added more counting. I had Vada put each object, one at a time, into the cup. As Vada added objects into the cup I would count them, "One orange Numicon, One gray cat, one purple cup", and so one. I just wanted to highlight on the fact that we were focusing on one.

After Vada put everything into the cup I brought out the book that we worked on the previous day and we read through it then began coloring more in it.

And that was our rainbow-rific day.

Annual Goals and This Years Curriculum and Materials

Well, I did it...or at least I think that I have. I am sure that I will be coming back to this list and adding to it with numerous things that I have forgotten or haven't even thought of but the general goals of this year have been planned out and it feels really good to have this completed.

If your going through this and notice anything that I have forgotten or left out please let me know! I have never wrote one of these, never and I got most of my ideas and information from online posts of other children Vada's age who also have Down syndrome.

While I do realize that this"plan" is not for anyone other than for me and for my personal teaching goals to help Vada learn and grow this year, I would like to make it as accurate and realistic as possible. I'm not necessarily talking about using the proper terminology but more along the lines of what goes into our goal list for the year.

  So as your reading this just please keep in mind that Miss Vada is currently a three and a half years old little girl and will be turning four in March of 2014 and that every child is different in their learning styles and in their growth patterns. Therefore, what is in your goal list for your child may or may not be appropriate for ours. However, suggestions are welcome.

Annual Goals

Vada will increase independence in her toilet training and teeth brushing skills to improve overall age appropriate self-help skills. 

Vada will:

1.)Work toward and eventually becoming able to push down her her own pants when prompted into doing so, during the correct times.

2.)Work toward and eventually become able to pull up her own pants when prompted into doing so, during the correct times. 

3.)Remain dry through out the day and in between toileting intervals.

4.)Use toilet paper, flush, wash and then dry hands after each bathroom visit.

5.)Wear training underwear during the days other than during nap-time and at bedtime with no accidents.
6.)Assist Mama in toothbrush preparation each morning and night.
7.)Attempt independent teeth brushing time after Mama has done her initial cleaning.

Vada needs to increase her self-help skills in order to increase independence with dressing skills.

Vada will:

1.)Work on training boards that include zipping, snapping, buttoning, lacing, tying and buckling and will use these learned skills with real life clothes and circumstances.

2.)Assist mommy or others with getting herself dressed.

3.)Zip her jacket or coat after it has been hooked.

4.)Pull on her own socks after they have been placed onto her feet.

5.)Push her feet into her shoes after they have been put on.

6.)Put her backpack on to her back correctly with minimal assistance and wear it to and from our classroom.

7.)Remove her backpack from her back and hang it on the correct hook in the classroom and then in her room after class.

Vada will increase socialization, play, and attending abilities to develop overall age appropriate social skills.

Vada will:

1.)Say/sign her first name when prompted.

2.)Identify her written first name when prompted.

3.)Imitate simple motor actions and body movements during songs and fingerplays with minimal assistance.

4.)Participate in turn taking activities during play groups as well as her musical groups, when prompted.

5.)Demonstrate appropriate use/play with objects and toys.

6.)Make activity choices when given two choices.

Vada will ambulate independently over all surfaces and elevations.

Vada will:

1.)Stand from the floor using a half kneel posture.

2.)Step up a 2-4" step independently.

3.)Ascend steps using one hand on a handrail and placing both feet on each step independently.

4.)Descend steps using one hand on a handrail and placing both feet on each step independently.

5.)Ambulate independently over all services, and stepping over obstacles that may come into her way.

6.)Jump up clearing both feet from off of the floor.

7.)Jump down from a 2-4" step landing on two feet with a "spotter".

8.)Continue to work on improving her overhand throw.

9.)Work on a underhand throw with a specific direction goal.

10.)Continue to work on her kicking a ball while moving abilities.

Functional communication skills

Vada will:

1.)Identify 25 nouns by name via pointing.

   a.)Identify 35 nouns by name via pointing.

2.)Increase understanding of 10 action words via pointing to presented stimuli.

   a.)Increase understanding of 15 action words via pointing to presented stimuli.

3.)Identify at least 5 articles of clothing either on self or on a presented model.

4.)Continue to follow and improve skills on following verbal requests embedded with positional words (eg. in, out, on, off, under, on top of).

5.)Label presented pictures/objects via verbal speech or sign language.

6.)Produce noun+verb/verb+noun phrases (eg. go potty, eat crackers, read book etc.) via verbal speech or sign language.

Vada will increase manipulative, dexterity and strength to improve overall age appropriate fine and visual motor skills.

Vada will:

1.)Stack 5 blocks on top of each other.

   a.)Stack 8 blocks on top of each other.

2.)Put together 6 to 8 piece puzzles with blank backgrounds with limited assistance from others.

3.)Work on hand manipulation skills to twist two objects together.

4.)Complete start to finish activities with minimal assistance after initial prompting.

5.)String jumbo beads onto lacing string.

   a.)String medium beads onto lacing string.

   b.)String small beads onto lacing string.

6.)Nest graduated cups up to five sizes.

7.)Color in between the lines of specific shapes (eg. in a circle, in a square, only on the specific letter requested).

8.)Draw vertical lines with crayons, markers, pens and or pencils, when promoted (continue to improve her circular drawings as well as her horizontal lines).

9.)Continue to work with Mom on hand over hand activities to work towards the goal of more independent actions.

10.)Hold scissors in hand properly with limited assistance and cut paper.

   a.Cut on specific lined area of paper.

11.)Wear her thumb splints 85% of the day and continue to work towards isolating specific fingers and her thumb when needed.

   a.)Have a full fist-index finger only point.

   b.)Use her 'point' to point to things that she wants, needs and during activities to answer questions.

12.)Use fingers for finger counting.

   a.)Isolate her fingers as she counts through them.

Vada will continue to work towards academic progress in all areas of "tot-preschool" year.

Vada Will:

1.)Recognize her written name in many different fonts.

   a.)Get into the habit of writing her name by writing her name on all of her work sheets.

2.)Identify all of the letters of the alphabet.

   a.)Vocally identifying the proper sounds for each letter of the alphabet.

3.)Identify the numbers 1-5 (and then the numbers 6-10)

   a.)Count objects into groups that equal groups of 1-5.

   b.)Use fingers to count 1-5.

   c.)Identify number of objects in specific groups with minimal assistance and then use a numeral card to label the groups.

4.)Identify shapes by verbal or sign language naming.

   a.)Using games, manipulative's and other objects on a regular basis to demonstrate her knowledge of the shape.

5.)Identify colors by verbal or sign language naming.

   a.)Use games, manipulative's, color matching activities and other objects on a regular basis to demonstrate her knowledge of each color.

We will also be transitioning Vada's crib into a daybed this Fall!

Curriculum and Highlighted Learning Materials 

(for this year)

Main Curriculum and Materials:

1.)BFIAR (Before Five in a Row) 

2.)Letter of the week (often referred to as LOTW on this blog)

3.)Themed packets downloaded from 1+1+1=1, Homeschool Creations, Delightful Learning, 3Dinosaurs.com and RoyalBaloo.com

Other Materials and that we will be using:

1.)We Choose Virtues (introducing this into our family and into our day)

2.)Keepers of Faith-Little Keepers at Home (introducing this and some of it's easier activities)

3.)ABCMouse.com

4.)Numicon

5.)Touch Math

6.)Unifix

6.)Handwriting Without Tears; Get Set For School: Numbers and Math, Readiness and Writing, Language and Literacy, Word Time, I know My Numbers, Tag Bags, 

7.)BrillKids

Specific Activities/Groups

1.)Kindermusik

2.)The Family Museum (for independent play, play groups, structured classes and for themed "field trips")

3.)GiGi's Math Program (If it is age appropriate this school year.)

4.)GiGi's Literacy Program (If there are any available spots open.)

Introducing New Things

Vada and I have been working on counting the numbers one through ten and more specifically in the pictures below, one through five, since we've started homeschooling. After a couple of days of doing the same things, I change our counting routine but only slightly. I want Vada to learn that numbers come in many forms so I am teaching her that way.

Today, I added 3-D Numerals by Touch Math with the corresponding Texture cards. When introducing the 3-D Numerals it's important to teach one numeral at a time. You teach the numerals by teaching to count the 3-D dots in a specific counting order. Vada was attentive for numerals one and two but showed no interest after that so we continued with our normal one through five counting routine and left the remaining 3-D numerals and cards out of the equation.

We've begun to focus on body parts. I have realized that many of Vada's peers who are younger than her know their body parts, whereas Vada knows only a couple of her body parts. That's where Sesame Streets Shake a Leg and Elmo Says board books come into play. These books are awesome! Shake a Leg is a book of the monsters moving in different fun says and Elmo says is a book version of the childhood game Simon Says. Lots of Feelings is another book that Vada and I have been reading and talking about. This book is full of real life photos of children expressing themselves in one way or another. Since Vada is a girl of little words I do most of the talking! I talk about how the child in a certain photo looks, hat the book says he or she is feeling and what could make me feel that way. I ill then imitate that same expression and sign. Vada is very good at imitating the expressions and signs as well!

To go along with the "theme" of learning body parts I brought out the game "Where is Howie's Owies?" It is really cute but Vada wasn't interested in it today so we put it up for another time.

I brought out one of her dolls instead. That worked! 

We looked at his eyes and ears. His mouth and nose. His hair and hands and with each body part of his we also looked at her matching body part as well as mine.

We took some time to play with Hexie-Snaps, to talk about colors and to work on some fine motor skills.

And then I brought out the Numicon. 

Right now, I am only introducing the Numicon pieces in various ways to Vada. Once she becomes familiar with the pieces and I become familiar with the Numicon program I will then begin to teach her to count using the Numicon pieces. 

I have recently found out that GiGi's Playhouse's use Numicon and the 3-D Numerals (as well as a number of other things) a a part of their math program, which makes me feel even more confident in the choices that I have made for ours here at home.

Another fun toy that I have been trying to get Vada to play with me with is the VTech Alphabet Food Fridge.

I have a like/dislike feeling towards this toy. It had a door on it, like a fridge. That's what I don't like. Vada likes to close it. All. of. the. time. and that is not beneficial to the learning or playing side of things because once you close the door, your done. And let me tell you, it doesn't feel very good on the fingers either!

Everything else, I like. You get different foods that begin with a letter of the alphabet and you can play on different levels. 1. By letter. 2. By color or 3.I can't remember and I don't have it with me but there is a third option, which you got to love!

This is an old toy. It's not being made anymore. It's a hit or miss item on Ebay or Amazon and a treasure to be found at a yard sale!

We aren't huge fans of watching the television here. We don't have cable anymore or even the regular public channels. We do however, have Netflix and Dvd's and specifically for Vada, we like to have her watching Signing Time, Leap Frog and Sesame Street. Another set of Dvd's that we have gotten into is the "Meet the" Series. We have started with the Shapes and Colors but also have the Numbers, Letters, as well as the Sight Words Dvd set. I'm interested to see if anything comes from them and curious if anyone out there has had their children watch them and noticed any extra retention possibly because of the videos?