my little genius

A few weeks ago I posted about how Maya was working with her speech therapist on matching pictures to a picture board.  This last week I decided to take out the See and Learn Language and Reading materials that I purchased a while back.  By the way this is all free to download from their website. How cool is that!

I could make up some excuse about how busy I am or how I thought Maya was not quite ready for this activity, but I really have no excuse except my laziness.  Maya has over 100 signs, she has been working with flash cards for a long time and she loves reading/looking at books.  I know these are all parts of the foundation in learning to read.

So on Friday I took out the 50 sight/picture cards from the first word pictures, packet.  A photo of an object is on one side and the word is on the other side (IE: spoon, apple, cup, brush...etc.).  As I handed the cards to her she started to sign the word without me even saying a thing.  She automatically told me what was on the card.  This is actually one of the first activities you can to do with the cards. It was as if she knew what was coming.

Next I took out the 15 picture boards from the packet.  Quickly I placed the first board on the floor.  I handed Maya the little picture card so she could match it to one of the four photos on the board.  I have to tell you that I was so freaking impressed with my daughter.  Wow!  First off she was matching the picture card with the boards faster than I could find the next card, she did all of them and only missed two, and she even signed the word to me as I handed them to her.  

In more ways than one, this exercise blew me away.  I was so proud of her work but at the same time it made me wonder, "Do I not give her enough credit?".  Because she isn't speaking maybe I forget that Maya knows so much more than she can communicate.  She CAN understand these kind of tasks.  Just because she isn't talking doesn't mean she can't put two and two together.  I tell her everyday how she is smart...and now I have to tell myself that too.  She is capable of learning just like everyone else, she just needs it to be shown to her in a different way than most.  

Now more than ever she seems thirsty to learn and ready to try anything new.  My job is to challenge her more so she can excel.  Next we will work on the second packet, first written words.  I can't wait to start and tell you all about it.

matching action images

31 for 21, Day 10: Book, Book and more books

I remember last year around this time I wrote about Maya reading on the potty. And I'm sure I've written other posts about how she loves books. I'm so happy to report that she is still in love with books.  When Maya gets up in the morning the first thing she reaches for is a book.  The same goes for when she wakes up from her nap.  Most of the time if I let her be she will go into her room and start reading. I've even seen her do that when we have company. Maybe it's a way for her to decompress from all the activities in the house.

Over time we've collected many books. Friends have given us books almost every celebration and I am always looking for deals on books, whether it's at the local bookstore (used books rock!), secondhand baby stores or at the library. I've also subscribed to Baby Bug and Animal Baby magazine. I love the idea that there are magazines for toddlers.

When I was growing up I did read some but not a whole lot. I do remember having a stash of books in a cubby in the living room that I think my mother ordered from a company through the mail. Being a visual person, I remember enjoying the drawings more than the words. In some ways I think I'm obsessed with books now.   I want Maya to have as many books as she wants. It would be so lovely to have her "be a reader". We have books in pretty much all areas of our house. So Maya can read at any given moment. And often she does.

When I see that she isn't interested in a book I try and sign it as we read it out loud.  This first happened with Goodnight Moon.  She just wasn't interested in the story and I started to worry if she would ever like to read this classic.  So I started to sign the story to her and then an amazing thing happened, she started to pick that book to read before bedtime.  I started doing this with all of her books. Now she knows the signs that relate to each page and she even signs the book to herself when she's on her own.

One of the greatest feelings I get is when I see Maya really studying her books. There are times when I see her focus on a book so intently.  It's almost like she is really trying to understand the story.  Her little eyes move back and forth and up and down, inspecting all aspects of the page.

It's true I'm a proud mama when I see this. 

before lunch

first thing in the morning

some of Maya's books

on the potty

31 for 21, Day 20: see and learn

i found a website that seems like a wonderful resource for teaching reading to children with down syndrome. one of our down syndrome groups here hosted a flash card making workshop several months back. in the session they mentioned the techniques taught here.

i don't have much experience with teaching reading to children in general so this website really seems like a gem. the see and learning webpage is associated to the down syndrome education organization (downsed). this nonprofit does amazing research to improve education for children with down syndrome.

from what i have learned, children with down syndrome (and many typical kids like myself) learn better through visual activities. the See and Learn Language and Reading website gives a step by step guide on how to play and teach using flash cards.

they even provide the flash cards free. you can download the entire document and print it up yourself at home or you can purchase the kit at their online store. i like the idea of making my own flash cards eventually but this seems like a good foundation to start with. i can't wait to get started!

31 for 21, Day 15: reading on the potty

i'm not kidding you when i tell you that maya likes to read on the potty. she often asks for a book the moment we settle her on her little training seat.

now a new development has occurred: she wants to hold the book all on her own. she usually asks for the book and will pull it away from you and sit it on her lap. it's very intentional. i think this is so cute and i love that she is already showing independence.

we are thinking it might be a good time to buy a table and chair set so that she can sit there (instead of the potty) to read. even though about 80% of the time when she signs potty she actually has to go, there are those moments when i think she uses the potty to read her book. either way, it's a win win i figure. potty training and books, seem like two good things to me.