Educating Learners with Down Syndrome: Research, theory, and practice with children and adolescents

For individuals with Down syndrome, the extent of the effect of intellectual disability depends largely on the degree of provision of appropriate support and intervention. In Educating Learners with Down Syndrome, editors Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke have brought together a number of expert contributors, whose chapters review recent findings in the field of DS education, highlight promising practices, and identify areas for future research.

While the emphasis is primarily on the school years, links to early intervention and to life post-16 are made, with chapters organised into three parts: conceptual overview of issues in learning and teaching, learning mathematics, and literacy development. The book is also united by the cohesive themes of assessment, evidence-based practice, and inclusive practices.

Educating Learners with Down Syndrome importantly incorporates the voices of individuals with Down syndrome, whose personal narratives add significance to the research mission of the text and demonstrate the authors' inclusive philosophy. Aimed at researchers, teacher educators, higher degree students, and policy makers, this book is the first of its kind to provide a compendium of research on educating learners with Down syndrome.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Issues in Learning and Teaching

1. A lifespan perspective on learning in the context of Quality of Life. Emeritus Professor Roy Brown, University of Calgary
2. Cognitive strengths and weaknesses for informing educational practice. Dr Donna Couzens, University of Queensland, Associate Professor Monica Cuskelly, University of Queensland
3. Mastery motivation in children with Down syndrome: Promoting and sustaining interest in learning. Dr Linda Gilmore, University of Queensland, Associate Professor Monica Cuskelly, University of Queensland
4. Enhancing learning for children with Down syndrome. Associate Professor Kathleen Feeley, Long Island University

Part 2: Learning Mathematics

5. Mathematics profile of the learner with Down syndrome. Dr Rhonda Faragher, Australian Catholic University, Associate Professor Barbara Clarke, Monash University
6. Developing early number concepts for children with Down syndrome. Associate Professor Barbara Clarke, Monash University, Dr Rhonda Faragher, Australian Catholic University
7. Research on number knowledge of children with Down syndrome: Experiences from Indonesia. Rumi Ati, PPPPTK Matematika
8. Learning mathematics in the secondary school: Possibilities for students with Down syndrome. Dr Rhonda Faragher, Australian Catholic University

Part 3: Literacy Development

9. Developing the reading skills of children with Down syndrome. Dr Kelly Burgoyne, University of Portsmouth, Dr Becky Baxter, University of Portsmouth, Emeritus Professor Sue Buckley, OBE, University of Portsmouth
10. Challenging literate invisibility: Continuing literacy education for young aduls and adults with Down syndrome. Associate Professor Karen Moni, University of Queensland, Dr Anne Jobling, University of Queensland
11. Down syndrome: A story from a developing county. Rumi Ati, PPPPTK Matematika
12. Where we are, where we would like to be and (perhaps) how we get there. Dr Rhonda Faragher, Associate Professor Barbara Clarke