Actual Week 4: Just Realized I Wrote Week 5 Where Week 4 Should be...#Fail

Stages of Development vs. Common Core Standards vs. Curriculum Scope and Sequence vs. Hierarchy of Skills

I think all of these have their place when it comes to teaching children with a hearing loss. I would start with stages of development since children with a hearing loss are sometimes behind developmentally in certain areas such as speech and language. If a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing were to start with common core the child may lack some of the prerequisites that are necessary in meeting those standards. Another way to begin with a child with a hearing loss that may be behind developmentally would be a hierarchy of skills. After one skill is mastered move on to the next. If a child is functioning at the appropriate level developmentally then I think it is important to stick with the curriculum that his/her peers are being taught in the regular education classroom. I think it is important to assess the child's present level of performance before deciding where to start.

When the child expands and progresses in skill then we will shift our focus on to the next skill in either a hierarchy of skills or meeting the next common core standard. No matter which method is used all of the skills build upon each other and it is important that some be mastered before moving on to others. However, some skills can be taught simultaneously. I believe that all of these methods have a place but it is important to assess where the child is academically and developmentally before deciding on which method might be most important for that child.