ABSTRACT:
The objective of this study was to investigate the results from the application of a pedagogical intervention program that included alphabet teaching associated with metaphonological skills aiming to promote reading and writing learning. Five children and adolescents with Down Syndrome aged 9-15 years starting the alphabetization process were included. The study included the application of a pre-test, intervention, a post-test1, and a post-test2. In the pre-test, post-test1 and post-test2, vocabulary, phonological awareness, knowledge of letters, reading and writing of words and pseudo words were evaluated. During the intervention, a program was implemented to teach the names and sounds of letters associated with the metaphonological skills training emphasizing the phonological processing. Results show that the explicit teaching of names and sounds of letters, associated with metaphological skills and connections between phonemes and graphemes enabled the students with Down Syndrome to understand the alphabetic principle and acquire initial reading and writing skills. It is concluded that the skills developed during the intervention, through phonological mediation, enabled the participants to acquire initial learning of written language.
KEYWORDS:
Special Education; Down syndrome; Metalinguistic Abilities