Has anyone given a classroom talk about DS?

[Jenifer]

Hello, friends!

I'm wondering if anyone has talked with their child's elementary-school class about DS, and/or sent home a letter to parents. I am going to chat on Tuesday with Joy's 3rd-grade class to try and help curb some exclusion that has been happening recently. Joy is new to this school, and I don't think the kids understand DS, so it's time to educate! I would deeply appreciate any materials/advice any of you can offer.

THANKS!

Jenifer, mom to Joy Daisy

[laurasnowbird]

Jennifer,

I have a letter I sent home to families in Ethan's class. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send it to you!

[Haleysmom]

When Haley was in elementary school I had a person from our local ds society go and speak w/the class. I think it was wonderful for the kids, she talked about ds and had a few hands on things for them to work with (a few marshmallows in their mouth and they were to speak w/other kids and try to be understood), big worker gloves and having them tie shoes, things that in 3rd grade they had mastered but Haley still struggled with. I think it worked well.

[Claire]

The week before Adam was to start Kindergarten I arranged with the school to go and talk with the kids. I brought 2 drawing of circles, one red and one black and asked them if they were different? They said yes they were different color. So I explained to them in a 5 year old language that even though they were different color they were till the same in shape.
I did the same with pictures of dogs, and explained again that they were still all dogs even though some were different. Then I told then that my little boy Adam was born with something called Down syndrome, it was not a disease and they couldn;t catch it like a cold, and, that even though they may think he is different he is a lot more the same as them.
I then launched a small contest (with a prize that I had bought) and told them that I would come back in 2 weeks and the one that had the most thing that were the same for them and Adam would win the prize. Of course they all got a small prize, but I really think that it made a huge difference on how they looked at Adam. And the teacher was happy that I has taken that burden of explaining off her hands.

[Jackie]

Claire...what a lovely post!

[Claire]

Thanks Jackie and I did that until grade 3 every time a new kid was in there class.
I also gave presentations to grade 8th as they are learning about chromosomes and such in their curriculaum that year and you'd be surprised at how interested they were and how they changed their attitude with Adam that year, even when they met him on the street they would say Hi or " let me see that magic line in your hand"
I never get mad at peopel that are not educated, I believe education about our kids is the way to go, even though people that know me will tell you that Adam did not have much luck with teachers treating him with respect. It is not the kids but the students and parents sometimes.

[Connie]

I sent a letter when Collin was in Kindy and First Grade.

I think there is even a thread on it in the education forum.

Connie

[Connie]

Jennifer,

I just bumped up the thread on letters in the education forum. Hope you find this helpful.

Connie

[momofrussell]

Yes, I have a few times. For grade school I usually read "Taking Down Syndrome To School" and let the kids ask questions.

A.

[Debbie]

Jackie and I talked to high school students about Down syndrome. She did a presentation on Down syndrome and Emily. I stood up and talked about myself which is not an easy task for me. I have forgotten the class it was, it may have been genetics? Or something like that.

Yes it is I.