Re: Followup - 4th Grade DS Presentation

[Guest guest]

That sounds really good. Sounds like the kids were involved and got a good

grasp of what you were talking about.

Was Jimmy in the room when you were talking about all this?

I hope the circle of friends goes well for you. It flopped in our

school...lack of support.

BTW, anytime you want to stop in I'll give you some brown eggs. Green eggs

too. LOL.

[Guest guest]

That sounds really good. Sounds like the kids were involved and got a good

grasp of what you were talking about.

Was Jimmy in the room when you were talking about all this?

I hope the circle of friends goes well for you. It flopped in our

school...lack of support.

BTW, anytime you want to stop in I'll give you some brown eggs. Green eggs

too. LOL.

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear things went well for you today . We are also working on a

circle of friends this year for . They are making it a club, since in

middle school the kids can pick a different club to belong to every quarter.

I also suggested a " lunch bunch " and wanted the school to send out a letter I

had written to about 30 students who have been friendly with over the

years. Of course the school special ed director and principal had a problem

with the letter....something about confidentiality, which ticked me off. So

I did an end run on them and sent the letter out PERSONALLY to the parents of

these students which I have cut and pasted for you all to read:

Don & Jackie Botch

4403 Fourth Avenue

Temple, PA 19560

September 10,2001

Dear Parents,

From the beginning it has been our goal to have our son Botch, a seventh

grade student at Muhlenberg, with Down Syndrome, included as much as possible

with his age-appropriate peers in school as well as in the community. For

the most part this has occurred over the years at Muhlenberg and has

been able to be educated alongside your children and be accepted by them

without hesitation.

As our children mature and enter their teens we are familiar with how the

importance of being accepted by their peers becomes first and foremost in

their lives. Most of them at this age form groups of friends and tend to

hang together. also needs and could benefit from this acceptance among

his peers. It was brought to our attention last school year, that many times

was left sitting alone in the cafeteria at lunch. At first this was

difficult to understand because we knew there were kids who always sat with

him at the elementary center. We learned that at the middle school the

students can choose where they want to sit; therefore, no longer had the

opportunity to automatically sit among his classmates in assigned seating, as

was the case at the elementary center. Although this is a welcomed freedom

and a simple adjustment for most children, it is something needs to be

shown and taught.

In the next week Mrs. Barbara Post,the life skills classroom teacher at

Muhlenberg, will be visiting all of the seventh grade homerooms explaining

what is being called the “lunch bunchâ€. It is being asked that students

volunteer to participate in taking turns sitting with at least twice a

week at lunch in groups of three or four students, rotating the groups every

week, so that each student would participate possibly one week every other

month. They would play an active role in helping achieve his

indivi-dual educational goals pertaining to socialization skills and

facilitating friendships. We also feel your child would have an important

influence in helping and encouraging to act in an age-appropriate

manner, rather than continuing some of his immature tenden-cies. A teacher’s

assistant, from the life-skills classroom, would guide and be close at hand

to direct the students involved in helping . It will not only benefit

, but also give your child a sense of satisfaction, knowing that they are

helping a fellow classmate achieve his educational goals.

We’ve chosen to send this letter to you personally because many of you are

friends and acquaintances of ours and your child has been one of those who

has be-friended over the years. It is because of your children and your

positive influence that we know including is the best thing to do. Our

hope is that ’s circle of friends will extend and include more students

with the help of your child.

Can we please count on you to discuss this opportunity for your child to

volunteer to participate in ’s“lunch bunch†and facilitate his social

needs as well as his sense of belonging? If your child is interested they

need to sign up with their homeroom teacher who will then notify Mrs.Post. A

permission slip will then be sent home for you to sign, acknowledging your

agreement to let your child participate. Feel free to contact us with any

suggestions or questions you may have at 610-921-1356. Thank you for your

time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Don & Jackie Botch

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear things went well for you today . We are also working on a

circle of friends this year for . They are making it a club, since in

middle school the kids can pick a different club to belong to every quarter.

I also suggested a " lunch bunch " and wanted the school to send out a letter I

had written to about 30 students who have been friendly with over the

years. Of course the school special ed director and principal had a problem

with the letter....something about confidentiality, which ticked me off. So

I did an end run on them and sent the letter out PERSONALLY to the parents of

these students which I have cut and pasted for you all to read:

Don & Jackie Botch

4403 Fourth Avenue

Temple, PA 19560

September 10,2001

Dear Parents,

From the beginning it has been our goal to have our son Botch, a seventh

grade student at Muhlenberg, with Down Syndrome, included as much as possible

with his age-appropriate peers in school as well as in the community. For

the most part this has occurred over the years at Muhlenberg and has

been able to be educated alongside your children and be accepted by them

without hesitation.

As our children mature and enter their teens we are familiar with how the

importance of being accepted by their peers becomes first and foremost in

their lives. Most of them at this age form groups of friends and tend to

hang together. also needs and could benefit from this acceptance among

his peers. It was brought to our attention last school year, that many times

was left sitting alone in the cafeteria at lunch. At first this was

difficult to understand because we knew there were kids who always sat with

him at the elementary center. We learned that at the middle school the

students can choose where they want to sit; therefore, no longer had the

opportunity to automatically sit among his classmates in assigned seating, as

was the case at the elementary center. Although this is a welcomed freedom

and a simple adjustment for most children, it is something needs to be

shown and taught.

In the next week Mrs. Barbara Post,the life skills classroom teacher at

Muhlenberg, will be visiting all of the seventh grade homerooms explaining

what is being called the “lunch bunchâ€. It is being asked that students

volunteer to participate in taking turns sitting with at least twice a

week at lunch in groups of three or four students, rotating the groups every

week, so that each student would participate possibly one week every other

month. They would play an active role in helping achieve his

indivi-dual educational goals pertaining to socialization skills and

facilitating friendships. We also feel your child would have an important

influence in helping and encouraging to act in an age-appropriate

manner, rather than continuing some of his immature tenden-cies. A teacher’s

assistant, from the life-skills classroom, would guide and be close at hand

to direct the students involved in helping . It will not only benefit

, but also give your child a sense of satisfaction, knowing that they are

helping a fellow classmate achieve his educational goals.

We’ve chosen to send this letter to you personally because many of you are

friends and acquaintances of ours and your child has been one of those who

has be-friended over the years. It is because of your children and your

positive influence that we know including is the best thing to do. Our

hope is that ’s circle of friends will extend and include more students

with the help of your child.

Can we please count on you to discuss this opportunity for your child to

volunteer to participate in ’s“lunch bunch†and facilitate his social

needs as well as his sense of belonging? If your child is interested they

need to sign up with their homeroom teacher who will then notify Mrs.Post. A

permission slip will then be sent home for you to sign, acknowledging your

agreement to let your child participate. Feel free to contact us with any

suggestions or questions you may have at 610-921-1356. Thank you for your

time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Don & Jackie Botch

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear things went well for you today . We are also working on a

circle of friends this year for . They are making it a club, since in

middle school the kids can pick a different club to belong to every quarter.

I also suggested a " lunch bunch " and wanted the school to send out a letter I

had written to about 30 students who have been friendly with over the

years. Of course the school special ed director and principal had a problem

with the letter....something about confidentiality, which ticked me off. So I

did an end run on them and sent the letter out PERSONALLY to the parents of

these students which I have cut and pasted for you all to read:

Don & Jackie Botch

4403 Fourth Avenue

Temple, PA 19560

September 10,2001

Dear Parents,

From the beginning it has been our goal to have our son Botch, a seventh

grade student at Muhlenberg, with Down Syndrome, included as much as possible

with his age-appropriate peers in school as well as in the community. For

the most part this has occurred over the years at Muhlenberg and has

been able to be educated alongside your children and be accepted by them

without hesitation.

As our children mature and enter their teens we are familiar with how the

importance of being accepted by their peers becomes first and foremost in

their lives. Most of them at this age form groups of friends and tend to

hang together. also needs and could benefit from this acceptance among

his peers. It was brought to our attention last school year, that many times

was left sitting alone in the cafeteria at lunch. At first this was

difficult to understand because we knew there were kids who always sat with

him at the elementary center. We learned that at the middle school the

students can choose where they want to sit; therefore, no longer had the

opportunity to automatically sit among his classmates in assigned seating, as

was the case at the elementary center. Although this is a welcomed freedom

and a simple adjustment for most children, it is something needs to be

shown and taught.

In the next week Mrs. Barbara Post,the life skills classroom teacher at

Muhlenberg, will be visiting all of the seventh grade homerooms explaining

what is being called the “lunch bunchâ€. It is being asked that students

volunteer to participate in taking turns sitting with at least twice a

week at lunch in groups of three or four students, rotating the groups every

week, so that each student would participate possibly one week every other

month. They would play an active role in helping achieve his

indivi-dual educational goals pertaining to socialization skills and

facilitating friendships. We also feel your child would have an important

influence in helping and encouraging to act in an age-appropriate

manner, rather than continuing some of his immature tenden-cies. A teacher’s

assistant, from the life-skills classroom, would guide and be close at hand

to direct the students involved in helping . It will not only benefit

, but also give your child a sense of satisfaction, knowing that they are

helping a fellow classmate achieve his educational goals.

We’ve chosen to send this letter to you personally because many of you are

friends and acquaintances of ours and your child has been one of those who

has be-friended over the years. It is because of your children and your

positive influence that we know including is the best thing to do. Our

hope is that ’s circle of friends will extend and include more students

with the help of your child.

Can we please count on you to discuss this opportunity for your child to

volunteer to participate in ’s“lunch bunch†and facilitate his social

needs as well as his sense of belonging? If your child is interested they

need to sign up with their homeroom teacher who will then notify Mrs.Post. A

permission slip will then be sent home for you to sign, acknowledging your

agreement to let your child participate. Feel free to contact us with any

suggestions or questions you may have at 610-921-1356. Thank you for your

time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Don & Jackie Botch

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear things went well for you today . We are also working on a

circle of friends this year for . They are making it a club, since in

middle school the kids can pick a different club to belong to every quarter.

I also suggested a " lunch bunch " and wanted the school to send out a letter I

had written to about 30 students who have been friendly with over the

years. Of course the school special ed director and principal had a problem

with the letter....something about confidentiality, which ticked me off. So I

did an end run on them and sent the letter out PERSONALLY to the parents of

these students which I have cut and pasted for you all to read:

Don & Jackie Botch

4403 Fourth Avenue

Temple, PA 19560

September 10,2001

Dear Parents,

From the beginning it has been our goal to have our son Botch, a seventh

grade student at Muhlenberg, with Down Syndrome, included as much as possible

with his age-appropriate peers in school as well as in the community. For

the most part this has occurred over the years at Muhlenberg and has

been able to be educated alongside your children and be accepted by them

without hesitation.

As our children mature and enter their teens we are familiar with how the

importance of being accepted by their peers becomes first and foremost in

their lives. Most of them at this age form groups of friends and tend to

hang together. also needs and could benefit from this acceptance among

his peers. It was brought to our attention last school year, that many times

was left sitting alone in the cafeteria at lunch. At first this was

difficult to understand because we knew there were kids who always sat with

him at the elementary center. We learned that at the middle school the

students can choose where they want to sit; therefore, no longer had the

opportunity to automatically sit among his classmates in assigned seating, as

was the case at the elementary center. Although this is a welcomed freedom

and a simple adjustment for most children, it is something needs to be

shown and taught.

In the next week Mrs. Barbara Post,the life skills classroom teacher at

Muhlenberg, will be visiting all of the seventh grade homerooms explaining

what is being called the “lunch bunchâ€. It is being asked that students

volunteer to participate in taking turns sitting with at least twice a

week at lunch in groups of three or four students, rotating the groups every

week, so that each student would participate possibly one week every other

month. They would play an active role in helping achieve his

indivi-dual educational goals pertaining to socialization skills and

facilitating friendships. We also feel your child would have an important

influence in helping and encouraging to act in an age-appropriate

manner, rather than continuing some of his immature tenden-cies. A teacher’s

assistant, from the life-skills classroom, would guide and be close at hand

to direct the students involved in helping . It will not only benefit

, but also give your child a sense of satisfaction, knowing that they are

helping a fellow classmate achieve his educational goals.

We’ve chosen to send this letter to you personally because many of you are

friends and acquaintances of ours and your child has been one of those who

has be-friended over the years. It is because of your children and your

positive influence that we know including is the best thing to do. Our

hope is that ’s circle of friends will extend and include more students

with the help of your child.

Can we please count on you to discuss this opportunity for your child to

volunteer to participate in ’s“lunch bunch†and facilitate his social

needs as well as his sense of belonging? If your child is interested they

need to sign up with their homeroom teacher who will then notify Mrs.Post. A

permission slip will then be sent home for you to sign, acknowledging your

agreement to let your child participate. Feel free to contact us with any

suggestions or questions you may have at 610-921-1356. Thank you for your

time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Don & Jackie Botch

[Guest guest]

That is awesome! Glad it was a positive experience. Was Jimmy there when you did

it?

Di, mom to Jake(18,nda) and 4 (DS)

Pennsylvania

Followup - 4th Grade DS Presentation

Hi guys - I just thought I'd let you know that the presentation to Jimmy's

class went GREAT today! I am so pleased....... Here's what I ended up

doing.......

[Guest guest]

That is awesome! Glad it was a positive experience. Was Jimmy there when you did

it?

Di, mom to Jake(18,nda) and 4 (DS)

Pennsylvania

Followup - 4th Grade DS Presentation

Hi guys - I just thought I'd let you know that the presentation to Jimmy's

class went GREAT today! I am so pleased....... Here's what I ended up

doing.......

[Guest guest]

,

Glad that the presentation went well. has been having lunch with

sorta a circle of friends, but when the dust settles here, i have to look

closer at this circle of friends and may need to adjust it a bit.

Your ideas were great! Good job.

~ mom to ds 11 and jesse 7

[Guest guest]

,

Glad that the presentation went well. has been having lunch with

sorta a circle of friends, but when the dust settles here, i have to look

closer at this circle of friends and may need to adjust it a bit.

Your ideas were great! Good job.

~ mom to ds 11 and jesse 7

[Guest guest]

I am so proud of you and that class, . It just goes to show what a

little education about differences can do. This is great news.

Elaine

Followup - 4th Grade DS Presentation

> Hi guys - I just thought I'd let you know that the presentation to Jimmy's

> class went GREAT today! I am so pleased....... Here's what I ended up

> doing.......

>

> I went in and the teacher introduced me and said I'd be talking about

Jimmy

> and DS. I told the class that before we started, I wanted to play a

little

> game. So I drew lines on the blackboard _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

>

> Then I told them I was going to say some things and for each one that had

at

> least one kid in the class that did it/liked it, too, I'd fill in a

letter.

> The " winner " was the person that guessed the words.

>

> Then I said " who likes to play soccer? " When almost everyone raised their

> hand, I told them that Jimmy played in a soccer league this summer. One

> little boy from his old school piped up - " Yeah! I saw his jersey! " So I

> filled in a letter. I continued this for a while - who has a pet that

they

> really like? Who likes to play computer games? Who has kind of messy

> handwriting? Who likes to go on roller coasters? When we got about 10

things

> under our belt....ALL of which were things that they have in common with

> Jimmy - they figured out that the words said " JUST LIKE YOU " .

>

> So then I told them that, while I was there to tell them about DS, which

is a

> way that Jimmy is different from all of them, they should remember that in

> lots and lots of ways he's just like them.

>

> Then I told them that DS is something you're born with - just like some

> people have brown hair, or blue eyes, or are very tall.....some people

have

> DS. I told them a few of the physical characteristics (wanted to tell

them

> why Jim sticks his tongue out all the time.....and why he has his trach

> scar). I told them that DS makes it harder for him to learn how to do

things

> - that he still learns them, just slower than they do. I told them that

the

> two biggest areas that Jimmy has trouble in are his speech and in learning

> how to behave appropriately. I told them that the best way for him to

learn

> good behaviors is for them to set good examples. I told them that he has

a

> helper in school to help him with his behaviors and with school work where

> he's behind where they are.

>

> Then they asked all kinds of awesome questions. Does he feel mad or

stupid

> when he can't do the stuff we can do, like math problems? Does he mind if

we

> make him say something again if we can't understand him? Does his dog

sleep

> on his bed? Does he have other pets? Can I bring him in a book to read?

> (one of the kids from his old school had mentioned that he loves Curious

> books) My favorite question was " I thought it was a GOOD thing

when

> you got extra of something. How come Jimmy's extra chromosomes make it

> harder for him? "

>

> Then the guidance counsellor talked to the kids briefly about the " circle

of

> friends " activity she will be doing on Fridays at lunch. Kids started

> volunteering immediately to participate!

>

> Yippee! It's so great when something goes well......

>

> Thanks for all your suggestions. I was going to do the egg thing, but

> couldn't find a brown egg to save my soul!

>

> (city girl!)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am so proud of you and that class, . It just goes to show what a

little education about differences can do. This is great news.

Elaine

Followup - 4th Grade DS Presentation

> Hi guys - I just thought I'd let you know that the presentation to Jimmy's

> class went GREAT today! I am so pleased....... Here's what I ended up

> doing.......

>

> I went in and the teacher introduced me and said I'd be talking about

Jimmy

> and DS. I told the class that before we started, I wanted to play a

little

> game. So I drew lines on the blackboard _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

>

> Then I told them I was going to say some things and for each one that had

at

> least one kid in the class that did it/liked it, too, I'd fill in a

letter.

> The " winner " was the person that guessed the words.

>

> Then I said " who likes to play soccer? " When almost everyone raised their

> hand, I told them that Jimmy played in a soccer league this summer. One

> little boy from his old school piped up - " Yeah! I saw his jersey! " So I

> filled in a letter. I continued this for a while - who has a pet that

they

> really like? Who likes to play computer games? Who has kind of messy

> handwriting? Who likes to go on roller coasters? When we got about 10

things

> under our belt....ALL of which were things that they have in common with

> Jimmy - they figured out that the words said " JUST LIKE YOU " .

>

> So then I told them that, while I was there to tell them about DS, which

is a

> way that Jimmy is different from all of them, they should remember that in

> lots and lots of ways he's just like them.

>

> Then I told them that DS is something you're born with - just like some

> people have brown hair, or blue eyes, or are very tall.....some people

have

> DS. I told them a few of the physical characteristics (wanted to tell

them

> why Jim sticks his tongue out all the time.....and why he has his trach

> scar). I told them that DS makes it harder for him to learn how to do

things

> - that he still learns them, just slower than they do. I told them that

the

> two biggest areas that Jimmy has trouble in are his speech and in learning

> how to behave appropriately. I told them that the best way for him to

learn

> good behaviors is for them to set good examples. I told them that he has

a

> helper in school to help him with his behaviors and with school work where

> he's behind where they are.

>

> Then they asked all kinds of awesome questions. Does he feel mad or

stupid

> when he can't do the stuff we can do, like math problems? Does he mind if

we

> make him say something again if we can't understand him? Does his dog

sleep

> on his bed? Does he have other pets? Can I bring him in a book to read?

> (one of the kids from his old school had mentioned that he loves Curious

> books) My favorite question was " I thought it was a GOOD thing

when

> you got extra of something. How come Jimmy's extra chromosomes make it

> harder for him? "

>

> Then the guidance counsellor talked to the kids briefly about the " circle

of

> friends " activity she will be doing on Fridays at lunch. Kids started

> volunteering immediately to participate!

>

> Yippee! It's so great when something goes well......

>

> Thanks for all your suggestions. I was going to do the egg thing, but

> couldn't find a brown egg to save my soul!

>

> (city girl!)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I always buy cage-free eggs, which are usually brown. More

expensive. I don't really think they taste any different but I feel better

about using them. I think the way chickens are treated is criminal.

Jessie, a chicken lover.

[Guest guest]

I always buy cage-free eggs, which are usually brown. More

expensive. I don't really think they taste any different but I feel better

about using them. I think the way chickens are treated is criminal.

Jessie, a chicken lover.

[Guest guest]

Cage free eggs....aka Free Range, are much healthier and usually much fresher

than the typical store bought eggs. They peck at the ground and get all

sorts of minerals. They are much less stressed and supposedly lower in

cholestoral.

As for my household, we WILL NOT eat store bought eggs and CAN taste a

difference. We are spoiled.

[Guest guest]

Cage free eggs....aka Free Range, are much healthier and usually much fresher

than the typical store bought eggs. They peck at the ground and get all

sorts of minerals. They are much less stressed and supposedly lower in

cholestoral.

As for my household, we WILL NOT eat store bought eggs and CAN taste a

difference. We are spoiled.

[Guest guest]

,

I'm so glad your presentation went great! It sounds wonderful! You did

a great job and I'm so happy you had such a good response.

[Guest guest]

,

I'm so glad your presentation went great! It sounds wonderful! You did

a great job and I'm so happy you had such a good response.

[Guest guest]

<<but

couldn't find a brown egg to save my soul!

(city girl!)>>

Hi ,

It sounds like it was a great presentation! That is funny about the brown

egg. My mom has been driving Ted and I around since we don't have a car,

and last shopping trip she told me that brown eggs tasted a lot better so I

was going to try them next time.

Gail, mom to Ted (10)

[Guest guest]

<<but

couldn't find a brown egg to save my soul!

(city girl!)>>

Hi ,

It sounds like it was a great presentation! That is funny about the brown

egg. My mom has been driving Ted and I around since we don't have a car,

and last shopping trip she told me that brown eggs tasted a lot better so I

was going to try them next time.

Gail, mom to Ted (10)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/13/01 8:22:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

pjenney1@... writes:

> My question is did you do this talk in front of your

> son? I am not sure if I would want 9 to be

>

Okay, enough people have asked this that I'll reply to all - No, Jimmy was

not in the room - he was at speech therapy. I wouldn't want to talk about

him with him in the room.....he understands so much...... Plus the kids

might've been embarrassed to ask their questions if he was there.

Thanks to you all for your kind messages!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/13/01 8:22:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

pjenney1@... writes:

> My question is did you do this talk in front of your

> son? I am not sure if I would want 9 to be

>

Okay, enough people have asked this that I'll reply to all - No, Jimmy was

not in the room - he was at speech therapy. I wouldn't want to talk about

him with him in the room.....he understands so much...... Plus the kids

might've been embarrassed to ask their questions if he was there.

Thanks to you all for your kind messages!

[Guest guest]

To everyone My Heart is With all who have lost the

peace in thier souls as I have. My heart and thoughts

will be with all the families of the victims. That

said.....

My question is did you do this talk in front of your

son? I am not sure if I would want 9 to be

sitting there whilr I talked about him. This is a

great talk and I may use it if we get back on track

here because the teacher is working on the circle of

friend plan.

Peace and love Pam

> Hi guys - I just thought I'd let you know that the

> presentation to Jimmy's

> class went GREAT today! I am so pleased.......

> Here's what I ended up

> doing.......

>

> I went in and the teacher introduced me and said I'd

> be talking about Jimmy

> and DS. I told the class that before we started, I

> wanted to play a little

> game. So I drew lines on the blackboard _ _ _ _

> _ _ _ _ _ _ _

>

> Then I told them I was going to say some things and

> for each one that had at

> least one kid in the class that did it/liked it,

> too, I'd fill in a letter.

> The " winner " was the person that guessed the words.

>

>

> Then I said " who likes to play soccer? " When almost

> everyone raised their

> hand, I told them that Jimmy played in a soccer

> league this summer. One

> little boy from his old school piped up - " Yeah! I

> saw his jersey! " So I

> filled in a letter. I continued this for a while -

> who has a pet that they

> really like? Who likes to play computer games? Who

> has kind of messy

> handwriting? Who likes to go on roller coasters?

> When we got about 10 things

> under our belt....ALL of which were things that they

> have in common with

> Jimmy - they figured out that the words said " JUST

> LIKE YOU " .

>

> So then I told them that, while I was there to tell

> them about DS, which is a

> way that Jimmy is different from all of them, they

> should remember that in

> lots and lots of ways he's just like them.

>

> Then I told them that DS is something you're born

> with - just like some

> people have brown hair, or blue eyes, or are very

> tall.....some people have

> DS. I told them a few of the physical

> characteristics (wanted to tell them

> why Jim sticks his tongue out all the time.....and

> why he has his trach

> scar). I told them that DS makes it harder for him

> to learn how to do things

> - that he still learns them, just slower than they

> do. I told them that the

> two biggest areas that Jimmy has trouble in are his

> speech and in learning

> how to behave appropriately. I told them that the

> best way for him to learn

> good behaviors is for them to set good examples. I

> told them that he has a

> helper in school to help him with his behaviors and

> with school work where

> he's behind where they are.

>

> Then they asked all kinds of awesome questions.

> Does he feel mad or stupid

> when he can't do the stuff we can do, like math

> problems? Does he mind if we

> make him say something again if we can't understand

> him? Does his dog sleep

> on his bed? Does he have other pets? Can I bring

> him in a book to read?

> (one of the kids from his old school had mentioned

> that he loves Curious

> books) My favorite question was " I thought

> it was a GOOD thing when

> you got extra of something. How come Jimmy's extra

> chromosomes make it

> harder for him? "

>

> Then the guidance counsellor talked to the kids

> briefly about the " circle of

> friends " activity she will be doing on Fridays at

> lunch. Kids started

> volunteering immediately to participate!

>

> Yippee! It's so great when something goes

> well......

>

> Thanks for all your suggestions. I was going to do

> the egg thing, but

> couldn't find a brown egg to save my soul!

>

> (city girl!)

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?

Donate cash, emergency relief information

http://dailynews./fc/US/Emergency_Information/

[Guest guest]

To everyone My Heart is With all who have lost the

peace in thier souls as I have. My heart and thoughts

will be with all the families of the victims. That

said.....

My question is did you do this talk in front of your

son? I am not sure if I would want 9 to be

sitting there whilr I talked about him. This is a

great talk and I may use it if we get back on track

here because the teacher is working on the circle of

friend plan.

Peace and love Pam

> Hi guys - I just thought I'd let you know that the

> presentation to Jimmy's

> class went GREAT today! I am so pleased.......

> Here's what I ended up

> doing.......

>

> I went in and the teacher introduced me and said I'd

> be talking about Jimmy

> and DS. I told the class that before we started, I

> wanted to play a little

> game. So I drew lines on the blackboard _ _ _ _

> _ _ _ _ _ _ _

>

> Then I told them I was going to say some things and

> for each one that had at

> least one kid in the class that did it/liked it,

> too, I'd fill in a letter.

> The " winner " was the person that guessed the words.

>

>

> Then I said " who likes to play soccer? " When almost

> everyone raised their

> hand, I told them that Jimmy played in a soccer

> league this summer. One

> little boy from his old school piped up - " Yeah! I

> saw his jersey! " So I

> filled in a letter. I continued this for a while -

> who has a pet that they

> really like? Who likes to play computer games? Who

> has kind of messy

> handwriting? Who likes to go on roller coasters?

> When we got about 10 things

> under our belt....ALL of which were things that they

> have in common with

> Jimmy - they figured out that the words said " JUST

> LIKE YOU " .

>

> So then I told them that, while I was there to tell

> them about DS, which is a

> way that Jimmy is different from all of them, they

> should remember that in

> lots and lots of ways he's just like them.

>

> Then I told them that DS is something you're born

> with - just like some

> people have brown hair, or blue eyes, or are very

> tall.....some people have

> DS. I told them a few of the physical

> characteristics (wanted to tell them

> why Jim sticks his tongue out all the time.....and

> why he has his trach

> scar). I told them that DS makes it harder for him

> to learn how to do things

> - that he still learns them, just slower than they

> do. I told them that the

> two biggest areas that Jimmy has trouble in are his

> speech and in learning

> how to behave appropriately. I told them that the

> best way for him to learn

> good behaviors is for them to set good examples. I

> told them that he has a

> helper in school to help him with his behaviors and

> with school work where

> he's behind where they are.

>

> Then they asked all kinds of awesome questions.

> Does he feel mad or stupid

> when he can't do the stuff we can do, like math

> problems? Does he mind if we

> make him say something again if we can't understand

> him? Does his dog sleep

> on his bed? Does he have other pets? Can I bring

> him in a book to read?

> (one of the kids from his old school had mentioned

> that he loves Curious

> books) My favorite question was " I thought

> it was a GOOD thing when

> you got extra of something. How come Jimmy's extra

> chromosomes make it

> harder for him? "

>

> Then the guidance counsellor talked to the kids

> briefly about the " circle of

> friends " activity she will be doing on Fridays at

> lunch. Kids started

> volunteering immediately to participate!

>

> Yippee! It's so great when something goes

> well......

>

> Thanks for all your suggestions. I was going to do

> the egg thing, but

> couldn't find a brown egg to save my soul!

>

> (city girl!)

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. - How can you help?

Donate cash, emergency relief information

http://dailynews./fc/US/Emergency_Information/