Re: What I have learned about this week

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sam sounds like a very special, very smart little boy. If he is

anything like my daughter you will find that he will excel in many subjects and

be

able to be on grade level. He will probably have delays though in some

subjects. my daughter is a solid A, B student and on grade level except

in

Math. You are going to have a lot of fun with your student for they will give

back as much if not more love then you give.

It is great to have a teacher who cares as much as you do. Thank you

for sharing with us.

Dave

IMDSANVP

[Guest guest]

Sandie,

I'm sure you know so much more than I do about teaching kids with

disabilities... I know that picking up on their signals is a big deal. Ignoring

's (now 15 in the 10th grade holding As and Bs) signals will cause her to

get

overwhelmed and shut down. If she shuts down, it doesn't matter who's teaching

or talking. She won't hear anything being said. But paying attention to the

hand or the pointing of the finger allows them to say wait, let my brain

process this before you go on to the next. Even if it's just a few seconds.

will want help, but it takes time for her brain to process all those

thoughts sometimes. I hope that helps some.

[Guest guest]

To connect with him, find out what basketball and/or soccer teams he likes

and learn about them, AND/OR learn about Pokemon! He sounds amazing! How

many more bilingual 8-year-olds do you know? :-)

What I have learned about this week

I am 's 1:1 aide in a suburban PA 3rd grade class. I have only

known him for one week and have learned so much already. I had never met

a child with Mosaic Downs before this week.

Sam (or Sammy) is amazing!

He is an 8 year old third grader, his showed me his birthday on the

calendar and had me circle it.

He is bilingual. He prefers Dad to speak Portugese and Mom to speak

english.

He reads well and writes with good dexterity.

He loves basketball, Pokemon and soccer.

He loves hot dogs, but regarding any other cafeteria food that looks

suspicious, he clearly states " I am not eating that food! "

He loves praise and likes to be included. When he gets frustrated he

likes to play with the pencils in his desk.

The teacher and the Special Ed department are working on a specialized

curriculum for Sam as he is new to the district and still undergoing

testing. When he finds something too hard to do, he denounces it as "

teenager " work.

When he gets frustrated with me trying to help, he either holds up a

hand (as if to say " talk to the Hand! " ) or his index finger telling me

to " wait. "

I love working with him and look forward to learning more about him.

Please offer any suggestions you can about ways to make a strong

connection with him and learn to interpret his needs.

Thanks,

Sandie

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure of any suggestions, but he sounds like a hilarious kid...and

bright!! too funny!!

~ANGEL~

Mom to 11 Mosaic Down Syndrome/Hirschsprung's Disease

Lance 16, Tyler 12, 9

Jaeda 8 & Shayne 2

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandie,

It sounds like Sammy is quiet a character. The biggest advise I can give you is

to treat Sammy as normal as possible. Expect him to do what everyone else his

age would do. (or a few years younger depending on his maturity) Don't do things

for him, or he will never learn to do them himself. And, when you find he is

frustrated,help him express his feelings: (ie: he plays with pencils on desk:

Sammy, this is a little harder for you to do than the " other assignment " , but I

know if you work really hard, you can get it done!)

Please also let him family know about IMDSA and our support group! We would love

to meet them as well!

Kristy Colvin

IMDSA President

THE ONLY HANDICAP A PERSON HAS ARE THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM!

Mom to Arron 22, 19, Tim 18 MDS, Stevan 17 and Garrett 8

JOIN IMDSA TODAY AT: http://www.imdsa.com

Sandie Rollins wrote:

I am 's 1:1 aide in a suburban PA 3rd grade class. I have only known him

for one week and have learned so much already. I had never met a child with

Mosaic Downs before this week.

Sam (or Sammy) is amazing!

He is an 8 year old third grader, his showed me his birthday on the calendar and

had me circle it.

He is bilingual. He prefers Dad to speak Portugese and Mom to speak english.

He reads well and writes with good dexterity.

He loves basketball, Pokemon and soccer.

He loves hot dogs, but regarding any other cafeteria food that looks suspicious,

he clearly states " I am not eating that food! "

He loves praise and likes to be included. When he gets frustrated he likes to

play with the pencils in his desk.

The teacher and the Special Ed department are working on a specialized

curriculum for Sam as he is new to the district and still undergoing testing.

When he finds something too hard to do, he denounces it as " teenager " work.

When he gets frustrated with me trying to help, he either holds up a hand (as if

to say " talk to the Hand! " ) or his index finger telling me to " wait. "

I love working with him and look forward to learning more about him.

Please offer any suggestions you can about ways to make a strong connection with

him and learn to interpret his needs.

Thanks,

Sandie