Human Growth & Dev - Who teaches it?

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  1. What grade to you teach Human Growth & Development?

    • 9
      I do not teach it at all
    • 1
      4th grade
    • 3
      5th grade
    • 1
      6th grade
    • 3
      I teach more than one grade level

17 members have participated

Specializes in School Nursing, Operating Room.

Ok - so this is my second year as the district nurse. I am the only RN for 3500 students, and I do have 2 CNAs that work with me. Last spring, I had to teach human growth and development to the 4th graders. Why? Because it is the way it has always been I was told.

Just wondering how involved you all are in human growth and development at what, if any, age level you teach it at. I felt super awkward doing it last year....I am not a teacher for a reason! The information is so basic that I would think any 4th grade teacher could teach it better than I could.

My director of student services is somewhat new to the district also, and is questioning why I do it as well. Considering I have a 4th grade daughter this year, I am trying my best to not have to teach it!

So please let me know how things go in your district....I need some ideas! Thanks much!

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The School Nurse has always taught the "Our Bodies are Changing" lessons to kids in my school. It is done here in 5th grade. I went back for a School Nurse Teacher certification in my state and now teach all Health for grades K-6 in my building.

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I teach 3rd, 4th and 5th and I can honestly say it is my least favorite part of school nursing.

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I am so glad I am not asked to teach. I do the quick hygiene/puberty thing in the spring for 5th grade just because it is required - we keep it really simple and easy, my principal is not fond of it - thinks it is something parents should be teaching their kids - we separate the boys and girls, pop a video on then have a real brief discussion afterwards, then send the kids home with instructions to talk to parents and if they feel they can't they can always come to me or the teachers privately.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Operating Room.

Thanks for the input! Sounds like it is 50/50 out there....anyone else want to weigh in?

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That is done at 5th grade and luckily I am only k-4. What our district does is that we get nursing students from different colleges and we make it a point to have the nursing students do a teaching day. It is great because then we don't have to worry as much to do it!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

We don't teach any of that. Feel these kids should get something, as most are going to public high schools from here, but parents want to shelter their kids. My kids however knew anatomy by age 7 and physiology by 11 with the command to not share.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

I present growth and development to both our 5th and 6th graders through their PE classes. We divide up the boys and girls (coach takes the boys) and show an outdated video to the students that is 11 to 13 minutes long. I allow for questions afterward, but rarely do I get questions. Our videos are from Marsh Media, and are Just Around the Corner and Growing Up! It is a state law that this information is presented to these grade levels, but there is no stipulation that the nurse has to do it.

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The school I am at is fifth and sixth grade. Both grade levels go on a field trip to a place that does a "changing bodies" presentation.

In IL, you cannot teach without a teaching certificate. In my opinion, this falls out of scope of practice. Writing lesson plans and teaching would require a pretty heavy stipend for me to take on.

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Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

I don't teach it at all... the 5th grade teachers are responsible for teaching it. We only have female teachers so the AP will teach it to the boys.

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