Reading Fundamentals for Students with Learning Difficulties is a foundational resource on reading instruction for students with learning difficulties. This comprehensive, practical textbook provides fundamental information related to typical and atypical reading development, reading instruction within K-12 classrooms, and how to identify reading problems and provide interventions to a wide range of students who struggle to learn. Throughout the text, cutting edge research on reading instruction for students with learning disabilities and English Learners is translated to practice, making it accessible to even the most novice teachers. Each section concludes with application activities, including self-tests and discussion prompts, to reinforce learning.

Developing Language and Literacy: Effective Intervention in the Early Years describes successful intervention programmes to improve the phonological skills, vocabulary, and grammar of young children at risk of reading difficulties. * Presents two structured intervention programmes to provide support for young children with language and literacy difficulties * Describes clearly how to improve the language and foundation literacy skills of young children in the classroom * Includes information about how to assess research, and how to monitor and design intervention strategies for use with individual children * Helps teachers to develop an understanding of the intervention and research process as a whole * Additional journal content to support this title is available click here

Universal Access Through Inclusive Instructional Design explores the ways that educators around the world reduce barriers for students with disabilities and other challenges by planning and implementing accessible, equitable, high-quality curricula. Incorporating key frameworks such as Universal Design for Learning, these dynamic contributions highlight essential supports for flexibility in student engagement, representation of content, and learner action and expression. This comprehensive resource-rich with coverage of foundations, policies, technology applications, accessibility challenges, case studies, and more-leads the way to design and delivery of instruction that meets the needs of learners in varying contexts, from early childhood through adulthood.

The last two decades have seen a significant rise in the number of children being diagnosed with mental and behavioural disorders. As yet there is no definitive consensus as to why this is, or what it means about the world in which we live. Neverthless, parents and educators are being faced with challenges they did not foresee, and are often ill-equipped to address. Steiner-Waldorf education is based on the principle of seeing every child as an individual -- nothing is 'normal' or 'abnormal'; labelling children doesn't help. Drawing on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner's pioneering Curative Education course, this book goes back to basics and examines the potential benefits of this unique educational approach in today's classrooms. Robyn Brown, an experienced teacher, argues that it can lead to calmer, more productive learning spaces and children who develop into rounded individuals, ready to become responsible and creative citizens. At a time when even longtime experienced educators are struck by how the dynamics of their classrooms have changed, this is a much needed reminder of a tried and tested approach which can work for every child, and ultimately for a society.

Rudolf Steiner is perhaps most widely known as the founder of the Waldorf schools and for his challenging and innovative ideas on children's mental development and education. What these ideas are and how they are put into practice are not so well known. Steiner Education is a clear exposition of Steiner's view of the child as a developing personality based on body, soul, and spirit. It describes the stages of the child's development and gives a detailed account of the Steiner/Waldorf school curriculum and teaching methods. It will be useful both to those already involved with Steiner/Waldorf schools and also to anyone who wants to learn more about this well-established alternative to the state educational system.

First published in 1988. The mounting concern in schools over widespread failure in academic achievement, greater disaffection in children and the lack of confidence in many school leavers are highlighted by the difficulties experienced by children who have special educational needs. Within this group the importance of the child's evaluation of him or herself - i.e. self-esteem - is a neglected issue. This book investigates how the level of self-esteem appears to influence social behaviour and school performance in children with special educational needs. It discusses the practical steps that can be taken to assess and enhance self-esteem in children with special needs and evaluates their effectiveness. The author emphasises the discrepancy between the performance of children who have special educational needs in ordinary classrooms with that achieved in special settings. He argues that the negative impact on a child's self-esteem created by placing him/her in an ordinary classroom may outweigh the benefits of greater integration. A full and informative treatment of both the theoretical and practical implications of a neglected subject, this text book is suitable for experienced special educational needs teachers and those undergoing teacher training, as well as psychologists with an academic interest in the self-concept or a professional involvement in assessing children.

This book, first published in 1994, explores the impact which changes in thinking and policy at national and local level have had upon the educational experiences of children and young people with special needs in England, Scotland and Wales. Two major factors are discussed. Firstly, there is the thinking of the late 1970s which emerges in documents such as the Warnock report and the legislation which followed it. Secondly, the authors examine the educational policy and legislation of the 1980s and early 1990s which aimed to encourage the operation of market forces. Through the various articles in this collection, the contributors discuss both the common themes and the tensions created by these changes, and assess the effect these have had on special needs education in practice.

This handbook discusses early childhood special education (ECSE), with particular focus on evidence-based practices. Coverage spans core intervention areas in ECSE, such as literacy, motor skills, and social development as well as diverse contexts for services, including speech-language pathology, physical therapy, and pediatrics. Contributors offer strategies for planning, implementing, modifying, and adapting interventions to help young learners extend their benefits into the higher grades. Concluding chapters emphasize the importance of research in driving evidence-based practices (EBP). Topics featured in the Handbook include: Family-centered practices in early childhood intervention. The application of Response to Intervention (RtI) in young children with identified disabilities. Motor skills acquisition for young children with disabilities. Implementing evidence-based practices in ECSE classrooms. * Cultural, ethnic, and linguistic implications for ECSE. The Handbook of Early Childhood Special Education is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, clinicians, and practitioners across such disciplines as child and school psychology, early childhood education, clinical social work, speech and physical therapy, developmental psychology, behavior therapy, and public health.

Understanding Inclusion is a rich, comprehensive exploration of inclusion in education, challenging us to think about being 'inclusive' in its broadest sense. It unpicks a wide range of complex themes and issues that impact on educational practice, supporting educational professionals in helping teachers and learners understand difference as the norm, and not the exception. Underpinned by the latest research, discussion is brought to life through vignettes of real experiences and examples of practice from a range of settings and across continents. Chapters consider crucial aspects of inclusion: Social inclusion and social class Global perspectives on culture and identity Aspirations and social mobility Relationships and sexual behaviours Gender equality and diversity Perceptions of ability and disability Barriers to learning Multilingualism in schools Religion and belief Restorative justice for inclusion Inclusion and the arts Teaching Assistants and inclusion The central role of leadership. Written by experts with extensive experience in a range of educational contexts, Understanding Inclusion is designed for all those engaged in understanding the complexities of teaching and learning. With reflective questions and selected reading designed to support further study, it will be essential reading for students on Education Studies and related course, and pre- and in-service teachers.

Called to Sankofa is a collection of Hurricane Katrina survival stories by African American education leaders in New Orleans. It draws upon the West African concept, Sankofa, which loosely translates to "return to the source and fetch." The griots, through their stories, fetch salvageable and knowledge-laden valuables linked to their resilience and rebuilding efforts. Thus, the Sankofa concept serves as a lens for examining leadership in the aftermath of disaster; it serves as an intense magnifier and illuminator of lessons considered relevant and profoundly valuable to guide one's understanding of how to lead in, through and beyond disaster. Past experiences yield teachable moments. The lessons excerpted from these moments reveal the sources from which the leaders draw the resilience to recover from trauma, the vision to guide others, the courage to challenge the status quo, the imagination to make a way where there is none and the stamina to press beyond peril toward an unpromised future. Called to Sankofa rejects the assumption that "all was broken" in education-either before or due to Katrina, and through the storytellers, we are reminded that to rebuild things better than before, one must take stock of, extract meaning from and be guided by what constituted the "before." Hence, Called to Sankofa documents the leaders' acts of resilience, optimism, strength, passion and resolve and details the support structures and sources of inspiration that enabled within them the capacity to adapt to the chaotic and uncertain environments and to be moved to action and leadership.

This book presents an in-depth discussion of how human disability and parental advocacy have been constructed in American society, including recommendations for a more authentically inclusive vision of parental advocacy. The authors provide a cultural-historical view of the conflation of racism, classism, and ableism that have left a deeply entrenched stigma-one that positions children with disabilities and children of color as less valuable than others. To redress these inequities, the authors offer a working model of co-constructed advocacy designed to benefit all families. Because advocacy is not a "one size fits all" endeavor, the authors propose meeting families where they are and learning their strengths and needs, while preparing and repositioning families to empower themselves.Book Features: Takes a cultural-historical view that explores the reasons why individuals with disabilities are so stigmatized. Shows how the intersection of different stigmatized identity markers, such as poverty, race, and language, have been woven into negative interpretations of "difference." Celebrates the history of parent advocacy in the United States since World War II. Examines how social and racial privilege have dictated which parent voices are heard. Proposes collaborative approaches that can produce more authentic and more representative advocacy. Explores the motivations and purposes that drive parent advocacy.

This is a book for all faculty who are concerned with promoting the persistence of all students whom they teach. Most recognize that faculty play a major role in student retention and success because they typically have more direct contact with students than others on campus. However, little attention has been paid to role of the faculty in this specific mission, or to the corresponding characteristics of teaching, teacher-student interactions, and connection to student affairs activities, that lead to studentsaEURO (TM) long-term engagement, their academic success, and ultimately to graduation. At a time when the numbers of underrepresented students aEURO" working adults, minority, first-generation, low-income, and international students aEURO" is increasing, this book, a companion to her earlier Teaching Underprepared Students, addresses that lack of specific guidance by providing faculty with additional evidence-based instructional practices geared toward reaching all the students in their classrooms, including those from groups that traditionally have been the least successful, while maintaining high standards and expectations. Recognizing that there are no easy answers, Kathleen Gabriel offers faculty ideas that can be incorporated in, or modified to align with, facultyaEURO (TM)s existing teaching methods. She covers topics such as creating a positive and inclusive course climate, fostering a community of learners, increasing engagement and studentsaEURO (TM) interactions, activating connections with culturally relevant material, reinforcing self-efficacy with growth mindset and mental toughness techniques, improving lectures by building in meaningful educational activities, designing reading and writing assignments for stimulating deep learning and critical thinking, and making grade and assessment choices that can promote learning.

Play is critical to children's well-being and development. All students should have access to and adequate time for positive play experiences every day. Learning and Connecting in School Playgrounds invites parents, teachers, principals and education administrators to take another look at their school playgrounds as spaces crucial to learning, well-being and development. This book combines research findings, commentary and the authors' personal experiences and observations together with the views of teachers, principals, parents and students related to play and play spaces. Key content includes consideration of the role of adults in the school playground, the influence of technology on play, the challenges experienced by children transitioning to new school environments and consideration of strategies to support students' access and participation in the playground. Cases are presented to illustrate the use of an audit tool to enhance school playgrounds. The future of school playgrounds is also considered through the reported hopes and dreams of adults and students and a range of recommendations are made for the review and development of schools' outdoor play spaces. Learning and Connecting in School Playgrounds is written with a sense of urgency, calling for the recognition of positive play experiences as invaluable to children's education. It includes important and challenging insights to inform and guide decision-making and will be an essential resource for all stakeholders who share responsibility for children's participation and learning during school break-times.

Providing insight into the background, theory and practical applications of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Transforming Higher Education through Universal Design for Learning: An International Perspective examines and shares best practice in UDL implementation worldwide to provide strategies for strengthening student accessibility, engagement and learning outcomes through the development of flexible learning environments. Drawing upon insightful, research-based contributions from educators and student service specialists in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Norway, South Africa, Spain, the UK and all across the USA, this book: considers diversity in the form of disability, minority ethnic groups, gender identities, first generation university students and varying socio-economic backgrounds; brings together key thinkers and actors in the field of UDL and expertly maps its practices to the higher educational domain; explores the multiple means of representation, expression and engagement that combine to create a successful UDL framework. Each chapter not only provides a different perspective of how UDL has helped meet the needs of all students to ensure that education is accessible, culturally responsive and socially just, but also considers how this can then be implemented into higher education environments the world over. This book is a crucial read for those who want to make a positive difference in higher education provision and outcomes.

Inside the 'Inclusive' Childhood Classroom: The Power of the 'Normal' offers a critique of current practices and alternative view of inclusion. The rich data created inside three classrooms will challenge those who work in the field, as the children and their performances, previously overlooked, are foreground. Although at times confronting, it is ultimately invaluable reading for classroom teachers, students, academics, and researchers as well as anyone who desires to deepen their understanding of inclusive processes. The inclusion of children with diagnosed special needs in mainstream early childhood classrooms is a policy and practice that has gained universal support in recent decades. Exploring ways to include the diagnosed child has been of interest to inclusive research. Adopting a poststructural perspective, this book interrupts taken for granted assumptions about inclusive processes in the classroom. Attention is drawn to the role played by the undiagnosed children, those positioned as already included. Researching among children, this ethnography interrogates the production of the classroom 'normal'. As the children negotiate difference, the operations of the 'normal' are made visible in their words and actions. In their encounters with the diagnosed Other, they take up practices of tolerance and silence, effecting fear, separation, and a desire to cure. These performances echo practices, presumed abandoned, from centuries past. As a way forward this book urges a rethink of practice-as-usual, as these effects are problematic for inclusion and not sustainable. A greater scrutiny of the 'normal' is needed, as the power it exercises, impacts on all children and how they become subjects in the classroom.

This fun, imaginative book offers children a way to develop their emotional literacy skills through creativity and drawing. The new edition has been reimagined as a child-friendly activity book that can be completed independently, with beautiful new illustrations and more than ten extra activities. For professionals, the book is designed to be flexible and photocopiable, so that it can be used in a range of educational and therapeutic settings. The accompanying instructions and guidance are now available online, with a clearly stated aim for each activity, a suggested outline of how to facilitate and three optional follow-on ideas. There are now also three Monitoring and Evaluation templates included in the online booklet, one for individual work, one for group work and one for whole-class work. The resource is divided into three themed sections: * Self Esteem: Activities exploring identity, personal empowerment, aspirations and values, and important relationships in a child's life * Emotions: In this section, children are invited to consider a range of complex feelings such as excitement, jealousy and disappointment * Empathy and Imagination: These activities guide children towards an awareness of other people's experiences, emotions and feelings Suitable for both parents and professionals, this book is an invaluable resource for anybody looking to improve the emotional awareness and wellbeing of young people.

New Edition of Best Seller!

"Testing Students With Disabilities is firmly grounded in the cutting edge research the authors have conducted for nearly three decades. They have done a brilliant job of treating a very complex topic in a most readable, logical, and understandable way."
Donald Deshler, Professor of Special Education
University of Kansas

"Testing Students With Disabilities is a 'must buy' for individuals involved in the education of students with disabilities, whether they are currently acting as or studying to be service providers. My hat is off to the authors for breaking down this critical information in a way that is understandable and easy to share."
Sue Gamm, Chief Specialized Services Officer
Chicago Public Schools

"This is a seminal work on the 'how to' of testing, assessment, and accountability for students with disabilities. Not only do the authors help bring this most important topic into clarity, but they also share practical ways to implement their suggestions immediately by providing the tools to get started."
Alice D. Parker, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Department of Education

An increased focus on educational accountability and testing, coupled with mandates put forth in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), make it crucial that every district and school professional is well versed in meeting the assessment requirements for all students.

The enhanced second edition of Testing Students With Disabilities covers everything from maximizing the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and fostering successful collaboration among educators, administrators, and parents to optimizing assessment accommodations and using test scores to improve instruction.

Other new and expanded topics include:

• Requirements of IDEA and ESEA
• Students with disabilities who are English Language Learners
• Electronic and online testing
• Alternate assessments
• Use of assessment results
• Access to the general curriculum

The timely update of this popular guide offers the specific tactics, concrete examples, and user-friendly information necessary to effectively and meaningfully include students with disabilities in district and state assessment systems. It features an array of indispensable tools, such as reproducible forms, checklists, handouts, and overheads; a comprehensive list of national and regional technical assistance and dissemination networks; and techniques for conducting staff development.

The 'Get to Know Me' series is made up of resources aimed at children with additional needs and those who support them in the classroom. Developed by child psychologist Dr Louise Lightfoot and illustrated by Catherine Hicks, the series includes activities specific to anxiety, depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This book, Draw Along Sammy Sloth, is an activity-based picture book story, in which individual children are encouraged to interact with the story in a creative way - through writing, drawing, scrap booking, collage, activities etc. Active engagement helps children to understand and process information, and aids long-term recall. It has been designed to support the individual child and encourage an empathetic and inclusive environment. In this book, we meet Sammy, a sloth who lives in a beautiful tree by the sea. The story follows Sammy as he wakes up one day to find he feels funny and strange. He can't sit still and does not feel like his usual happy and relaxed self. After pacing up and down he meets Anna the Armadillo who tells Sammy that he is silly and has no right to be sad when his life is good. Sammy hears this and feels embarrassed and ashamed of how he has been feeling. Sammy hides away until he meets a kind lizard who shows him kindness and empathy. This book was written with children with anxiety in mind, providing an opportunity to relate to Sammy's thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences. However, children with a range of needs may benefit from the story. The book is written in a narrative style, so it does not use diagnostic labels and is not intended for this purpose. Instead the focus is on creating a common language which children can understand and use to make sense of how they are feeling. A practitioner guidebook is also available (ISBN 9780815349419).

This book brings together the practice of reflective teaching and the knowledge of inclusive practices in the context of teacher education and continuing professional development. It is a call to leverage reflective teaching for inclusive practices. The first part of the book provides an overview of what constitutes reflective practice in the 21st century and how teachers can become reflective practitioners. It also discusses how teacher professional development can be enhanced for reflective teaching practice. The second part of the book deals with teachers' knowledge development in order to create inclusive teaching and learning environments. It highlights the need for a responsive teaching climate, intercultural competency, pedagogical change and professional literacy. A reflective inclusive teacher is likely to anticipate the multiple needs of diverse learners in pluralistic settings, thus ensuring student success. This book will enhance the efforts of teacher educators and teaching professionals in building a culture of reflective and inclusive teaching practice in the classroom.

Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities at Beacon College is a collection of essays written by professors and learning specialists (educational support personnel) at Beacon College, an accredited four-year institution for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other learning differences. The purpose of this book is to help fill the massive gap in the literature on teaching students with learning disabilities at the college level. The attrition rate of students with learning disabilities at traditional colleges and universities is very high. With a 70% four-year graduation rate, Beacon College is well-positioned to be an instructional model for other institutions. The essays discuss institutional practices, alternative teaching strategies, and personal instructor experiences.

Talkabout for Teenagers is a bestselling professional workbook supporting educators and therapists who deliver social and relationship skills groups for older children and young adults with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is a complete group work resource that offers a hierarchical approach, with ready-made material to assist teaching social and relationship skills specifically to older children and young adults. Resources include: an assessment framework planning and evaluation forms 37 structured session guides focussing on self-awareness and self-esteem, body language, conversational skills, friendship skills and assertiveness all the supplementary handouts and images needed to deliver the sessions. This second edition is presented with full-colour illustrations and handouts, and includes a new introduction by Alex Kelly reflecting on her own experiences of using the resources since they were first developed.

Becoming a Great Inclusive Educator, Second Edition offers educators the guidance and resources to become great inclusive educators by engaging in a powerful process of personal and professional transformation. Inclusive education continues to grow in popularity and acceptance in the United States. But most teachers - general and special educators - are poorly prepared to be successful in inclusive classrooms and schools. Undoubtedly, the challenge to professionals involves the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. But inclusion requires far more. It calls upon educators to trouble everything they think they know about disability, to question their deepest ethical commitments, to take up the work of the Disability Rights Movement in the public schools, and to leap headlong into the deepest waters of the rich craft tradition of inclusive teaching.

The premier Tier 3 intervention for the Pyramid Model, Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Young Children (PTR-YC) is a research-proven, family-centered approach used in preschool settings nationwide to resolve persistent challenging behaviors. Now this bestselling PTR-YC guidebook is in a thoughtfully revised second edition, with enhancements and additions informed by user feedback, the authors' training experiences, and new studies on the effectiveness of the model. Developed by top behavior experts, this practical, reader-friendly guidebook fully introduces the five steps of the PTR-YC model: 1) teaming and goal setting; 2) data collection; 3) functional behavioral assessment; 4) development and implementation of a behavior intervention plan; and 5) using data, arranging for generalization, and next steps. You'll get instructions for conducting all five steps, case examples from real-world experience, and the tools and assessment instruments you need to implement the steps effectively. Ideal for use in a wide range of early childhood settings-including preschools, Head Start, and child care programs-this accessible guide will help you strengthen every young child's social-emotional skills and address even the toughest behavior challenges. WHAT'S NEW: New chapter on classroom-wide procedures that help prevent challenging behavior. New chapter on interim solutions to extreme challenging behavior. Updates and revisions throughout based on feedback from users over the last 8 years. New evidence of the effectiveness of PTR-YC, demonstrated by a recent randomized controlled trial and single case experimental analyses. More on ensuring fidelity and sustainability, increasing the chances for long-term positive outcomes. Updated downloadable materials now online: checklists, rating scales, and a classroom practices assessment.