There are beastly forces in Belize. Forces that are actively involved in making paradise impossible. On the Nervous Edge of an Impossible Paradise is a collection of seven stories about local lives in the fictional village of Wallaceville. They turn rogue in the face of runaway forces that take the form and figure of a Belize beast-time, which can appear as a comic mishap, social ruin, tragic excess, or wild guesses. Inciting the affective politics of life in the region, this fable of emergence evokes the unnerving uncertainties of life in the tourist state of Belize.

Academic classrooms in both K-12 and higher education feature diverse students with many different backgrounds, personalities, and attitudes toward learning. A large challenge in education is not only catering to each of these students to motivate them to learn, but also the many strategies in handling diverse forms of academic misconduct. It is essential for educators and administrators to be knowledgeable not only about disciplinary actions, but also intervention methods that will create a lasting impact for student success. The Research Anthology on Interventions in Student Behavior and Misconduct provides the best practices, strategies, challenges, and interventions for managing student behavior and misconduct. It discusses intervention and disciplinary methods both at the classroom and administrative levels. This book focuses on the prevention of school violence and academic misconduct in order to promote successful learning. Covering topics such as learning behavior, student empowerment, and social-emotional learning, this major reference work is an essential resource for school counselors, faculty and administration of both K-12 and higher education, libraries, pre-service teachers, child psychologists, student advocacy organizations, researchers, and academicians.

Thirteen-year-old Serogia was thrown out of his house by his drunken mother after his father died. Eleven-year-old Anya doesn't have many friends and is always sad; when she looks in the mirror she sees an ugly girl. Her ten-year-old sister Sashinka is shy, tough and fun loving. Their only living relative is their drunken father.

These are just three of the children who were living at Priut Almus, a children's shelter in St. Petersburg, Russia, when author Robert Belenky began his visits in 1998. He returned many times during the next ten years. In Tales of Priut Almus he presents his interviews with children and staff as he participates in this humane and innovative shelter unusual in that it focused on preparing children to create and live in a democracy. Finally, we meet Almus' founding director, enigmatic man of the theater, Mikhail Markarievich, who provided the courageous vision.

The fifth in a series of books focusing on raising children whose lives have not been easy, "Tales of Priut Almus" describes how this home has become a monument to the spirited and humane ways to raise children who are in need. Priut Almus is a model of what may be possible for the United States in the realm of education and child care.

The first reference book written for the sight-impaired student and those who serve their needs, "A Field Guide for the Sight-Impaired Reader" explains how to locate, obtain, and integrate all forms of aid to construct a world of reading equal to that of the fully sighted reader. It profiles the major blind service organizations; explores specialized formats such as Braille, large print, and electronic texts; and shows what technology readers require and where to find it. It provides comprehensive lists of audio and large print publishers, a state-by-state listing of resource agencies for the blind, and valuable internet resources to assist students and their teachers and librarians in obtaining the texts they need to succeed in both academic and pleasure reading.

Beginning with thorough coverage of the national organizations in place for visually handicapped readers and how they can assist both students and librarians, "A Field Guide for the Sight-Impaired Reader" outlines the types of technology available to readers and the companies that manufacture it. Available software, braille resources, large print resources, and internet web sites are all discussed in detail, with contact information. Also included are reading strategies for a variety of academic subject areas, a detailed listing of state resources with addresses, phone numbers, and web sites, an exhaustive list of audio publishers, and a list of books compiled from recommended reading lists such as the American Library Association's Outstanding Books for the College Bound. A discussion of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its impact on libraries is provided, as well as funding sources for librarians who want to provide more materials and technology for their sight-impaired patrons than their budgets might allow. With the encouragement and resources provided here, sight-impaired students who felt the world of reading was closed off to them can now create a reading life as rich as that of any fully sighted student.

"Know What Your Child Knows" unlocks the mystery behind standardized testing and traditional curricula in elementary school reading, math, and language instruction, ultimately helping parents better understand educational jargon and maintain positive and constructive relationships with their child's teachers.

C.E. Crutcher, Ed.D. is a retired teacher who taught in both an elementary school classroom as well as a university environment and acted as a special education consultant for parents of children with special needs. Dr. Crutcher includes specific grade level concepts and expectations, reflects on basic elementary school curriculum, and answers common parents' questions such as: How do I decide what instruction methods are best for my child? How can I identify and track my child's progress in core subjects? How can I prepare for parent/teacher conferences? How do I decide when, how, and who to ask for help for my struggling child? Every parent has the power to improve their child's school experience. The expert advice and guidance offered in "Know What Your Child Knows" will ensure that every child, no matter what their personal challenges, is successful in school.

A state-of-the-art resource concentrating on the practical applications, philosophical and social policy motivations, and historical development of various approaches to multicultural education in the United States. In this comprehensive introduction to multicultural education, author Peter Appelbaum reveals that Native American-run schools in the early 19th century produced nearly 100 percent literacy rates-higher among western Oklahoma Cherokees than among whites in nearby Texas or Arkansas. Today, as the country rapidly becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, he discusses how success in diversity education requires that administrators, teachers, and students change the way they look at each other, the curriculum, and the structures and policies that govern schools. Diversity and Multicultural Education: A Reference Handbook examines the political and educational arguments for and against multicultural education, provides a range of curriculum approaches, describes the dilemmas of assessment, and explores political and legal issues. Also included are a chronology, directories, and bibliographies. Bibliography contains print resources covering community building and curriculum such as Venture into Cultures: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials and Programs, along with nonprint resources such as websites for state standards on culturally responsive schools and online magazines devoted to multicultural education Provides a chronology of the evolution of the concept of multicultural and diversity education in the United States from the introduction of the term multiculturalism in the 1970s to the reexamination of the concept as a culturally valued term in the 1990s

Based on extensive research, Addressing Tensions and Dilemmas in Inclusive Education presents a contemporary and critical analysis of the interaction between different perspectives and positions in the field of inclusive education. Referring to existing attitudes on the education of children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, Professor Norwich argues that despite the appeal of inclusion as a single powerful position, its practical realisation involves tensions and dilemmas that have to be addressed and resolved. This core analysis is illustrated by a review of relevant national and international concepts, principles, research and practices drawing on literature in areas of current interest and concern, such as: identification and classification; current national and international conceptions; pedagogic and curriculum issues; organisation of schooling; parental and student perspectives; the contribution of research to policy and practice. Engaging with the fundamental issues in the field and providing a coherent perspective that recognises and justifies the inter-connection between specialised and general school provision, this accessible and timely book will be of interest to all researchers and students of inclusive education.

Nonverbal Learning Disorders are serious and complex developmental disabilities that persist into adulthood. The diagnosis of these disabilities is often difficult as fluent speech usually coexists with the functional deficits present in individuals affected by these disorders. Medical and Educational Perspectives on Nonverbal Learning Disability in Children and Young Adults is a comprehensive reference source for emerging research in the identification, diagnosis, and intervention of nonverbal learning disabilities. Featuring in-depth coverage on a variety of topics relating to intact nonverbal skills, Nonverbal Learning Disability indicators, disability manifestation, and the dilemmas faced by caregivers and professionals, this publication is a critical reference source for educators, medical professionals, allied health professionals, and disability service providers interested in research on the early intervention of these disabilities and the quality-of-life issues faced by those afflicted by nonverbal learning disabilities.

Teaching is a profession that requires passion and dedication to students. In When I Became "Special," author Daisy Torres-Petrovich discusses her passion, her "call" to teach special education, and the commitment it requires to effectively educate children.

In this compilation of life experiences filled with personal anecdotes, examples, and ideas, When I Became "Special" details what it takes to become a special education teacher. Loaded with advice and tips, Torres-Petrovich covers everything from enrolling in college to examining teacher personality traits to dealing with classroom behavior issues. She extols the importance of goal setting, of gaining real-life experiences, and of understanding the power of flexibility in the classroom.

When I Became "Special" also includes uplifting stories about some of Torres-Petrovich's former students and examples of special student work. She not only talks about the challenges of teaching, but the many rewards and successes that are an integral part of this profession.

Educating and raising gifted children presents highly specific challenges. This book explains how parents can learn to optimize their child's potential and work with schools, spouses, friends, and specialists to create a nurturing and stable life. Having a gifted child is a joy, but it is also one of the greatest challenges of parenthood to help that child find the right fit for education. In this remarkably insightful text, noted psychologist Barbara Klein, PhD, EdD, explains the emotional and social issues of giftedness, identifies parental actions and reactions that can exacerbate or soothe the challenges, and describes how these key factors tie in to identifying the best school and educational program to enable a gifted child to achieve his or her goals and maximize success. The text includes many vignettes from children and families who have sought guidance across 30 years from the author, an accomplished psychotherapist recognized as a national authority on raising gifted children. This single-volume work presents an understandable theoretical overview of the psychological problems parents face raising their gifted child and clearly explains why the parent-child interaction can be so intense and stressful-a reality that is rarely acknowledged in the existing literature on giftedness. Parents of gifted children will learn how to make decisions about their children's social emotional development and educational future and understand how their actions can be helpful or harmful to their gifted child and his/her education. Educators will fully grasp why and how gifted kids are different and why they need different educational environments, while mental heath professionals will gain insight into their gifted patients' emotional struggles. And gifted individuals will realize that others experience similar struggles. Details how to find a school that satisfies a child's particular needs Presents the ideas, thoughts, and feelings of parents in words that other parents with gifted children can identify with and understand Provides information on the over-excitabilities and intensities of gifted children presented in a practical, straightforward way that helps the reader apply these concepts in actual strategies in their everyday lives Identifies specific problems of parents with gifted children and outlines effective solutions to these challenges

This manual is the companion guide to Uniquely Normal: Tapping the Reservoir of Normalcy to Treat Autism. It is a guide you in using the Bernstein Cognitive Method for Autism (BCMA, or Bernstein Method for short). Rob teaches us the commonsense approach and uses everyday situations to help children with autism progress with language, socialization, and organization. You don't need a graduate school education to use this method; you have all the knowledge and skills you need. You already know how to do everything necessary to make a difference for your child.

This authoritative volume puts the schooling of Native American children in the broader context of the country's educational agenda and demonstrates how Native American learning continues to be a challenge to minority education in the United States. This fascinating overview provides a comprehensive introduction to the education of Native Americans in the United States. Historically, schools were seen as essential to formal education but also as the custodians of community values, a way to socialize Native Americans into the European way of life. Native American Education: A Reference Handbook describes the role played by various churches and missionaries and their different approaches to education against a backdrop of mostly unfamiliar social and legal history. For example, most Americans probably do not know that Indians helped write the Constitution and that an Indian served as vice president of the United States. Author Lorraine Hale provides strategies for preserving Indian culture within the framework of modern American education. Presents a historical background on the evolution of Native American education from the advancing colonization of North America beginning in the 1700s to the increasing government involvement in running Native American schools through the 1900s Includes coverage from the efforts of the Jesuits beginning in 1492 to teach Native Americans in Spanish and convert them to Catholicism to the publication in 1991 of Indian Nations at Risk by the Department of Education

This innovative volume details counseling interventions for secondary students with ADHD and its associated academic and conduct problems, particularly focusing on youth at risk for developing serious disruptive behaviors. It addresses the continuing debate over counseling for youths with ADHD by identifying key elements common to reputable therapies and suggesting a framework for their successful implementation. The core of the book discusses the Challenging Horizons Program (CHP), a behavior- and solutions-focused approach to counseling adolescents with ADHD that has been studied extensively for more than 15 years. Based on the quality of research, the CHP has been included in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices maintained by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Excerpts from actual sessions illustrate typical therapist-client interactions in the CHP, and sample modules from the program's treatment literature expand the book's descriptions of effective hands-on interventions. Counseling skills featured in this book include: Bridging the research-into-practice divide. Establishing a therapeutic alliance with students with ADHD. Developing and implementing interventions for memory, organization, and planning. Enhancing young clients' social skills. Enlisting family members in the intervention process. Working directly with teachers to improve student behaviors. A Practical Guide to Implementing School-Based Interventions for Adolescents with ADHD is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians and related professionals, and graduate students in such disciplines as school and clinical child psychology, social work, educational psychology, psychotherapy and counseling, and learning and instruction.

The purpose of this book is to provide educators with effective, research based interventions to improve the literacy skills of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in K-12 classrooms. This book identifies, defines, and describes a number of research-based literacy interventions, and discusses their effectiveness as supports for students with EBD. Also included are examples of and guidance for how educators can implement the interventions in the classroom. Topics on integrating the use of technology-based instruction, culturally and linguistically diverse learners, and considerations for working with students with EBD in alternative educational settings are discussed as well.

It is widely agreed throughout the world that education and access to education are human rights. In order to accommodate the educational needs of people globally, technology will be required that supports inclusion and promotes equity for both learning processes and governance in educational institutions. In order to achieve this, technological resources must be designed to be accessible and usable for all individuals by implementing user-centered design (UCD) and user experience design (UXD) processes. UXD and UCD Approaches for Accessible Education is an academic research publication that explores thoughts and experiences on accessible and equitable education from perspectives on human-computer interaction, user research, and design thinking. It seeks to improve the understanding on how technology should be designed to truly contribute to and support accessibility and equity in education. Featuring a wide range of topics such as online courses, inclusive education, and virtual reality, this publication is essential for academicians, curriculum designers, researchers, instructional designers, educational software developers, IT consultants, policymakers, administrators, and students.

This book explores the development of humanoid robots for helping children with autism develop social skills based on fieldwork in the UK and the USA. Robotic scientists propose that robots can therapeutically help children with autism because there is a "special" affinity between them and mechanical things. This idea is supported by autism experts that claim those with autism have a preference for things over other persons. Autism is also seen as a gendered condition, with men considered less social and therefore more likely to have the condition. The author explores how these experiments in cultivating social skills in children with autism using robots, while focused on a unique subsection, is the model for a new kind of human-thing relationship for wider society across the capitalist world where machines can take on the role of the "you" in the relational encounter. Moreover, underscoring this is a form of consciousness that arises out of specific forms of attachment styles.

In this unique and original book, Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton come together to have an open and honest conversation about developing positive and responsive relationships in the early years. The book is divided into three main chapters - building positive relationships with children; with other professionals; and with families and the wider community - and each conversation explores a range of key themes, from building trust and listening to the voice of the child, to diversifying practice and creating a setting that represents the wider community. These discussions encourage the reader to consider the connections we make every day, to rethink and empower their practice, and to place a much higher value on their position as an early years advocate. With reflective questions included to allow the reader to think about their own practice, as well as suggested further reading to explore the themes in more depth, this engaging and accessible book is a must-read for all early years professionals - and, importantly, encourages every practitioner to begin new conversations of their own.

By combining history with sociology, Rothstein presents a new way of looking at state-supported schools. He describes the pauper schools of the early 1800s and shows how they became the foundation for the common schools that followed. Compulsory education sought to alleviate urban crime while assimilating the immigrants who flocked to our shores in each generation. In the late 19th century, the militaristic schools became more bureaucratic and set in their ways in spite of the new thinking in education represented by John Dewey. Rothstein shows how Dewey was taught in college but that Thorndike was followed in the public schools. The high school was an attempt to meet the changing needs of the Industrial Revolution. After recapitulating the foundational history of American public schools, Rothstein examines the psychological effects of martinet teaching methods on students' self-perception and performance. A stunning new (old) perspective on American education.

All children require nurturing and stimulating learning environments, but typical early childhood classrooms should be modified for children with special needs. "The Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom" is written to help teachers look at classroom design in a new way and suggests different ways of approaching activities to help children with special needs become successful. By modifying the classroom and activities, all children will be actively engaged. Each chapter focuses on either a learning center, such as art or science, or a time of the day, such as snack time or dismissal, with particular attention to the needs of children who are developmentally delayed, orthopedically impaired, have autism/Pervasive Development Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, behavioral issues, motor planning problems, or visual impairments.

This handbook offers a comprehensive review of intellectual disabilities (ID). It examines historical perspectives and foundational principles in the field. The handbook addresses philosophy of care for individuals with ID, as well as parent and professional issues and organizations, staffing, and working on multidisciplinary teams. Chapters explore issues of client protection, risk factors of ID, basic research issues, and legal concerns. In addition, chapters include information on evidence-based assessments and innovative treatments to address a variety of behaviors associated with ID. The handbook provides an in-depth analysis of comorbid physical disorders, such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy and seizures, and developmental coordination disorders (DCD), in relation to ID. Topics featured in this handbook include: Informed consent and the enablement of persons with ID. The responsible use of restraint and seclusion as a protective measure. Vocational training and job preparation programs that assist individuals with ID. Psychological and educational approaches to the treatment of aggression and tantrums. Emerging technologies that support learning for students with ID. Key sexuality and relationship issues that are faced by individuals with ID. Effective approaches to weight management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Handbook of Intellectual Disabilities is an essential reference for researchers, graduate students, clinicians and related therapists and professionals in clinical child and school psychology, pediatrics, social work, developmental psychology, behavioral therapy/rehabilitation, child and adolescent psychiatry, and special education.

This book introduces the application of drama and arts-related activities to the teaching of English as a second or additional language in early education. Joe Winston draws on both his own scholarly expertise and experience as a practitioner to provide a theoretical rationale, practical examples, tips and easy-to-read teaching guides intended to help busy professionals apply drama related methods in an efficient and accessible way. Detailed examples of schemes of work are included for all year groups and developmental stages between the ages of 3 and 7 years of age. Each scheme centres on a popular and easily obtainable picturebook or children's story. Detailed guidance on how to plan and structure lessons with specific learning objectives is offered, as is extensive advice on issues of classroom management. The practical approaches have been used successfully in early years settings in China and primary and pre-primary settings in the UK, and are adaptable to a variety of national and cultural contexts.