Special Education

This book explores the special education process-from testing and diagnosis to IEP meetings and advocating for special needs children. Step by step the authors reveal the stages of identification, assessment, and intervention, and help readers to better understand special needs children's legal rights and how to become an active, effective member of a child's educational team. Grounded in more than twenty-five years of working with parents and educators, the authors provide significant insight into what they have learned about the special education. This book fills the gap in the literature for the millions of children receiving special education services and the parents who are clamoring for information on this topic.
Includes valuable tools, checklists, sample forms, and advice for working with special education students
Demystifies the special education process, from testing and diagnosis to IEP meetings and advocating for children

New editions covers Response-to-Intervention (RTI), a new approach to diagnosing learning disabilities in the classroom; expanded coverage of autism spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder; and a revamped Resources section.

Special education is now an established part of public education in the United States ”by law and by custom. However, it is still widely misunderstood and continues to be dogged by controversies related to such things as categorization, grouping, assessment, placement, funding, instruction, and a variety of legal issues. The purpose of this 13-part, 57-chapter handbook is to help profile and bring greater clarity to this sprawling and growing field. To ensure consistency across the volume, chapter authors review and integrate existing research, identify strengths and weaknesses, note gaps in the literature, and discuss implications for practice and future research. Key features include:

Comprehensive Coverage ”Fifty-seven chapters cover all aspects of special education in the United States including cultural and international comparisons.

Issues & Trends ”In addition to synthesizing empirical findings and providing a critical analysis of the status and direction of current research, chapter authors discuss issues related to practice and reflect on trends in thinking.

Categorical Chapters ”In order to provide a comprehensive and comparative treatment of the twelve categorical chapters in section IV, chapter authors were asked to follow a consistent outline: Definition, Causal Factors, Identification, Behavioral Characteristics, Assessment, Educational Programming, and Trends and Issues.

Expertise ”Edited by two of the most accomplished scholars in special education, chapter authors include a carefully chosen mixture of established and rising young stars in the field.

This book is an appropriate reference volume for anyone (researchers, scholars, graduate students, practitioners, policy makers, and parents) interested in the state of special education today: its research base, current issues and practices, and future trends. It is also appropriate as a textbook for graduate level courses in special education.

With the skyrocketing diagnoses of ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and related conditions in U.S. schools, there is a growing need for information on creating effective IEPs for exceptional students. The IEP From A to Z is a step-by-step guide showing teachers and parents how to get the right education plan in place for students with ADHD, Autism/Asperger's, Emotional/Behavioral Disturbance, and related conditions.
Provides easy-to-understand explanations of the special education process along with a wealth of sample effective IEPs
Explains what is most important for educators and parents to keep in mind during IEP development
Provides content area-specific sample goal and objective templates, general teaching tips for maintaining the IEP, and useful resources

From nationally recognized experts in the special education field, this book guides readers through the process of writing thoughtful, intelligent Individualized Education Plans that deliver high-quality, need-based educational programming to exceptional students.

Now in a second edition, the award-winning The Trouble with Mathsoffers important insights into the often confusing world of numeracy. By looking at learning difficulties in maths from several perspectives, including the language of mathematics, thinking styles and the demands of individual topics, this book offers a complete overview of the most common problems associated with mathematics teaching and learning. It draws on tried-and-tested methods based on research and the author "s many years of classroom experience to provide an authoritative yet highly accessible one-stop classroom resource.

Combining advice, guidance and practical activities, this user-friendly guide will enable you to:
develop flexible thinking skills;
use alternative strategies for pupils to access basic facts;
understand the implications of pre-requisite skills, such as working memory, on learning;
implement effective preventative measures before disaffection sets in;
recognise maths anxiety and tackle self-esteem problems;
tackle the difficulties with word problems that many pupils may have;
select appropriate materials to enhance understanding.

With useful features such as checklists for the evaluation of books, an outline for setting up an inclusive Maths Department policy and a brand new chapter on materials, manipulatives and communication, this book will equip you with the essential skills to tackle your pupils " maths difficulties and improve standards. This book will be useful for all teachers, classroom assistants, learning support assistants and parents who have pupils who underachieve with maths.

This book provides inspiration and guidance for special education teachers, assistants, parents and carers on how to use lively play ideas to foster learning. Targeting key skills such as listening, self-awareness, movement, creative thinking and relaxation, each game has been developed with the capabilities of children with special needs in mind.