Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Theory to Practice Review

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(More customer reviews)Dr. Hall has provided an excellent resource for professionals and parents. This book covers classification and assessment issues, as well as approaches to treatment. As a behavior analyst, Dr. Hall has devoted two chapters on applied behavior analysis. The book promotes the importance of evidence-based practices. Practical information is given, along with research and theoretical background. With so many weak books on autism being published at this critical time, I was delighted to discover such a well written and thoughtful resource as this. I really believe this is a "must have!"

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For courses in Autism Spectrum Disorders or as a perfect supplement to a course in special education where ASD is addressed and given special attention to, or in psychology or communication disorders courses addressing the education of students with disabilities.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Theory to Practice provides the need for a comprehensive text on the subject of ASD, thoroughly discussing the cause, characteristics, and approaches by theoretical perspective used by educators. Drawing from her classroom experience, Laura Hall explains the communication and social and relationship issues faced by individuals with autism spectrum disorders and presents educators with best practices and programs for increasing academic achievement. In her newest book, the author guides educators in identifying, placing, and instructing students through real-life classroom and family cases. She includes strategies to determine the cause of ASD, a step-by-step guide for assessment, and evidence-based approaches to educate students through examination of the major theoretical perspectives–applied behavior analysis, developmental and social-relational, and the TEACCH approach. Furthermore, the text addresses: the use of evidence-based practices in the education of individuals with ASD mandated by the laws, IDEA 2004 and NCLB; approaches that take into account families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; applied behavior analysis; and working collaboratively with families and building communities of practice. This new and unique text will not only describe the most common practices implemented for learners with ASD, but will identify those that are evidence-based, and provide the best suggestions for future research in the field.

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The Cooperative Classroom: Empowering Learning Review

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(More customer reviews)Cooperative learning can be defined as: concepts and strategies for enhancing student-student interaction. Since the 1970s, an impressive body of work on cooperative learning has developed in the areas of theory, research, and practical application. Lynda Baloche's book, "The collaborative classroom: Empowering learning" contributes to this work by bringing together ideas from many different authors in the field, as well as adding ideas of her own.
Lynda is a former classroom teacher who is a university professor helping educate other teachers - both those currently teaching and those preparing to teach - in the eastern U.S. The features of her book I like most are:
1.As mentioned already, the work of many others is synthesized 2. The ideas are illustrated by many examples across a wide range of subject areas and age groups, from kindergarten to senior high school. 3.One of the most useful means of illustrating ideas is through scenarios that show cooperative learning in action in a variety of classrooms. 4.A large number of cooperative learning techniques are described with sample applications. 5.Materials for classroom use are provided. 6.Attention is paid to making cooperative learning work in untracked classrooms. 7.Each chapter ends with cooperative learning activities for teachers to use to review, discuss, and apply the chapter's ideas.
After an initial chapter on the benefits of working together in the classroom and beyond, the other ten chapters are divided into three parts. Part one consists of three chapters that help us understand key psycho-social variables involved in group interaction. Chapter two looks at the classroom as a group and the importance of shared values. The third chapter provides insights on how groups function in the context of multicultural societies, including how status differences among group members arise and can be treated. Chapter four describes the need for cooperation throughout the school and the school community. Among the concepts dealt with here are parental involvement and conflict resolution.
Part one of the book looked at cooperation in a fairly general way. Part two focuses more specifically on cooperation among small groups of students. Five elements are seen as key to realizing the potential of this cooperation. These elements are: positive interdependence, simultaneous interaction, individual responsibility, interpersonal and small-group learning skills, and reflection and planning. The chapters in Part two help us understand how to facilitate the existence of these elements. This is what the author calls the "discipline of cooperation".
Chapter five describes two types of groups and how they function. Base groups last for a year or more, providing a kind of support group for each student. On the other end of the spectrum in terms of duration are informal groups that last only for one activity. The main type of cooperative learning group is called the formal learning group. Such groups are described in Chapter six along with nine ways of fostering positive interdependence among the members of the groups.
Chapter seven offers many ideas for helping students with another of the key elements of cooperative learning: interpersonal and small-group learning skills. The next chapter, eight, discusses the cooperative learning element of reflecting on past learning and planning for future learning, while chapter nine tackles the thorny issues of individual responsibility within groups and assessment of group work. The last chapter in Part two examines teachers' roles in the cooperative learning, such as seating, size and composition of groups, and lesson planning.
The book's final part consists of just one fairly short chapter, but it involves an essential aspect of the implementation of cooperative learning. This part is entitled "Developing commitment to an exciting profession". Among the themes dealt with are cooperation among teachers, teacher inquiry, and developing purpose and vision. After this final chapter, a list of books for further reading is offered in addition to the standard list of references and the subject and author indexes.

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This guide for current teachers and future teachers provides them with the necessary skills to create classrooms where cooperation is a way of helping to empower students and themselves as learners. The book answers the difficult questions that teachers often ask about cooperative learning such as, "Why should I use cooperation?", and "When, how, and how much should I use cooperation?". Both pre-service and in-service teachers have extensively field-tested the models, examples, and scenarios featured in this book developed to help them acquire a new understanding and appreciation of the power of working together.

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Special Education Law and Practice in Public Schools (2nd Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)The book came in great condition. It came quickly, and I had no difficulties with the ordering process. The price was well worth it! It was an overall good experience.

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A must have resource for school leaders and personnel, Special Education Law and Practice in Public Schools is dedicated to understanding the complex laws and issues surrounding students with special needs. Broad in coverage, it discusses current topics such as: the reauthorization of IDEA, NCLB, and 504; working with families; IEPs; assessment; staff relationships and staffing patters; due process hearing, mediation and complaints; school-wide discipline, and strategies for specific populations ( infant/toddler, preschool, secondary school, etc.) Filled with ready-to-use samples and inclusion strategies, the book adheres to school administration and CEC standards and is a conclusive resource for practicing professionals.

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