Commonsense Methods for Children with Special Educational Needs

In this era of inclusive education it is essential that all teachers have a sound understanding of the nature of students' special educational needs and how these needs may best be met in the classroom. Not only must teachers understand and accept students with disabilities and learning problems, but they must also possess a wide range of teaching and management strategies. Similar knowledge and skills are also required by classroom assistants and other personnel working in a support role in schools. This book offers sound practical advice on assessment and intervention based on the latest research evidence from the field. This fully revised and updated sixth edition includes chapters on: general and specific learning difficulties students with autism intellectual, physical or sensory impairments self-regulation social skills behaviour management literacy and numeracy curriculum adaptation teaching methods. In addition, the book presents a new chapter on the special needs of gifted and talented students. The practical advice the author gives throughout the book is embedded within a clear theoretical context supported by current research and classroom practice.

Table of Contents:
Introduction  1. Special educational needs and learning difficulties  2. Students with intellectual disability and autism  3. Students with physical disabilities  4. Students with sensory impairments  5. Gifted and talented students  6. Self-management and self-regulation  7. Managing classroom behaviour  8. Social skills and peer group acceptance  9. Reading and reading difficulties  10. Intervention for reading difficulties  11. Difficulties with writing  12. Difficulties with spelling  13. Difficulties with basic mathematics  14. Differentiating curriculum and instruction  15. Teaching methods for general and specific purposes.   

About the Author :
Peter Westwood has been a teacher in primary, secondary and special schools, but has also spent more than thirty years as a teacher educator and researcher in colleges and universities. He has awards for excellence in teaching from Flinders University in South Australia and from the University of Hong Kong.

Review :
Praise for previous editions: 'A useful guide for those who read the whole book or just dip into relevant chapters to promote thinking on responding to the wide diversity of challenge that all teachers are required to acquire expertise in.' - Special Needs Information Press 'This book provides some extremely useful information in a succinct, user friendly way... This book would be an invaluble resource for teachers within the mainstream setting in order to provide them with the information they need to effectively teach students with disabilities in their classes' - Australasian Journal of Special Education 'This is a book which should be required reading for all Secretaries of State for Education...It was easy to read and ought to find a place in as many staff libraries as possible - and might serve as a starting point for training day discussions.' - Education Review 'A must for teachers in training and a useful acquisition for teachers in the classroom.' - British Journal of Special Education 'This fully revised and updated fifth edition is both comprehensive and informative... a highly readable guide to implementing effective teaching practices solidly grounded in a current and sound research base' - Special Education Perspectives "In the sixth edition of his special education methods text, Westwood provides an updated overview of instructional strategies for students with special learning needs. Recommended for use as a methods text in undergraduate courses in differentiated education or as a resource for general educators."--Choice