Literacy for Visual Learners: Teaching Children with Learning Differences to Read, Write, Communicate and Create

This book takes a fresh look at approaches to teaching reading, writing and communication skills. It presents a wealth of innovative ideas specifically designed to support visual learners, including those with autism spectrum conditions and special educational needs. Some children are more responsive to visual stimulation than spoken words, and this book shows how to engage these children in literacy lessons by using strategies that cover everything from the latest assistive technology to getting creative on a limited budget. There are tips for sharing stories with children who find it hard to sit still, supporting reluctant writers, enabling the pre-verbal child to answer questions and helping the child who never stops talking to develop listening skills. The strategies are supported by practical resources, examples and case studies, to show how to instil in children the confidence to create and share their thoughts. This is a must-have resource for special education teachers and coordinators, as well as speech and language therapists, looking for new strategies for teaching literacy.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements. Introduction - A Fairy Tale. 1. Visual Learners are in EVERY Classroom (Preventing a learning difference from becoming a learning difficulty). 2. Learning Differences and Disabilities. (Autism Spectrum Conditions, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia, Downs Syndrome, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy and physical disabilities affecting communication). 3. Gifted Visual Learners Past and Present. 4. Visual Teachers (Past and Present). 5. First Impressions! (How we introduce literacy can help develop positive attitude to learning. 6. Motivation to learn (Finding out what motivates the individual child can be the key to engaging them to want to learn. 7. Teaching writing right (Setting them up to succeed, by stepping learning to meet individual needs - sandpaper letters, stamps and pencil grips). 8. What's in a name? (How names and labels give reading and writing a purpose). 9. Reading (Practical strategies including teaching children who do not 'get' phonics). 10. Sight Reading High Frequency Words (a structured approach). 11. Visuals for Communication (An Introduction to Picture Exchange Communication and going beyond 'I want...'). 12. Augmentative Assistive Communication (Switches, buttons, android, eye gaze and iPad Apps). 13. Actions speak louder! (Gaining Attention, adding meaning and improving communication through actions and signing). 14. Listening and Gaining Attention (Becoming a good listener, Tutorials, Intensive Interaction and Attention Autism). 15. Functional Communication (Within school and out and about). 16. Implementing subject based TEACCH. 17. SEN Assist (Teaching Literacy through the Class Computer). 18. Drama and Dance and Shakespeare (Bringing stories to life using costume, masks and puppets). 19. Look here! They can! (Believing in futures). 20. Happy Endings. Resources. Index.

About the Author :
Adele Devine is a Special Needs teacher at a school for young people with severe learning difficulties and autism in Surrey, UK. She has over a decade of experience teaching children on the autistic spectrum and worked as an ABA home tutor before qualifying as a teacher in 2004. Adele has a regular two-page feature in Teach Nursery magazine and shares her knowledge of special education needs through 'A Special Blog' (http://www.senassist.com/blog/). In 2010, she co-founded the multi-award winning SEN Assist autism software with her husband. They have three children and live in Surrey, UK.

Review :
This book's title gives a few clues to the broad range of its content. In fact, the author also includes topics such as how best to motivate and engage pupils, as well as how to maximise their abilities to listen, communicate, read and write. Mrs Devine shares her experiences of teaching pupils with severe learning difficulties and works indefatigably to show how every child has the potential to shine. In the current climate of every changing goalposts and the relentless drive to fulfill targets, her passion and philosophy are breath of fresh air. The author is a passionate and dedicated advocate for providing quality educational experiences for children with learning differences. The way in which she writes encourages teachers and those working in schools to look at the individual needs of the child and adapt to each child's unique strengths. This is a book that would be helpful as a general good practice text for someone starting out in a school setting for children with complex needs or for parents/carers who would like to know more about the types of interventions used in school settings. From the opening of Adele's book you know you are dealing with a very committed, passionate and talented teacher. She sets out her philosophy clearly and provides teachers with a wealth of activities. She also supplies very useful advice on many aspects of the difficulties visual learners have. A book for every staffroom! Adele has the ability to see the world through a child's eyes and explain it to adults. She can simplify the most complex learning needs and transform their differences into creativity and fun. Her genius is showing the rest of us their brilliance. A perfect book for parents demoralised by negative school reports for their quirky child and a must have for teachers who believe all children have the potential to shine.