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8th Edition

Commonsense Methods for Children with Special Needs and Disabilities

$55.45  Paperback
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Peter Westwood Australian author

  • Commonsense Methods for Children with Special Needs and Disabilities

216 pages
2020
ISBN: 9780367625757

This fully revised and updated eighth edition of Peter Westwood’s book offers practical advice and strategies for meeting the challenge of inclusive teaching. Based on the latest international research from the field, it offers practical advice on both new and well-tried evidence-based approaches and strategies for teaching students with a wide range of difficulties.

As well as covering special educational needs, learning difficulties, and disabilities in detail, chapters also explore topics such as self-management and autonomy, managing behaviour, and social skills. The book offers sound pedagogical practices and strategies for adapting curriculum content, designing teaching materials, differentiating instruction for mixed-ability classes, and implementing inclusive assessment of learning.

Key features of this new edition include:

  • Additional information on linking all aspects of teaching to a Response-to-Intervention Model
  • A focus on the increasing importance of digital technology in supporting the learning of students with special educational needs and disabilities
  • Up-to-date resource lists for each chapter, for those who wish to pursue a particular topic in greater depth

Reflecting cutting-edge international research and teaching practices, this is an invaluable resource for practising and trainee teachers, teaching assistants, and other educational professionals looking to support students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Table of Contents

1: Special educational needs, learning difficulties and disabilities

Who are the students? What are ‘special needs’? Learning difficulties, Disabilities and impairments, Provision of education and support, Response to intervention model, Online resources Print resources

2: Students with intellectual disability

Intellectual disability, Priorities in teaching Learning characteristics of students with intellectual disability, Teaching approaches, Preparation for work, Specific approaches for students with severe intellectual disability, Online resources Print resources

3: Students with autism spectrum disorder

Autism defined and described, Intervention for autism, Teaching, training and management: general principles Specific programmes and methods, Online resources Print resources

4: Students with physical disabilities and health issues

Learning and development, Assistive technology, Augmentative and alternative communication, Cerebral palsy, Instructional needs of students with cerebral palsy, Epilepsy, Spina bifida , Traumatic brain injury, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Childhood obesity, Asthma and allergies, General points for mainstream teachers, Online resources Print resources

5: Students with sensory impairments

Vision impairment, Special educational needs of children with impaired vision, Accessing curriculum and environment, Teaching students with impaired vision, Transition to work or further study, Hearing impairment, Types and degrees of hearing loss Impact of moderate to severe hearing loss Modes of communication Assistive technology, Teaching students with impaired hearing, Online resources Print resources

6: Gifted and talented students

The nature of giftedness, talent and creativity,  Prevalence  Separation or inclusion?,  Identifying gifted learners,  Underachievement,  Meeting the needs of gifted and talented students,  General principles of teaching,  Specific implementation models,  Online resources  Print resources

7: Self-management and autonomy

Definition of terms,  The importance of classroom self-management,  Teaching self-management,  Locus of control and self-efficacy, Attribution retraining,  Cognitive behaviour modification,  Metacognition,  Cognitive strategies and strategy-based instruction,  Online resources  Print resources

8: Managing behaviour 

The effects of misbehaviour,,  Preventing behaviour problems  Behaviour management policy,  A three-tier model of intervention,  The need for a team approach,  Modifying behaviour,  Students with learning difficulties or disabilities, Dealing with disruptive behaviour,  Aggressive behaviour,  Bullying,  Cyberbullying,  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,  Online resources  Print resources 

9: Social skills and peer group acceptance

Children with learning difficulties or disabilities,  Creating opportunities,  Facilitating social interaction,  Groupwork,  Social skills training,  Online resources  Print resources

10: Intervention for reading difficulties

Reading intervention at Tier 2,  Using tutors,  Selecting text materials for Tier 2,  Specific interventions for older students at Tier 2,  Specific programmes for intervention at Tier 3,  Supplementary tutoring strategies and activities,  Digital technology and reading,  Online resources  Print resources 

11: Problems with writing 

What do the processes of writing and composing involve?,  Learning difficulties that affect writing,  Teaching approaches,  General approaches at Tier 1,  Digital technology and writing,  Tier 2 and Tier 3: Paving the way for success, Online resources  Print resources

12: Difficulties with spelling

Best practices in spelling instruction, Developmental stages,  Spelling as a complex behaviour,  Teaching spelling, Word study,  Spelling rules,  Dictation,  Spelling lists,  Developing strategic spellers,  Intervention strategies for Tier 2 and Tier 3,  Tutoring individual students,  Online resources  Print resources 

13: Numeracy and basic mathematical skills

Contemporary perspectives on mathematics teaching,  Learning difficulties in mathematics,  Assisting students with learning difficulties,  What should be taught?,  A diagnostic approach,  Teaching at concrete and semi-concrete levels,  Teaching computation skills,  Calculators,  Developing problem-solving skills and strategies,  Students with specific talents in mathematics,  Online resources  Print resources 

14: Teaching methods

Selecting Tier 1 teaching methods,  Teacher-led approaches,  Teaching approaches based on constructivist principles,  Computer-based instruction (CBI) and computer-aided learning (CAL)  E-learning  Online resources  Print resources 

15: Differentiating the curriculum and adapting instruction

Adaptations and differentiation,  Key principle: Keep it simple,  Starting points for differentiation,  Adapting curriculum content and learning activities,  Homework assignments,  Adapting instructional materials,  Differentiating products from lessons,  Adapting teaching strategies,  Adapting assessment,  Accommodations for students with disabilities,  Universal Design for Learning,  Online resources  Print resources 

References

Index

"Peter Westwood is highly respected world-wide for producing easy to read, common-sense methods which are practical to implement…he presents great advice that is easily applied to classroom practice"
- Dr Bruce Allen Knight, Professor of Education, Central Queensland University, Australia