This is a book that 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." Education Review
This fully revised and updated seventh edition of Commonsense Methods for Children with Special Educational Needs continues to offer practical advice on evidence-based teaching methods and intervention strategies for helping children with a wide range of disabilities or difficulties. The advice the author provides is embedded within a clear theoretical context and draws on the latest international research and literature from the field. Coverage includes: learning difficulties and disabilities students with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, physical or health issues, and sensory impairments gifted and talented students developing social skills and self-management behaviour management teaching methods literacy and numeracy curriculum differentiation and adaptive teaching computer-based instruction and e-learning. Peter Westwood also provides additional information and advice on transition from school to employment for students with disabilities, lesson study, e-learning, and computer-aided instruction, and reflects on the important changes made within the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
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.
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.
In this user-friendly book, parents learn revolutionary common sense techniques for raising successful children with disabilities. When we recognize that disability is a natural part of the human experience, new attitudes lead to new actions for successful lives at home, in school and in communities. When parents replace today's conventional wisdom with the common sense values and creative thinking detailed in this book, all children with disabilities (regardless of age or type of disability) can live the life of their dreams. Readers will learn how to define a child by his or her assets - instead of a disability-related "problem," and how to create new and improved partnerships with educators, health care professionals, family and friends
What does it actually mean to teach an inclusive mixed-ability class? From the author of the classic teacher text Commonsense Methods for Children with Special Needs this new book from Peter Westwood fully acknowledges what is feasible and useful to teachers in today’s inclusive classroom. This insightful teaching resource promotes a fully inclusive approach to teaching the common curriculum to all, while acknowledging differences among learners in relation to intelligence, gender, socioeconomic background, cultural background, language skills and disabilities. Drawing on the underlying principles of inclusive education, and on curriculum and learning theories, Westwood discusses in detail the challenge of diversity in the classroom. The author presents in practical terms an adaptive approach to teaching that can respond, when necessary, to differences among students. Accessible chapters in this book present: sound pedagogical practice linked with adapting curriculum content; helpful teaching methods; a range of resource materials; useful assessment procedures; support for learning. The writer draws appropriately on international research and current learning theories to support this approach, whilst each chapter contains an up-to-date list of online and print resources easily available to teachers who wish to pursue topics in greater depth. This book will be of interest to both practising and trainee teachers and teaching assistants, as well as school principals, school counsellors and educational psychologists.