Introduction to Contemporary Special Education: New Horizons

by Deborah Deutsch Smith, Naomi Chowdhuri Tyler, Kimberly Skow

Introduction to Contemporary Special Education presents the evidence-based practices, data and research that define the field, balanced with real stories of real people. Written to prepare educators to work with students with various exceptionalities and their families in today’s complicated school settings, this unique text sets you on the best path forward to become an effective and skilled educator who uses validated practices, is engaged and passionate about your work, and values each student.

The 3rd Edition puts the spotlight on role models, diversity and equity while incorporating the latest information about research-based teaching, inclusive settings and exceptionalities. In addition to updated data about disability prevalence, student demographics, and educational placement, the text is supported by almost 700 new references. Key information is presented using easy-to-read tables, timelines, film and media features, and first-person stories to provide a compelling overview of the past, present and future of special education.

584 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2013

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, dear LORD! WHY is a college text book written on a middle school level? This book is so intentionally simplistic that the editorial team had to use pictures with no context to the content to fill in space to keep their plan of "two pages per 'theme' (or topic) within a chapter" intact. In one case, a random 'class picture' of about a dozen students took up one third of the page.

The book is not bound, but is intended to be in a binder; the pages are so thin that by the end of the semester, despite my usual careful handling of it, I had to buy reinforcers for the punched-holes.

Some of my fellow students had the e-edition, which had many colourful charts and graphs (each chapter had a circlular graph to highlight specifics need sof students with that exceptionality). The printed version was in grayscale making them very hard to read... imagine a graph with six or seven lines or wedges that are that many shades of gray.

To be honest, this is no more than I expect of Pearson which exists not to aid in the education of American children as they would like others to believe, considering their heavy lobbying for the Common Core simply as an excuse to sell their PARCC exam... but to make money in as slipshod a way as possible. I truly hope that none of my other college courses require Pearson texts. I hold two Associates degrees, a Bachelors and two Masters, and this is truly the worst excuse for a text I have ever seen.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very standard textbook. Not particularly engaging or thought-provoking but presents a lot of important content in a way that is possible (though not inviting or easy) to follow. (I read this for class, obviously).