Building on the Strengths of Students with Special Needs: How to Move Beyond Disability Labels in the Classroom

by Toby J Karten

As a must-have reference for busy teachers with little special education training, this book supplies classroom-tested instructional strategies that address the characteristics of and challenges faced by students with special needs. Dozens of differentiated strategies target teachers’ anxieties and provide responsive interventions that can be used to address specifics of IEPs and learning plans. With Building on the Strengths of Students with Special Needs ,special education expert Toby Karten focuses on specific disabilities and inclusive curriculum scenarios for learners in K–12 environments. She offers valuable advice on how to prevent labels from capping student potential and encouragement to help teachers continually improve learner outcomes. By highlighting more than a dozen disability labels, this resource walks teachers through the process of reinforcing, motivating, scaffolding, and planning for instruction that targets learners of all ability levels. Included are details relevant to each Typical instruction needs to match the diversity of atypical learners without viewing any disability as a barrier that impedes student achievement. Teachers must not only learn how to differentiate their approach and target specific student strengths but also maintain a positive attitude and belief that all students are capable of achieving self-efficacy.

Genres: Professional Development, Nonfiction

146 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2017

Reviews

[Patty Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a Special Ed 101 if you are not familiar with the different areas of identification. Read as a book study for work, but would be good for a general ed teacher or para book study.

[Доберман Сатэ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt it very repetitive and not very informative.

[Beth Swahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way to think about children who have differences!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great professional book in relation to teaching. I look forward to utilizing these strategies within my teaching moving forward.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great outline reference book for how to teach better for student with disabilities. Wish I read this is KSP in college rather than 10 years into teaching.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended to all teachers! A concise, accurate, positive and extremely useful overview of inclusive practices in schools. Against a backdrop of working on individuals' strengths, Karten provides an overview of each major disability 'type' and some common areas of effects on learning. Given that we all understand that each person is unique and that no disability has the same impact on learning for two people, Karten moves to working with students' interests and strengths. He hits the nail on the head with this book as its size and language make it accessible and enjoyable. His comments are too-the-point and his advice gets straight to the core of the question teachers always ask: but what do I do in the classroom? An excellent reference.