Teacher's Survival Guide: The Inclusion Classroom

by Cynthia G. Simpson, Vicky G. Spencer, Jeffrey P. Bakken

Written in a reader-friendly style with tons of examples and suggestions for teachers of inclusion classrooms, Teacher's Survival The Inclusion Classroom addresses the most important issues new teachers face when working with students with disabilities. The book includes reproducible pages, tip sheets, and checklists, along with a detailed resource list-all of which teachers can use immediately to transform the inclusion classroom into a successful learning environment.

Topics covered include professional expectations, collaborating with other teachers and therapists, establishing parent relationships that enhance communication, understanding legal issues affecting students with disabilities, creating an effective learning environment that meets all students' needs, managing the classroom, using technology wisely, assessing student progress, and planning successful academic instruction. Intended as a guide for new inclusion teachers or those who need a refresher course on working with mixed-ability learners, this book will be a resource teachers will rely on again and again.

Genres: Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2011

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Firstreads winner.

So far I've had a really tough time getting into the book. It's been striking me as quite wordy. They over-use the lingo of the field but otherwise the writing style seems almost "dumbed down" like they put a bit too much effort into making it "accessible". After I got through a page or two that could have been summed up in a sentence or two without loss of substance(and the substance that there was could have been derived from common sense) I put it down and I haven't been able to make myself pick it up again.

It's probably a good enough book if you had to read it for a class, and perhaps I would be more motivated if I had to teach a class with special needs students this fall for the first time, but for now my plan is to pick it up later and perhaps discuss it with a friend who's student teaching soon.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this on Thursday, after having won it on Monday. This speaks well for the publisher!

A quick glance through the book shows that this would be a pretty good purchase for a first-year teacher, who finds himself with special needs students in his class. They interviewed "veteran" teachers, who do provide some good ideas, but I wouldn't call someone who's only taught two years a truly veteran teacher. I'd like to find the advice of someone who's been teaching for 30 years in the book, too.

I've seen some good ideas, so far, and I'll definitely pass the book around teachers at school and get their opinions.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through the First-Reads giveaway. This book will be a very helpful resource for teachers who are entering their first year in the classroom. It combines a lot of the things that were covered in my education classes as well as some useful tips from current teachers. I always found it helpful to get advice from people who have been there.

Will have to recommend this book to some friends who are also teaching.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through the First-Reads giveaway. It seems like a pretty good information source for beginner teachers, or people considering teaching.