The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education

by Eileen K. Allen, Ilene S. Schwartz

Presenting a high-quality educational program for young children with developmental disabilities, "The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education, 4E" combines the research, experience and talent of the experts, with real-life perspectives written by parents of children with disabilities and of those typically developing children. Focusing on the inclusion approach in working with children and families, the text offers proven recommendations for practical application as well as a problem-solving framework for dealing with challenging behavior. Students in field of special education are given guidelines, instructional strategies, and ascertain how to design learning environments to benefit children with developmental disabilities. This third edition offers increased discussions of cultural, racial, and linguistic diversity, updates on the most recent laws to help students meet certification requirements, and new findings in neuroscience relevant to very young children. The color insert describing the varying developmental domains provides a quick, yet thorough summary. The appendices include select lists of screening tools and assessment instruments, sources of information, support and training material for teachers and parents of children with developmental disabilities, and internet resources for helpful reference.

Genres: School, Education, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2000

Reviews

[Cindy Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read the 9th edition of this text for an upcoming college course I am teaching this semester on inclusion in ECE classrooms.

The text does a great job at presenting inclusion and federal regulations surrounding children with special needs.

The appendix provides sample IEP and IFSP forms and several points of discussion and activities related to the chapter reading.

The text is easy to read and provides key terms before each chapter.

I do wish the text provided more examples of modifications and accommodations general ed teachers use in inclusive settings.

I also wished the text provided a sample, completed IEP.

Overall, the text provides great info in an easy-to-read manner with application questions related to the chapters. I plan to use the text and supplement with additional readings.

[arjuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plain-English guide to the principles of inclusive practice; like most US-centric EC texts it tends to assume the reader is ignorant of the rationale for some fairly basic aspects of care (standards and practices that centres in other countries may take pretty much for granted), but on the whole a useful introductory text - sometimes that spelling-out works in students' favour. It's always interesting to see how the rather peculiar legislative and statutory environment over there affects the way things are done (e.g. situations where funding/support etc is contingent upon child age rather than developmentally appropriate educational placement, or a specific diagnosis rather than the simple case of need, etc). Very different mindset, but as I say, useful to know about esp. because it highlights the reasons for doing things differently. A good solid grounding in the basic issues and practices of inclusion.

[Jay Gabler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text for a class I'm teaching at Rasmussen.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've had to read for school yet. I'm keeping this one on my shelf for ideas and future reference.

[Judy Rohlfing]

Using this as a text in my Ivy Tech class this semester.