You're Going to Love This Kid!: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom

by Paula Kluth

Thousands of educators have turned to "You're Going to Love This Kid!" for fresh ways to welcome and teach students with autism—and now the book teachers trust is fully revised and more practical than ever! Gathering feedback from teachers across the country during her popular workshops, autism expert Paula Kluth targeted this second edition to the specific needs of today's primary- and secondary-school educators. Still packed with the ready-to-use tips and strategies that teachers are looking for, the new edition gives readers:


dozens of NEW photocopiable forms, checklists, and planning tools that make it easy for teachers to implement the suggested strategies (see box)
photos of curricular adaptations, sensory supports, and classroom scenes
thoroughly revised and updated chapters on today's hottest topics: improving literacy, implementing positive behavior support, and collaborating effectively with families
larger 8.5 x 11 format, so the book is easier to read and photocopy
study guide with challenging discussion questions for each chapter-perfect for pre- and inservice professional development and book clubs
new ideas throughout the book based on the latest research on autism, inclusion, literacy, and behavior
Readers will also get updates on all of the other topics covered in the first edition, including fostering friendships, building communication skills, planning challenging and multidimensional lessons, and adapting the curriculum and the physical environment. And with the new first-person stories from people with autism and their teachers and parents, readers will have a better understanding of students on the spectrum and how to include them successfully.

A book teachers will keep forever for creative ideas and inspiration, this new edition of "You're Going to Love This Kid!" is the ultimate practical guide to including students with autism, teaching them effectively and sensitively, and appreciating the gifts they bring to the classroom.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Disability

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[g BRETT]

Incredible book. The first chapter alone, a description of autism unlike any you will find in most non-fiction books about autism and teaching autistic children, is worth the price of the book. (I'll be writing some more on that chapter on my blog in the days to come.) I'm not an educator myself, but found much that I could use as a parent to help my school system create a more inclusive program.

Although the book focuses on inclusion of autistic children in schools, the best thing about the book is that it serves as a way to include ALL students. A while back on my blog I asked the question, "Why doesn't every child have an IEP?" Some might say that is just not possible, or necessary. This book explains how to have a program in which every child can have an individual educational experience and, more importantly, why it should be this way.

The copy I read came from my local public library, but I'm placing an order on Amazon for it as soon as I finish here. I see this being a very handy reference for the future, and all the questions - and negativity - I get about autism and education in a mainstream environment.

[Kelly]

Informative and practical! Read this for a book study at work with gen ed and special ed staff. It inspired great conversations, brainstorming, and action.

[Ellen]

whee for grad classes

[Teresa Colella]

I think this is a great book to better understand autism and how to build that connection in your classroom with the student or even within peer to peer relationships. It covers social, classroom set up, verbal, behavior management and even academic supports you can provide. However, I feel it is almost outdated at this point. Classroom teachers are having students with more and more needs each year. The main point of the book being get to know your students individual needs. How can you balance having 2+ students with autism and their varying needs (maybe one likes loud and one likes quiet)? Add on students with ADHD, learning disabilities and kids just wanting to be kids with high academic demands? It can be so hard to balance when we have not just one but many students with individual needs. This is the norm for public school educators and I think some of this book should be adapted (as it is a great book) for a volume 2 on just the balance of our classroom needs.

[Chris]

Finally!! I’m so glad to have found somebody who “gets it.” Kluth was a speaker at a autism conference I attended, which happened to be at the same time this book was recommended to me with a diagnosis for my child. She understands the wonderful abilities of the autistic mind and that the onus is on the educator and society to be accepting and inclusive of those whose brains work a little differently but just as effectively. Strong recommendations for any educator, not just those in the special needs realm.

[Ellon]

*I didn't read this cover to cover but I read most of the chapters *

This was a decent teaching book. A lot of the information presented was kind of common knowledge but I did appreciate the excerpts from people who have ASD. It give a nice addition to the book. I also think that a lot of the strategies would be useful for all students, not just students with Autism.

As teaching books go, this one was pretty good.

[Nina Freeman]

So many great strategies and it was wonderful to hear perspectives of students with autism explaining their experiences!

[T]

Excited to read this book. Though written with a child on the autism spectrum, I've heard it applies to kids with various Dxes.

[K D]

Want to read

[Beth]

So many great ideas! Hooray for universal education!

[Jennifer]

I knew most of the strategies already and the strategies are useful for all students, not just students with autism. In all honesty, I didn't really learn that much from this textbook.

[Leoraorfanos]

Excellent read. Good examples and ideas given that can be used.

[Kristi]

I heart Paula Kluth. Every teacher on our road will have this book in their hands.