An activity-packed primer backed by the power and authority of a passionate parent.
A mother shares her insights and at-home exercises tailored for early autistic learners in this how-to parenting/education guide.
For Adams (The Needs of Billy and Other Autistic Children, 2014), it was soon apparent, watching the struggles her autistic son, Billy, faced in school, that she’d have to provide additional assistance at home. In her new workbook (her first was focused on special needs kindergartners), Adams first offers commentary on what she found to be particularly helpful to address the early learning needs of her own son, which she believes will be applicable to other autistic and special needs children. Her insights include that parents must be aware of and address attention-span limits and also use “the obsession,” such as taking advantage of a particular child’s ability to focus better when there is a consistent underlying noise. The bulk of her book consists of simple and generally one-page exercises that families can use with their children, “so parents can get all the information in one book instead of having to shop at different places for different materials.” These exercises include many focused on visual identification: of animals, parts of the human body, differences within a group, and more. Math and science topics are naturally part of these lesson kits, including fill-in-the-blank sentences to guide the child to find out and record body measurements. The workbook wraps up with two short stories to prompt conversation and reading comprehension. Adams has done a commendable job in collecting an array of exercises that will save parents time and money trying to find sources elsewhere, providing many avenues for discussion and reinforcement of math, spelling, and other key fundamentals of early learning. Adams’ inclusion of a sign-language lesson could have used more explanation (such as how and when to use such a language aid), and this book’s black-and-white illustrations are rather crudely drawn, which may lessen its appeal to some. Still, most parents should appreciate this clear and simple workbook, particularly since it was created and road-tested by a concerned mother.
An activity-packed primer backed by the power and authority of a passionate parent.Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4917-7091-7
Page Count: 178
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A straightforward tale of kindness and paying it forward in 1980s New York.
When advertising executive Schroff answered a child’s request for spare change by inviting him for lunch, she did not expect the encounter to grow into a friendship that would endure into his adulthood. The author recounts how she and Maurice, a promising boy from a drug-addicted family, learned to trust each other. Schroff acknowledges risks—including the possibility of her actions being misconstrued and the tension of crossing socio-economic divides—but does not dwell on the complexities of homelessness or the philosophical problems of altruism. She does not question whether public recognition is beneficial, or whether it is sufficient for the recipient to realize the extent of what has been done. With the assistance of People human-interest writer Tresniowski (Tiger Virtues, 2005, etc.), Schroff adheres to a personal narrative that traces her troubled relationship with her father, her meetings with Maurice and his background, all while avoiding direct parallels, noting that their childhoods differed in severity even if they shared similar emotional voids. With feel-good dramatizations, the story seldom transcends the message that reaching out makes a difference. It is framed in simple terms, from attributing the first meeting to “two people with complicated pasts and fragile dreams” that were “somehow meant to be friends” to the conclusion that love is a driving force. Admirably, Schroff notes that she did not seek a role as a “substitute parent,” and she does not judge Maurice’s mother for her lifestyle. That both main figures experience a few setbacks yet eventually survive is never in question; the story fittingly concludes with an epilogue by Maurice. For readers seeking an uplifting reminder that small gestures matter.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4516-4251-3
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Howard Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
The sub-title of this book is "Reflections on Education with Special Reference to the Teaching of English in the Upper Forms of Schools." But one finds in it little about education, and less about the teaching of English. Nor is this volume a defense of the Christian faith similar to other books from the pen of C. S. Lewis. The three lectures comprising the book are rather rambling talks about life and literature and philosophy. Those who have come to expect from Lewis penetrating satire and a subtle sense of humor, used to buttress a real Christian faith, will be disappointed.
Pub Date: April 8, 1947
ISBN: 1609421477
Page Count: -
Publisher: Macmillan
Review Posted Online: Oct. 17, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1947
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
bookshelf
