CHILDREN AT RISK: A Handbook of the Signs and Symptoms of Early Childhood Difficulties

Third grader Susie often confuses alphabet letters, George is easily distracted, Kimberly has a rash on her face, and Manuel can't see the blackboard from the back of the room. The significance of these and other common classroom problems is surveyed in this informed catalogue for elementary school teachers. Although relatively few children have severe neurological or emotional problems, those that do respond best to early intervention. Guidance clinic director Crow distinguishes kinds of problems--academic, physical, emotional--but does not ignore constellations of symptoms or fail to reckon with age and other factors: letter reversals in kindergarten are common, in third grade problematic; top students can have a bad day, three bad weeks are more serious indicators; children regularly appearing with bad bruises require some attention. Although teachers in schools with few services may shrug at the frequent suggestion of psychologist or physician referrals, the number is not excessive nor the contexts inappropriate. Also mentioned: the ways in which parents may thwart, or feel threatened by, a teacher's best intentions. Selective and well organized.