Title: Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom
Author: Beth Aune, OTR/L, Beth Burt & Peter Gennaro
Length: 151 pages
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher/Date: Future Horizons, 2010
Source: Review copy
See A Behavior, Look It Up
Behavior Solutions for the Inclusive Classroom is a great new resource for teachers who are attempting to provide a positive learning environment for ALL students, including those with challenging behaviors. The team of authors behind this book includes an Occupational Therapist, a Director of Special Education, and a Parent/Advocate, thus providing a well-rounded look at the issues and the solutions that can arise in a general education setting.
The premise of Behavior Solutions is that teachers need a convenient resource so that when they see a behavior occurring in their classroom, they can look it up and quickly find several possible solutions that may help them get through a particular situation and continue on with the regular agenda of the day.
Forty of the most commonly observed behaviors are listed, organized into four main sections:
- Movement Issues
- Avoidance and Retreat Behaviors
- Difficulty with Routine and Academics
- Social-Emotional Issues
The book includes a detailed table of contents and comprehensive index for ease in locating specific behaviors easily, and there are also appendices with more information on movement breaks/goal-directed tasks, sensory input devices, and calming techniques. An additional resources list provides direction to those who wish to learn more about responding to the needs of students with a variety of educational challenges.
One very nice feature of this book is that the authors work to educate the readers (who presumably have not had a lot of background in special education) about the rationale for the suggested solutions without overwhelming them with too much information.
For example, under the behavior of “Chewing on Shirt or Other Inappropriate Items,” which is in the Movement Issues section, they offer solutions such as providing certain types of food to eat instead, allowing the student to drink from a water bottle with a large plastic straw, or giving a younger child something like a Chewy Tube. Then they go on to explain:
The key here is to replace the socially unacceptable behavior of chewing on shirts (or pencils) with chewing on objects that are less likely to stigmatize the student. As educators, we must not let established policy be a substitute for wise and successful decision-making. . . . Remember, educators have greater decision-making control than the students whose disability causes inappropriate behaviors.
I think this would be the perfect book to give your child’s regular classroom teacher or aide. It is a great size and extremely easy to navigate through on the fly. There are also a lot of helpful ideas that parents could implement when overseeing homework or involving the child in other structured activities within the community.
For more information or to order a copy for yourself, visit Future Horizons online store.
I'm a mom with Asperger's raising an amazing son with autism, which means I'm basically the case manager/advocate/cheerleader/chauffeur. The rest of the time, you can usually find me with my nose in a book!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Trish, I’m with you–I loved this book. It’s easy to navigate and has a lot of very useful and concrete info. Thanks for the review!
Trish, I also had the pleasure of reviewing this niffty book of solutions for teachers, homeschoolers and parents who are trying to make the life of special needs children easier by helping them cope with their daily challenges. Great review, Trish , but isn’t it easy when you have a great book! Lorna’s special needs blog : http://kidcompanions.blogspot.com/