An Introduction To Special Education

Intended as a text for undergraduate and postgraduate courses (B.Ed./M.Ed.; B.A./M.A. Education) and diploma level courses in Education as well as for courses in Special Education, this compre-hensive and accessible book provides a sound base for understanding Special Children through an insightful and incisive discussion on Special Education. The text dwells on exceptional children, or children with special needs, who either suffer from various deficits or disabilities, or are gifted. Such children include the mentally retarded, the visually and hearing impaired, the emotionally disturbed, those with autism, cerebral palsy, and the deprived, as well as the gifted and the creative. This well-organized and pedagogically rich text should be extremely useful to students as well as professionals—special education teachers, those engaged in guidance and counselling, educational policy makers, and field workers, who have an abiding interest in the education of exceptional children and in special education. KEY FEATURES  Includes student-friendly features like illustrations, examples, tables, and research-based experimental findings.  Provides a complete picture of exceptionality, from the early years of human history to the present day.  Gives case histories to practically illustrate the subject.

There are good reasons why Exceptional Learners has been the introductory text trusted to prepare hundreds of thousands of special education and general education teachers. Its depth, lucidity, clarity, and coherence combine to make a text appropriate for students at all levels: graduate and undergraduate, from introductory to advanced. Continuing its reputation as the standard bearer in the field for accuracy, currency, and reliability, the tenth edition increases its coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders, collaboration and co-teaching, research-proven classroom applications, and references to professional standards (CEC and INTASC), and includes information on the 2004 IDEA reauthorization and its implications.

This text promotes an understanding of the developmental and learning characteristics of exceptional persons, while presenting practical techniques for helping students with special needs adapt to their environment and lead independent lives.

Long recognized as the market leader for its innovation, strong research base, and accessibility, William L. Heward's Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education, Eighth Edition, continues this tradition of excellence. The research-based practices and standards-based applications presented in this edition give readers the knowledge, insight, and tools to help them become exceptional teachers in a variety of settings. These practices and applications are presented through the following themes: Exceptional Teachers Engage Students in Classroom Instruction: Exceptional Teachers Multimedia CD-ROM: This interactive CD-ROM, specifically created by the author for this text, includes 54 video clips with supporting commentary, artifacts, and discussion questions created in collaboration with dozens of general education and special education teachers-and their students-at six schools. The content of the CD-ROM is integrated throughout the text. Featured Teacher essays: Each chapter begins with an essay written by a master teacher featured for his or her work in special education. Drawn from urban, suburban, and rural schools, these stories reflect the joys, challenges, and realities of teaching exceptional children and allow readers to observe master teachers at work. Exceptional Teachers Use Effective, Research-Based Strategies: Research-based "Teaching & Learning" features: These essays describe teaching strategies validated by research as required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and IDEA. Each feature includes step-by-step tips on how to begin using the strategy in the classroom. Related resources and questions for reflection are provided on the Companion Website at www.prenhall.com/heward, "Tips for Beginning Teachers" features: Each chapter culminates with practical, quick tips for beginning teachers, offered by the master teacher featured in the chapter, on how to avoid common pitfalls in the classroom. Exceptional Teachers Are Culturally Responsive: Diversity & Exceptionality features: These essays, appearing throughout the book, describe strategies for working with students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Chapter 3: Working with Parents and Families in a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Society.

What is an IDEA 2004 Update Edition? Special Education has been updated to reflect this long-anticipated legislation in two ways: Relevant discussion throughout the book has been revised to reflect IDEA '04. These revisions have been made while still preserving the original pagination of the text, so no changes to lecture notes or reading assignments are necessary, and all supplementary materials (and page references therein) remain accurate. An "IDEA 2004" icon appears in the margins adjacent to the updates. A Guide to IDEA 2004 has been included as an appendix in the Update Edition. This clear, comprehensive, jargon-free appendix gives a brief side-by-side comparison of IDEA '04 versus the previous '97 legislation for each of the statutes, and, when a little friendly "background" would help the reader better understand the practical implications of the law, an additional note is provided. The Fifth Edition returns to its roots with a strong orientation toward practical classroom material, methods, and topics, continuing its commitment to presenting the voices of people with disabilities and their perspectives throughout the book, and providing clear and concise discussion of the nature and characteristics of exceptional students. It provides a problem-solving approach by presenting current special education dilemmas and challenging students to think about their solutions. The new edition retains its consistent outline in the categorical chapters and improves upon it with the addition of new recurring headings, creating a powerful learning tool for students. No book delivers the nuts and bolts of inclusive practice better, with practical interventions in every chapter.