Special Needs, Different Abilities describes the Interactive Method (IM) for teaching different abilities, special needs, and all learners. It involves hand’s-on techniques for retention of curriculum and the teaching of thinking; from the elementary through college years. Types of comprehension are defined along with how memory works.
Chapters address types of special needs and defines the term and different abilities, in conjunction with creating lessons that result in memory acquisition and transference to personal success on tests or exams, as well as daily situations regarding experiential learning.
Also offered are entry level means of instruction for developing a sense of self-confidence, efficacy, reliance and skills necessary for future learning challenges. In conjunction with this is the Reciprocal Thinking Skills Cognition to Metacognition Chart for identification and application of what one is thinking when engaged in the aforementioned IM. A few examples of this are provided through a listing and explanation of the values of this method, lesson objectives and application of these.
Personal narratives are provided by teachers and/or parents of children with different abilities before the author’s closing comments respective of one’s being enough and practice of providing lift-up statements to encourage student learners in the academic and social cognition environments.
Prelude
Foreword: Patricia Eckardt and Madeline Craig
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Reaching/Teaching Varied Learners
Chapter 2: Response to Intervention, Individual Education Plan and Classroom Organization
Chapter 3: Individual Processing Style and Social Cognition
Chapter 4: The Interactive Method, Student Engagement and Self-Efficacy
Chapter 5: Memories and Interactive Learning Techniques
Chapter 6: Interactive Learning Technique Pluses, Leadership Building, and Alternative Means of Assessment
Chapter 7: The Reciprocity of Thinking
Chapter 8: The Cognitive Collective: Thinking and Feeling
Chapter 9: Definition and Examples of Reciprocal Thinking Phases' Skills
Chapter 10: The IM's Self-Reliance and the “How To" of Teaching Thinking
Chapter 11: Objectives of the Interactive Method and its Components
Chapter 12: Two Personal Perspectives Addressing Special Education
Disabilities, Differences and Diversity: Maggie Blair
Autism Awareness: Author Interview of a Different Abilities Child's Parent: Kevin Cooney
Chapter 13: Commentary and Personal Experience: Teaching and Being Special Needs
Commentaries and Personal Experiences: Special Needs and Different Abilities
Commentary: Engaging Students with Exceptionalities: Patricia Mason
A Teacher with Epilepsy: From Childhood through Retirement: Marc Hoberman
Chapter 14: Author's Summative Sharing: Classroom Comfort Zone
References
About the Author