Book Description
A new Audiobook edition of Susan Wise Bauer'ss acclaimed children'ss narrative history, read by stage and voice actress and veteran homeschool mother Barbara Alan Johnson. This spirited reading of the first in Susan Wise Bauer'ss four-volume series brings to life the stories and records of the peoples of ancient times.
Customer Reviews:
Very convenient "teaching" tool.......2005-09-06
My 12 year old son loves listening to the CD. He doesn't even consider it school work and I would guess that he is learning a whole lot more than he would from a text book. It is a wonderful overview of history.
My eight year old really enjoyed this.......2005-08-31
and details about the medaeval world have filtered through his conversation ever since he listened to it. He also begged me to buy the next series.
Book Description
"This is a wise and compassionate book, informed by academic rigor, deep personal feeling, and a sensitivity not only to the difference that is autism but also to the variety of human experience across cultures and classes. Grinker's research is as wide-ranging as it is open-minded, bringing together the precision of social science and the artistry of memoir, balancing the academic and the anecdotal to build polemical arguments about the nature and prevalence of autism. He speaks of how people have responded to the illness, and of how else we might respond, and in doing so challenges us to make a better world." —Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon, winner of the National Book Award.
This global exploration of autism by an anthropologist -- and father of a child with autism -- is the first book to show that the autism "epidemic" holds surprising new promise for better diagnosis and treatment. Unstrange Minds documents Grinker's quest to find out why autism is so much more common today, and to uncover the implications of the increase. His search took him to Africa, India, and East Asia, to the National Institutes of Mental Health, and to the mountains of Appalachia . What he discovered is both surprising and controversial: the high rates of autism may not be proof of an epidemic.
Grinker shows that the identification and treatment of autism everywhere depends on culture just as much as on science. With the rise of parent advocacy, mainstreaming in education, public awareness, and the decline of the stigma of brain-based disorders, there are more people in the world today with a diagnosis of autism today than at any time in history. Doctors are describing and treating the disorder better, epidemiologists are counting it better, school systems are coding it better -- and children are benefiting. There is more research, more special education, more philanthropy, more understanding of how families struggle to cope. Finally, after all these years, we've realized that autism is a major public health concern.
Filled with moving stories from throughout the world, and informed by the latest science and Grinker's own experience raising a daughter with autism, Unstrange Minds is unlike any other book on autism. It is a powerful testament to a father's quest for the truth, and is urgently relevant to anyone whose life is touched by one of history's most puzzling disorders.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating and captivating!.......2007-07-24
I would like to start by saying I don't know a lot about autism, I don't have autism, and to the best of my knowledge, don't know anyone with autism. I got interested when I read the book "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" which was amazingly written and extremely interesting to me. I was listening to NPR one night when Grinker came on doing a book reading/Q&A about his new book "Unstrange Minds." I immediately picked up his book and haven't put it down. I'm not a huge fan of nonfiction, but this book really kept my attention. The writing is superb, the stories are heartwarming, and the anthropology is fascinating. The first part of the book includes his anthropology background and discussions of how different cultures and peoples define, diagnose, and treat different illnesses. The second half is an endearing story of how him and his wife (and their younger daughter) have lived and grown with their autisic daughter. It's beautifully written and gives hope for the future of autism diagnosis, awareness, and treatment.
Fascinating to see how other cultures view autism.......2007-06-24
This book had three main topics. One is the author's own daughter, Isabel, who is autistic. The second is addressing what many see to be an epidemic of autism, and deciding if that really is the case. The third is taking a look at how other cultures treat those with autism. All three topics were covered well, and were very interesting to read about.
I especially enjoyed hearing about Isabel's fascination with the book Linnea in Monet's Garden, and how the family used that interest to expand her horizons, rather than discouraging it. It reminded me of a time when my son was extremely taken with a certain episode of Mister Rogers, where Mister Rogers visits a trolley museum. We took a trip to the same trolley museum, and my son was just stunned and thrilled to be able to see and do the same things he saw in the episode. I think it's important to USE special interests to engage kids, rather than discourage them as often we are told to do.
I had often wondered if the uptick in autism diagnoses could be simply that it's more accepted as a diagnosis now. I am now convinced that is the case. In many cases, according to this book, it wasn't even AVAILABLE to use as a diagnosis until recently, so OF COURSE it's diagnosed more now!
I think my favorite part of the book was the chance to see how other cultures deal with autism today. It mostly makes me happy I live here and not in India or South Korea, although everyplace seems to be improving in the attitudes and care. I would love to hear about more countries and autism---what about China?
I want to thank the author for this thoughtful, well researched and very interesting book.
Enlightening Book About Autism Around the World.......2007-03-08
Unstrange Minds investigates how autism has become a widely diagnosed and prevalent disorder in the United States during the last 15 years. Dr. Grinker persuasively argues that with broad criteria now used to make diagnoses, more children are being counted as autistic even though they present with milder cases such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Asberger's Syndrome, leading to what seems like an "epidemic." Dr. Grinker traveled throughout Africa, South Korea and India to examine how other societies integrate autism into their cultural frameworks. It is fascinating to read how each culture treats autism differently, from the Navajo who embrace their children as blessed to the South Koreans who hide their autistic children to protect siblings from being considered tainted and unmarriageable. It is books like Dr. Grinker's, which courageously explore autism and fearlessly take a position, that are helping to make readers of this disorder aware and better informed.
Public libraries as well as health collections will find UNSTRANGE MINDS compelling and revealing........2007-03-06
UNSTRANGE MINDS: REMAPPING THE WORLD OF AUTISM is a powerful survey of the parents of autistic children in South Africa, South Korea and India and how their societies view the disorder - and is written by an anthropologist and father of a daughter with autism. Contrary to popular belief there is no evidence for an 'autism epidemic' - just better diagnosis of the condition - and Grinker's focus on diagnosis processes, public awareness, social programs, and his own personal story blends into an unusual anthropological investigation hard to put down. Public libraries as well as health collections will find UNSTRANGE MINDS compelling and revealing.
a great book!.......2007-02-23
This is an extraodinarily good book that works on many levels. It's a history of psychiatry's attempts to understand autism, a hard look at the idea that there is an autism "epidemic", and a genuinely compelling story of one man's journey to understand and deal with his autistic daughter. It is extremely well written, honest when honesty is called for and passionate and eloquent when simple honesty isn't enough. Grinker manages to treat autistic people with respect without romanticizing them or the struggles of autistic people and their caregivers to "fit in" to a social world that simply isn't put together the way they'd like it to be. If you are only going to read one book about autism, I strongly recommend this one.
Amazon.com
Lucy Jo Palladino defines the Edison Trait (named after Thomas Edison) as divergent vs. convergent thinking. Edison Trait kids--one in five children--have the qualities that make innovative leaders, inventors, explorers, yet they often have a hard time in school where their personality traits may be seen as weak or negative. Palladino recasts these children in a positive light and gives specifics on understanding and becoming an ally for your Edison Trait child. The book is convincing, reassuring, and accessible. Perhaps it will help parents of nonconforming kids resist the pressure to make their kids "just fit in."
Book Description
"My daughter lives in her own world, sitting in the back of the classroom, doodling unicorns. She's a bright kid who's getting lost. How do we reach her?"
"My son can program my laptop, but I have to hound him constantly to do the simplest things. How can I motivate him?"
"My kid has to get his own way. And he's always racing around, always on the go. How can such a smart kid be so hard to live with?"
Millions of children--one in five--have what psychologist Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D., calls the Edison trait: dazzling intelligence, an active imagination, a free-spirited approach to life, and the ability to drive everyone around them crazy. They have the raw talent to succeed in our fast-paced, information-rich, techno-magic world. But, unbridled, their talent also brings conflict into their lives. Edison-trait kids excel at thinking
divergently, brimming over with one idea after the other. However, schools, organized activities, and routines of daily living reward
convergent thinking, which seeks to focus on one idea at a time. Parents and teachers get frustrated by the Edison-trait child's apparent intractability and lack of focus. A mismatch between school and child can mask the child's considerable gifts for creativity and independent thinking.
Drawing on examples from over two decades of private practice, Dr. Palladino helps parents, teachers and others appreciate this challenging aspect of their child's intellect and personality. She distinguishes and describes the three main styles of the Edison trait.
Dreamers live in their own world, following no one's schedule but their own.
Discoverers insist on learning about and experiencing the world firsthand.
Dynamos are full of energy, with a flair for surprises, power, and speed.
A small percentage of Edison-trait kids also have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which puts them at even greater risk for problems in school. To address parents' concerns,
The Edison Trait includes chapters on defining, diagnosing, and treating ADD.
Thomas Edison, who flunked out of school was able to harness his talents to give the world some of its finest inventions. Today this same ability to brainstorm thrives in creative geniuses such as Maya Angelou, Bill Gates, and Ted Turner.
Dr. Palladino offers eight guidelines for parents to understand and help Edison-trait kids:
1 Believe in your child.
2 Watch what you say.
3 Build a parent-and-child team.
4 Encourage your child's interests.
5 Teach your child self-control.
6 Coach your child to learn how to achieve.
7 Take care of yourself.
8 Take care of your family.
The Edison trait is on the rise in our younger generation, who are growing up in a world of accelerated change. Dr. Palladino reveals the link between Edisonian thinking and Information Age success. She explains how Edison-trait children are born leaders of the twenty-first century. Her inspiring and reassuring book will light the way.
Customer Reviews:
Love rewires the brain.......2006-04-18
Pharmaceutical drugs are only one line of defense in treating ADD. Drugs can alter brain chemistry but the patient is fundamentally the same personality. Medication alone will only go so far. A combination of prescriptions and psychotherapy yield better long-term results. Thomas Edison owed his life to his mother who believed in him when the schools kicked him out at 6. There is something to be said about love ... love itself can rewire the brain of a "problem" child.
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DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE EDISON TRAIT? by Lucy Jo Palladino
He was a boy who learned only by doing. At age six, he had to see how fire worked and accidentally burned his father's barn to the ground. The next fall he began school, where he alternated between letting his mind travel to distant places and keeping his body in perpetual motion in his seat. Because he was distractible and restless, he did not last long in a formal classroom. His teacher called him "addled." Eventually, his mother had to home-school him. As an adult he would recall: "My father thought I was stupid and I almost decided I must be a dunce."
The core of his learning was his passion for experiments. As his new teacher, his mother gave his talent free rein. At the same time she infused him with the disciplines of study. With time and determination, he mastered his runaway mind. He grew up to become a prolific inventor, bringing the magic of electricity and sound recording into the world. He either invented or improved hundreds of practical conveniences. It is said that Thomas Alva Edison succeeded where others failed or never tried, because it was his nature to dare.
Today, a growing number of children have that nature to dare. Like young Edison, they are easily distracted and disorganized, but also wildly imaginative and inventive.
They have minds that are at home with meanderings and leaps of vast proportions. They make unexpected, sometimes startling, connections.
QUALITIES OF A CREATIVE MIND
There was once a man who drove a truck on a road through a town and got stuck under a bridge that had a low clearance. The men of the town gathered around the wedged truck to think of ways to dismantle the truck or the bridge. Finally, a young boy came up and asked, "Why don't you let some air out of the tires?" That is what they did, and the truck went on its way.
This was a child who had the Edison trait. He saw an element of the scene that no one else saw, because they were busily and systematically focused on what to them was relevant to the solution.
An Edison-trait child:
Expects the Unexpected
A child with the Edison trait makes sudden, astonishing connections. Because his inner critic disallows neither the ridiculous nor the sublime, he can be innovative, ingenious, and fascinating. He can see ordinary things in extraordinary ways, which is the very essence of creativity.
His sense of humor is disarming. It stems from keen perception and the ability to see things from a different perspective. Sometimes he exhibits the kind of straight-from-the-subconscious humor that makes successful stand-up comics so funny. He blurts out ideas that are just under the surface, things that most others would have automatically censored.
Thinks Autonomously
This is a child who stands up for his own ideas, especially when they are uncommon or nonconformist. He is an independent thinker and does not rely on the opinions of others to form his own judgments. In a matter of personal interest to him, he stands firm with conviction, even in the face of strong opposition.
Hyperfocuses and Persists
When the Edison-trait child is intrinsically motivated, he has formidable mental power. If he is working on a project that is his own brainstorm, he is determined, tenacious, and persevering. As if by magic, he can work for hours involved in what he is doing. He finds ways to overcome barriers; his passion sees him through. In matters of his own choosing, he has inner direction and resolve.
Is Diverse and Intense
Edison-trait children are pluralistic, nonconforming, and multifarious. Once they begin to speak on a topic of their choosing, clear your calendar ... you'll be here for a while. Flights of fancy are common. One thing leads to another, though sometimes the connections are not apparent to the rest of us.
Has a Mind That Is Holistic
The Edison-trait child notices and reacts to things from any and all directions, so he is likely to have a global sense of places he has been. Take this child to the shopping mall and he'll probably be able to lead you back to your parked car.
Lives on His Own Schedule
Time passes slowly for this child when he is not engaged in an activity of interest. Otherwise, watch out! When an Edison-trait child works on a project of his choosing, he is dedicated and determined.
Loves to Come Up with Ideas
Some do this slowly and dreamily. Others are like kernels of popcorn popping. Many do both. They have qualities of being both a whimsical Dreamer and a high-charged Discoverer or turbulent Dynamo.
DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE EDISON TRAIT?
All children are imaginative and enjoy make-believe, but children who have the Edison trait live even closer to their imaginations. It is their lifeblood.
Children manifest the Edison trait in various ways. Some are quiet and reserved and live in their own worlds. Others are loud, interruptive, and bold.
Your child may be a Dreamer, a Discoverer, or a Dynamo. Or he may combine features of any or all of these patterns.
Dreamers drift from place to place, on a schedule of eternal time.
Discoverers have to find things out for themselves and do things their own way.
Dynamos are always in motion, with a flair forsurprises, power, and speed.
To see how closely your child's patterns match the profile of children with this trait, take a moment and think about him since his earliest days. Then ask yourself these questions:
If your child is a Dreamer
1. Does he get absorbed or intensely involved in his own ideas much of the time?
2. Is he prone to saying things out of the blue?
3. Does he procrastinate to an extreme?
4. Are his interests and activities eclectic?
5. Does he start at least three projects for every one he finishes?
If your child is a Discoverer
1. Is he easily attracted to sights and sounds around him?
2. Is it vital for him to express his opinion?
3. Does he crave novelty, power, and excitement?
4. Is he always ready to speak, especially if you're talking?
5. When he wants his own way - which is almost always - is he relentless?
Or, if your child is a Dynamo
1. Does he get aggressive or intensely emotional about his own ideas much of the time?
2. Is some part of his body always in motion?
3. Are chances to run and climb as vital as the air he breathes?
4. Does he have boundless energy, enough for about three children his age?
5. Do you find yourself wondering if he lacks common sense?
The more "yes" answers you gave to these questions, the more reason there is for you to read on.
DREAMERS
Dreamers are mind wanderers. These Edison-trait youngsters seem to be lost in timeless space. From time to time, they have blank expressions on their faces or may look a little dazed. Actually, they are floating through one or several ideas in another realm, a world of their own.
I dwell in Possibility
A fairer house than Prose,
More numerous of windows,
Superior of doors.
Like Emily Dickinson, the author of these words, Edison-trait Dreamers are self-styled visionaries and poets. They have an ephemeral quality, a digressive style of thinking, and an inclination to see things from an unusual, even quixotic angle. In the classroom, after a lesson is taught, the Dreamer may not give the expected response, so others presume he just didn't "get it." But ask him and you'll find out that if he was tuned in, he probably "got it" all right - in an entirely unintended or uncommon way. He produces the kind of answer that makes you think twice.
Dreamers like sensory experience. They are drawn to color, sound, texture, taste, and fragrance. Often, Edison-trait Dreamers remember odd and seemingly unrelated facts and details, knowledge of an idiosyncratic nature. Seldom can they say exactly why they are drawn to these particular thoughts or recollections, but their fascination can become intense. What appears as spaciness to us is felt as absorption by them.
DISCOVERERS
Discoverers are Edison-trait adventurers who must blaze their own trail. They are high-spirited and have to see "what would happen if . . ." They are spontaneous and they must do things their own way.
Discoverers are multi-sensory, usually with a strong preference for visual input. This is a child who craves, and often creates, the stimulation of power, surprise, or diversity. He wants to explore his own ideas and express his own opinions. He wants life to keep him interested. If he does not find people stimulating, he will stimulate them, usually by provoking laughter or anger.
Discoverers like to live in the moment, without giving too much mind to what will happen in the future. Typically, they are not planners. Discoverers live with the attitude that they'll discover what's going to happen when it happens. That's what makes life interesting.
When a Discoverer is on the trail of an idea or project of his own, he feels a sense of urgency or impatience. During these times the Discoverer may "hyperfocus." He pays attention to what he is doing with an unusual degree of intensity and to the exclusion of all else. Discoverers also "multitask." Multitasking means doing more than one thing at a time. Dreamers and Dynamos hyperfocus and multitask, too. But Discoverers do it more.
DYNAMOS
Dynamos are fuel-injected speedsters. They have erratic spurts of energy. They overexcite easily, and when this happens, trouble is on the way.
In some ways, a Dynamo is also a Discoverer. He is impulsive. He acts first and thinks later. Like the Discoverer, the Dynamo loves power and speed. And like the Discoverer, the Dynamo is strong willed and immovable in his position.
The distinguishing feature of the Dynamo is his boundless physical energy. Dynamos keep their bodies in motion, one way or another, almost all the time. They walk, run, skip, kick, climb, jump, bounce, leap, bound, pounce, bolt, dash, race, sprint, dive, swim, splash, and fly.
Dynamos act with gusto and zest. They are risk takers and daredevils. And they are constantly entertaining. Life in their company is never dull.
THE EDISON TRAIT IS LIFELONG
The Edison trait is a personality characteristic. It endures. As Edison himself did, people with the trait have to make good matches between their aptitudes and their life work.
TURNING THE LIGHTS ON
As the parent of an Edison-trait child, you have probably asked yourself some variation of the following question: "If my child can recall the entire roster of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, why can't he remember that eight times seven is fifty-six?"
To better understand your youngster, picture him wandering through an empty house alone. Most of the rooms are dark. One or two are well lit. When your child enters a bright room, he is filled with enthusiasm to explore. He remembers those bright rooms and develops a strong preference for them. Of course, the way you see it, he should be able to turn the lights on in any room, if only he would use the light switch. When you ask him to and he doesn't, a strain of tension develops between you.
From his point of view - and this is his house - his lights are wired differently. In the past, your Edison-trait child has tried to use the same kind of switch he sees others use, but to no avail. He senses that he doesn't operate the same way. He has a different configuration. Problems start getting solved when you work from his blueprints, not yours. You empower him to figure out his own circuitry, and the rules and methods to turn his lights on.
CONVERGENT, NO - DIVERGENT, YES
Having the Edison trait makes some things easier for your child and some things harder. The things that come easy are
Thinking up wild or unusual ideas
Standing up for, feeling strongly about, and getting involved in those ideas
Making things up, and imagining the future
Trying things out
Starting new projects
The things that come hard are
Focusing on someone else's ideas
Letting go of his own ideas
Remembering things he's been asked to do
Practicing skills repeatedly
Finishing things
The things that come easy are divergent thinking skills. In divergent thinking, one thought stimulates many others; thinking branches out. The things that come hard require convergent thinking. In convergent thinking, many thoughts reduce to a single one; thinking funnels in.
Read the lists again. It is no surprise that Edison-trait children will not shine in a typical classroom, or on the playground, or in most forms of organized sports. In settings like these, their chemistry sets them apart. They are the exceptions to our implicit rules of how children should think and perform, rules that say they should behave like uniform convergent thinkers.
CONVERGENT THINKING AS THE NORM
It is a natural human tendency to assume that all minds work the same way. We tacitly agree that all minds should naturally be able to follow through on one idea at a time, from beginning to end, with attention to detail. We call convergent thinking the norm and we presume it's what comes naturally if a brain is "normal." Divergent thinkers are viewed as having "attentional problems."
We label convergent thinking as right and divergent thinking as wrong. We base the methods we use to train our children on this premise. We expect children to focus in a linear fashion for as long as we say they should. This is true at home and at school. And at school, as class sizes get larger and children get more diverse, a teacher's tolerance for a student's divergent thinking necessarily diminishes. The same curriculum gets taught to all students in the same way and at the same pace.
The brains of Edison-trait children are misunderstood, not inferior. As students they are attentionally disadvantaged because we punish, and fail to appreciate, their unique creative slant. They get blamed for not completing desk work in the allotted time. They are scolded for not staying in their seats until recess. They are forced to work at an unsuitable tempo, and then get graded down for poor handwriting, and errors in grammar, spelling, and math facts. These outcomes are inevitable artifacts of a mismatched approach.
We teach to their weaknesses, not to their strengths. We insist that they see things our way, but we won't see things theirs. These children are stunningly divergent. They are on a quest for discovery, exploration, and stimulation. Surely we can be flexible and accommodate their style. They can and will develop convergent skins, but only if their desire to learn is protected and kindled with success.
WE CAN HELP EDISON-TRAIT CHILDREN DEVELOP SKILLS
We Can Guide Them to Motivate Themselves
These children need extra incentive and stimulating rewards. They need to experience success so that they can believe in it. They need reasons compelling enough to keep up the extra effort to get through the glass maze.
We Can Communicate - Think and Talk - in Their Language
A child with the Edison trait needs to feel he's in control. He will accept help only if it does not threaten his autonomy. He is prone to feeling crowded and seeing adults as overbearing.
The Edison-trait child is easily overwhelmed. For this reason, he needs clear direction, phrased in brief, concise messages. He needs his workload assigned in manageable portions. He needs structure, simple categories, and prominent visual cues.
For this same reason, he needs frequent breaks and relief from tension. He responds best to a calm and steady voice, devoid of emotional charge.
The Edison-trait child thinks in images and stories. He needs instruction that is attractive and captivating. He responds to metaphors and identifies with characters he likes. Creative approaches work best. Humor is a strong ally.
Your goal is to value your child's divergent thinking, while at the same time teaching and encouraging him to think convergently. With guidance and support, he will learn how to concentrate, shift focus, and do things in sequence. He'll make his own ways to organize his thoughts, words, papers, time, and money, to follow through, plan, schedule, and stay on track. He will come to appreciate conventional wisdom and the merit of reflective thought.
BRIDGES, NOT FENCES
Pretend for a moment that when babies are born, they already know how to talk. Right from the cradle: "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father. Please feed me. I'm hungry."
Now let's say 80 percent of the babies in the United States are born speaking English, but you're a parent of one of the 20 percent who speak a foreign language. You know you must help him to learn English somehow, so he can get along with everybody else. But it's clear your little guy likes his language better than yours.
He learns barely enough English to get by, but no more. He prefers the sound and the flow and the feel of his own tongue. He doesn't know how much of your language he can learn, even if he tries. And why should he try, when everyone acts as if he already should speak English fluently, and people make a bigger deal over his failures than his efforts?
At first, you forbid your child to speak his language. That doesn't work.
Next, you reward him when he speaks only English. That works some, but it's a strain on everyone.
Finally, you make a commitment to learn and appreciate the language he speaks. You enter his world - through his sounds, his words, and his expressions. You don't insult his language; you find what is beautiful and useful about it.
At the same time, you acknowledge every attempt he makes to speak English - regardless of whether he succeeds or not. You let him know you recognize his efforts and his desire to communicate with you. You tell him that you see his courage and his hard work.
And then, a funny thing happens.
The more good you see in his world, the more good he sees in yours.
You build bridges, not fences.
You become enriched by your knowledge of his language. And he grows in his motivation to learn yours.
Excerpted from Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos by Lucy Jo Palladino
This book is now titled Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos..........2005-01-28
The less expensive version of this book has a different title: Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos : How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School.
We have been searching for The Edison Trait online today since the copy we are using is due back at the library. Fortunately we discovered that it has been retitled and is now sold as Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos : How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School.
My wife has kept the library copy until it is overdue and has a hold on it. This is the most excited I have seen her about a book since we were married. She has found some very practical tools to help us with our children.
Will help you understand your child........2001-12-06
I now understand my child so much better after reading this book.
Helpful for dealing with bright but very difficult children........2000-12-13
This is a very compassionate book about smart but difficult to manage children. These "Edison-trait" children are spirited, passionate children who are very intense and hard to live with. The author calls them "divergent thinkers", who are very creative, imaginative, and see things in a different way than others. They have problems focusing on others' ideas and letting go of their own. School can be very frustrating for them. For example, they don't like practicing skills repeatedly. I found Chapter 12 on School to very helpful. It gives some good tips to help these children succeed at school and to feel good about themselves regarding school. There are ways that parents and teachers can help them and provide encouragement without the child feeling labeled or stigmatized. There is also a large section in the book on ADD and ADHD. The author writes "While just about all children who have ADD have the Edison trait, not all children with the Edison trait have ADD." While they share the same traits, such as being easily distracted, disorganized, and disobedient, in the child with ADD, these traits are excessive and disrupts his functioning. The problems are more severe in the ADD child. This book is very compassionate regarding the needs of the children. It provides hope for parents.
This book was comfort food for my soul!.......2000-01-21
This is the first book I have EVER found myself in. I have always been fascinated by psychology, but have never fit into anyone's theory or box. I have usually found myself relating to the negative characteristics of two opposite types in someones personality groups. My spirit was broken by well intentioned parents trying to make me fit in with what is supposed to be "normal" in our society. Lucy Jo Palladino has seen in children what so many professionals refuse to, or cannot see. I saw Dr. Palladino on TV promoting this book and was drawn to it because at that time I was beginning to see the hopelessness in my 2yr old son that I remembered feeling as a child, but never did understand. Dr. Palladino understands how my brain works. I never understood it, I just knew I was different but didn't know why. The book is invaluable now that my son is 5 and I need guidance on how to teach him self control and discipline. It's not easy, but the methods in this book help me nurture and teach to his strengths instead of trying to change the very nature of who he is. The biggest surprise in this book was that I found out my husband is also an Edison thinker, just a very different one than I am. He's a dreamer and I and my son are discoverers. By the way I don't label lightly, this book seems to be written about my family. Is there anymore out there about this? Is there any way to write to the author? I am so thankful for this book and would recommend it to anyone who thinks their child might be in this book. It could literally save their life. I am very fortunate that my attempts to check out of this world that did not accept or understand me were not successful.
Customer Reviews:
Feeling safe-r with "LET'S B SAFE".......2006-09-24
Brenda Zofrea has found a unique way to "gently" introduce the threat of sexual abuse to children; yet at the same time the book delivers a powerful message.
My kids fell in-love with "Bumblebee", a colorful character that leads them through this delightful--but informative, childrens book.
I would recommend "LETS B SAFE" to parents (and grandparents!) everywhere, and also to any child-care facility. Makes a great gift!
Book Description
The Story of the World CD audiobook is a collaboration between Jim Weiss, whose voice is "liquid gold" (CNN TV), and Susan Wise Bauer, whose writing has been described as "timeless and intelligent" (Publishers Weekly). These spirited readings of the last volume in Bauer's history series bring to life the stories and records of human history from ancient times to the present.
Written in an engaging, straightforward manner, this volume of the popular Story of the World series weaves world history into a storybook format. The fourth volume covers the major historical events of the last 150 years, from the American Civil War to the presidency of Nelson Mandela.
This audio CD edition may be used along with the print books, as a supplement to a traditional history curriculum, or independently. 11 audio CDs.
Customer Reviews:
great!.......2007-06-29
We are a homeschooling family. I Love this whole series! I have all of them on CD which is great because we take them in the van with us. You can listen to them over and over and really remember it that way. They are Told kind of like a story so it holds your interest. I have 5 kiddos and I find they all enjoy and learn from these. I am learning alot too :)
Book Description
This fully-revised tenth edition continues to provide the extensive cross-cultural and multicultural coverage, the innovative pedagogical learning system, and the balance between research and real-life applications that have made A Child's World a favorite of both students and professors. In the warmly-written and engaging style that has become their hallmark, Papalia, Olds, and Feldman continue to provide a chronological view of child development; the new edition expands the coverage of cultural and historical influences on development, highlights the latest research, and introduces the LifeMap student CD-ROM.
Book Description
Addressing the often-overlooked spiritual needs of mothers, this book discusses Buddhist teachings as applied to the everyday challenges and stresses of raising children. Offered are ways for mothers to reconnect with their inner selves and become calmer and happier-with the recognition that a happier mother will be a better parent. This realistic look at motherhood acknowledges the sorrows as well as the joys of mothering and offers real and achievable coping strategies for mothers to renew their lives on a deep level.
Customer Reviews:
Self Help/Parenting with a Buddhist flavour.......2007-08-29
This is not a bad book but it is fairly simplistic. It is a good book for mothers (Buddhist or not) of young children who won't mind the populist feel of the book. It is not an especially deep work though, so if you like your Buddhist books to be fairly weighty and insightful this is going to disappoint. If, on the other hand, you don't mind a book that reads like a series of really long magazine articles then you will probably like it.
Amazing Book. A Must Read!.......2007-08-13
I absoultely loved this book. I read it a few months after my third child was born and what a welcome read it was. The approach is fresh and accepting, the writing is superb. Sarah Napthali says the most potent of things in short, concise sentences. It's amazing really. I am reading it for the third time right now and my child is only 14 months old (so it's my third read in less than a year). I reread it to remind myself of her inspirations and advice. Of course this book is not for the close-minded, although I think it will help open those types up. In my hectic life, I find myself mentally tuning into her advice on a daily basis. I love this book.
Buddhism for Mothers.......2007-08-07
Sarah has excelled herself, I loved reading this book of wisdom. Nothing has impressed me like this book and I am a wide and avid reader, I didn't want it to finish. As a mother of 2 a young one aged 7 I now find myself frequently practising mindfulness. I love and have read many of Thich Nhat Than's books and other books on Buddhism. However this is so applicable to mothering and relationships. Thankyou Sarah will be looking forward to any other books you may publish.
Read only if new to Buddhism.......2007-08-02
I found this a boring read. I was hoping for some fresh insight but came out empty handed. I couldn't even finish the book.
However, if you are new to Buddhism, I think this is a perfect philosophy to learn and raise your children by. The author explains loving kindness and meditation very well. In this society, we tend to preach and punish our children rather than let them grow into complete beings. Raising children without attachment allows them to develop into their own identity.
I'm glad I own this book!.......2007-07-13
I loved this book. I had been learning about insight meditation and had begun thinking, "I need to see how these people who live at meditation centers would apply this to dealing with my two kids every day." Then I found this book. I felt like the author knew exactly what I was going through, and she was very honest about her own mistakes as a parent. She showed how to use the Buddhist principles in your every day parenting. I normally try to get books from the library, but I ended up buying this one, and I am so glad that I did. I plan to re-read it, and go to it when I feel like I've lost how to become mindful when I'm with my children.
Book Description
This comprehensive book presents developmentally appropriate early education curriculum for children from birth through 8 years old. Throughout the text, the emphasis is on addressing each child's individual needs, abilities, interests, and cultural diversity. Chapters include such topics as language and literacy, puppets, dramatic play, art, sensory centers, music and movement, math, science, and social studies. This practical resource and reference guide includes original songs, poems, dramatic play activities, illustrations, photos and a full-color insert that outlines appropriate guidance techniques. This is a comprehensive resource offering practical advice for developing an effective curriculum for young children.
Customer Reviews:
Early Education by Hilda Jackman.......2006-01-01
This was a wonderful book. My instructor in a methods and materials class used it as the text. I love using it in my lesson planning for my preschoolers.
Wow! A Great Resource For Teachers!.......2005-01-03
I am a young veteran teacher with much to learn. "Early Education Curriculum" covers a lot of what I learned in Ed School and much more that I learned in the classroom. This book demonstrates the wisdom and knowledge of the author, Hilda Jackman, and offers the new or veteran educator a fresh perspective on the art and science of early childhood education.
Another book that I read during this holiday break is "Behavior Coaching" by Dr. Scott E. Hall from the University of Dayton and Matt Pasquinilli. "Early Education Curriculum" lays out all the basics of how to prepare for your classroom, what to teach, when to teach what, etc... "Behavior Coaching", while aimed more at the parent than the teacher, offers great insight in how to address disruptive behavior in the classroom. "Behavior Coaching" compliments "Early Education Curriculum" and I highly recommend that you get both.
Average customer rating:
- Good data but needs more specific examples
- This book is the foundation of modern bullying prevention!
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Bullying at School: What We Know and What We Can Do (Understanding Children's Worlds)
Dan Olweus
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
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Similar Items:
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The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School--How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence
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Bullying Prevention Handbook: A Guide for Principals, Teachers, and Counselors
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Schools Where Everyone Belongs: Practical Strategies for Reducing Bullying
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And Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence
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The Bully Free Classroom: Over 100 Tips and Strategies for Teachers K-8 (Updated Edition)
ASIN: 0631192417 |
Book Description
Bullying at School is the definitive book on bully/victim problems in school and on effective ways of counteracting and preventing such problems. On the basis of the author's large-scale studies and other research, it is known that bullying is a serious problem in all societies that have been studied so far, and that more than 15 percent of the school population in primary and secondary/junior high schools are involved, either as bullies or victims. The facts about bullying, its causes and consequences, are presented in clear and straightforward language. The book is a milestone in the study of bullying at school in that it offers a scientifically evaluated intervention program. The results of this extensive research are remarkable:- a reduction of bully/victim problems by 50 percent or more- a considerable drop in antisocial behavior such as vandalism, theft, drunkenness, and truancy- clear improvements in the "social climate" of the classroom and student satisfaction with school life.The book gives practical advice to school principals, teachers, and parents on how to implement a "whole school approach to bullying," and contains a valuable guide to help teachers and parents recognize if a child is being victimized or bullies others. Bullying at School is essential reading for all who are involved with children and young people.
Customer Reviews:
Good data but needs more specific examples.......2002-01-30
I was elected to my local board of education and we recently received a credible complaint from a parent that harassment of her son was being overlooked by school administrators. Accordingly, I felt obliged to read up on the issue of bullying. This book sets forth both the problem and the recommended solutions. Prof. Olweus is Norwegian and his studies primarily involve Scandinavian schools. Accordingly, questions came to my mind such as "Is Norway a more homogenious society than the United States? If so, are there any differences in both the problem and the solutions in a more ethnically heterogeneous society?" I don't know the answers but, the reader should keep these issues in mind when reading this book.
Prof. Olweus describes the problem and he sets forth well organized solutions to the problem which require involvement of teachers, administrators and parents, and further require communication with all students, even those who are neither bullies nor victims. The one problem I have with the book is that there are very few case histories and specific examples given. The book proposes solutions but does not provide a case history in which the specific solution was successfully applied to the problem at hand. Reliable data and sound recommendations are important but a few specific examples of how these recommendations worked would be helpful. For example, Olweus recommends that parents of a bully apply sanctions if the bullying behavior does not improve. He states, "The consequence should be associated with some degree of discomfort or unpleasantness, but corporal punishment must not be used." OK, fine; but what are specific examples of "discomfor or unpleasantness?" Where are the case histories giving examples? Without these, the book does not provide as fulfilling reading as it otherwise might. This book is well worth reading and I recommend it with the reservations expressed above.
This book is the foundation of modern bullying prevention!.......1999-11-08
This clear, brief, and practical book is based on extensive research and outlines an intervention to prevent bullying. Dr. Olweus's work has become the standard approach to bullying prevention, reflected in such programs as the University of Colorado "Blueprints for Violence Prevention" project ... As a counselor and trainer specializing in bullying prevention, I find this book indispensable, and recommend it highly.
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