Brain School: Stories of children with learning disabilities and attention disorders who changed their lives by improving their cognitive functioning [Paperback]

Howard Eaton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0986749400 | ISBN-13: 978-0986749407

In Brain School, Howard Eaton explores how, applying the principles of neuroplasticitiy, Barbara Arrowsmith Young developed cognitive remediation exercises, founded the Arrowsmith Program and opened the first Arrowsmith School in Toronto, Ontario over 30 years ago. Mr. Eaton then discusses how difficult it was for him to move from traditional remediation methods for learning disabilities to seeing the new possibilities that are due to the ability of the brain to change itself. The lives of nine children are discussed as they start the Arrowsmith Program and then move on to either private or public schools.

The Arrowsmith Program is changing children's lives in ways never before imagined. Designed to improve the cognitive functioning of children with learning disabilities, the Arrowsmith Program is reshaping how we conceptualize intervention/remediation approaches in schools today. Drawing from his own experiences directing Eaton Arrowsmith School in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Howard Eaton, Ed.M., author, speaker, principal, teacher, and educational assessor, shows how children with significant learning disabilities improve their cognitive capacities and find academic success.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An inspir­ing book about how cog­ni­tive pro­grams can result in both aca­d­e­mic and social suc­cess"
 
Dr. Pascale Michelon - Sharpbrains.com

"The recently published book, Brain School,..has captured the spirit of and tremendous impact the Arrowsmith Program has made on students."

M. Wyzanski - Yated Ne'eman Newspaper

"Reading this was very moving for me. These children are in my office often and I see their strengths and feel very sad that we do not give them specific help during their crucial developmental years."

Dr. J. Garland - Child Psychiatrist

"The possibilities raised by the program are fascinating, and the book is worth exploring by educators and parents looking for new ways to teach children with learning disabilities."

About.com Learning Disabilities  - Ann Logsdon

"...if you like keeping up on new methods, enjoy inspirational stories of students succeeding against odds, or want to feel smug next time someone tells you that your child's brain is set in concrete and you might as well accept it, Brain School is an enjoyable enough read..."

About.com Children with Special Needs, Terri Mauro

From the Author

1.    What prompted you to write this book?
I decided to write this book to further improve the academic and social lives of children with learning disabilities and attention disorders. I realized that relatively few parents and educators knew about how the brain can change itself and how this knowledge can be applied to children struggling in school.  I want to make parents and teachers aware of what is actually possible for children frustrated with learning. In short, children do not have to spend the rest of their lives coping with the severe cognitive functioning problems that come with learning disabilities and attention disorders.

2.    What can readers expect to walk away with?
The reader will understand through Brain School's 9 stories how significantly the brains of children with learning disabilities and attention disorders can improve cognitive functioning.  As well, how this cognitive improvement can result in both academic and social success.  This will inspire them to seek cognitive programs, such as the Arrowsmith Program, that improve neurological functioning.  This will give the reader a sense of what is actually possible for all children struggling in school.  The book will inspire them and give the reader a fascinating look into the human brain.

3.    How is Brain School different from others written about education and learning difficulties in children?
Most books about learning disabilities and attention disorders focus on learning strategies that helps children cope with school. Brain School informs parents and teachers that children with these disabilities no longer have to cope with school.  The child does not have to just survive through the education system. As far as I know, this is the only book written that follows real case studies of children improving neurological functioning. Children can improve cognitive capacities allowing them to flourish academically without coping strategies and extra assistance in school.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Glia Press (November 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0986749400
• ISBN-13: 978-0986749407
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I earned a degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia. I then attended Boston University to study Special Education and Learning Disabilities. I earned my regular education and special education teaching certification at Boston University and obtained a Masters Degree in Education. During this time, I trained as an Orton-Gillingham Tutor by Diana Hanbury King at Camp Dunnabeck/Kildonan School in Amenia, New York. After completing my Master's Degree I started teaching elementary school in Truro, Massachusetts and then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to teach at a school for children with language-based learning disabilities. I then left teaching to start my own assessment business working with psychologists and other educational assessors testing children and adults for learning disorders. At the same time I was an instructor at the Educational Psychology and Special Education Department at the University of British Columbia. I taught courses on Learning Disabilities to teachers in training for several years. In addition, I co-wrote a self-advocacy and transition curriculum for students with learning disabilities and attention disorders. In January 2005, I started Eaton Arrowsmith School in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Enough HOW October 13, 2011

By Mary E. Palmer

Format:Paperback

While the personal stories of the author, Barbara Arrowsmith (who is the founder of the Arrowsmith method), and the children they helped are wonderful, I left the book with no good idea of how the program works. Perhaps the methods are proprietary? If so, they should sell educational software for wider distribution and implementation, and if the author only had one week of training himself with Barbara Arrowsmith's program, the educational entity could make a training video or program for teachers. With the exception of working with clock faces of increasing complexity, how these children improve is really missing for me. The author makes it clear that the work is repetitive and that it can be tedious, but I was looking for how the 19 exercises work and how each affects the brain. As it stands, the book offers inspiring stories of neuro-cognitive changes that reflect the benefits of working with neuro-plasticity (vs. standard training in remedial compensatory skills) without explaining how the brain was changed. Without enough HOW, the stories, albeit interesting, left little to remember for me. The chapters seemed to simply follow a template of descriptions: 1.neuro-educational problems and 2. before and after testing results. While good descriptions, these remain simply anecdotes that I experienced as underdeveloped. In addition to explanations of HOW the exercises were implemented, it would be interesting to have a neuroscientist co-author fill in the explanation of HOW the brains changed. Maybe in the next edition?

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A glimmer of hope for many students and parents March 21, 2011

By Kenneth J. Kohutek VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Eaton describes a "new" program --the Arrowsmith Program-- based on Luria's neurological ideas. While new to many, this program has been around for thirty years with its roots in Luria's writings going back even farther. It is unfortunate that the success stories and promise of these efforts are still considered new and not already implemented in schools throughout the Americas. One has to ask if our educational system is so rigid that it cannot see what is a much more effective manner of educating our children. The final chapter stresses that it must be the parents, a child's strongest advocate, who will make the difference in this archaic system.

There are three sections of the book: 1) The journey; 2) The stories, and; 3) The outlook. Part 1 describes the author's own struggle in the academic setting to attending graduate school at Boston University to running his own business/school. Also included in this section is a brief insight into the founder of the Arrowsmith Program, Barbara Arrowsmith Young.

Section 2 relates a number of success stories of students who went through the program and demonstrated dramatic success both on psycho-educational testing as well as in the academic/social areas of life. Within these eight chapters of case histories are sections of general information which could prove extremely useful to the informed reader --which ALL parents should be!

The third section provides a look at the future of those involved in education with neuroplasticity, cognitive training and the Arrowsmith Program. Finally, the Appendices share information about details of the program.

This book is readable for a number of audiences. It provides information to professionals in a number of education related fields about a program which is making progress in the field of neuroeducation. The case studies describe to prospective families the "type" of students who might benefit from the program.

A concern this reviewer has is that the nature and number of students interviewed for the program and not accepted is not discussed. Related is the proportion of students not completing the program. These topics would be extremely valuable for a family who is searching for and willing to grab onto any glimmer of hope for their child.

While I strongly believe that programs such as that described in this book is the way of the future, a warning to parents/students--make haste slowly and don't grab for this hope before you--the informed consumer, checks it out.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars No Details on What the Arrowsmith Program is January 5, 2012

By Jeanette C. Kurnik

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was a major disappointment! There's a lot of data presented that leads one to believe that the Arrowsmith program works, but there's no detail on what the Arrowsmith method is. I kept reading hoping to understand what intervention techniques were used, and there was NOTHING!!! What a waste of money!!! It was only an advertisement for the $27,000/year Eaton Arrowsmith school with absolutely no substance!