Incorporating Social Goals in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers and Parents of Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome [Paperback]

Rebecca A. Moyes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 185302967X | ISBN-13: 978-1853029677 | Publication Date: June 15, 2001 | Edition: 1

This book provides practical, hands-on strategies to teach social skills to children with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. It includes a detailed description of the social deficits of these children as they appear in the classroom - difficulties with such things as understanding idioms, taking turns in conversation, understanding and using tone of voice and body language - and ways to address them. Instruction is included in the book to enhance the development of appropriate, measureable, and meaningful individualized education plans (IEPs) to incorporate social goals. Lesson plans are included to facilitate the ability to 'teach' these social goals. Parents will find this text an excellent training tool to help develop social education curriculums for their children, and teachers will find it particularly helpful as an easy-to-read manual containing many 'nuts and bolts' strategies to utilize in the classroom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'I think you are in for quite a treat in reading this book and keeping it on hand as a reference. It is well-organized. The reader can locate a topic and study it briefly or deeply, according to available time and need. Most importantly for both parents and teachers, this book won't waste your time. Parents and professionals share a need for practical, rather than theoretical, advice. This book provides just that. I was so taken with the good, creative information in this book that I have already asked Rebecca to present at my next conference. May Rebecca's book ease your educational burdens, as she has done for the fortunate families she has known since her child was diagnosed.' ---from the Foreword by Susan J Moreno, President and Founder of MAAP Services, Editor of The MAAP, and parent

About the Author

Rebecca Moyes is one of the founders of ABOARD (The Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders, Inc), which provides support and information for families of children with autism and the professionals who work with them. Her oldest child was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome six years ago. She used to work as a teacher, and now produces a quarterly newsletter entitled Building Bridges for teachers and parents of children with high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome.

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185302967X
• ISBN-13: 978-1853029677
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real world lesson plans and practicle advice, August 15, 2001

By 

Jennifer L Graybeal (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incorporating Social Goals in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers and Parents of Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

This book offers examples that accurately describe the world of an Asperger's/HFA child in the classroom. It will prove invaluable to parents and teachers alike by giving insight to the fact that our children see the world from a different perspective. Giving "real world" examples of the behaviors these children display helps others understand why they need support whether they are mainstreamed or in a special day class. It provides real lesson plans (and some materials) for teaching our children how to read facial expressions and body postures, how to use inflection, tips for using the passions our children display to reward and encourage learning and more.

The chapters are self contained and well organized. They describe a social aspect of HFA/Asperger's, offer a list of the behaviors/symptoms one might see in a child, 1-3 real examples of children displaying each behavior, and how it will impact the child's ability to perform in the classroom. These chapters show the elusive link between why our children are "smart" but have trouble in school and why this should matter to the school districts who do not feel that "social skills" are part of a curiculum. It then provides lesson plans grouped by IEP goals worded to address each behavior.

Possibly the most valuable chapter for parents is the IEP information. It defines the different areas, how to use them, the language to use and a summary of rights. Plus, explains why goals must be measurable and HOW to measure social goals.

A truly unique addition to the literature currently available.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to KNOW if your child is making social progress!!, April 25, 2003

By 

"raffey6968" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incorporating Social Goals in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers and Parents of Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

I bought this book as a result of getting my son's IEP back with vague social goals and no way to tell if he was progressing. Most schools do not know how to write social goals, let alone make them measurable. It is our job as parents to find the answers the school can't or won't find. I rejected the social goals on his IEP and went in search for an answer. This book was it!
I read it in a few hours and had complete understanding of the concepts and loved how the goals were actually measurable. I had a meeting with the school psychologist and presented ideas from the book to her (at her request I also lent her the book). The ideas are practical, do not cost the school money and not that much extra work. Because of this book I will now know how my son is actually progressing in the areas of social skills and the team will be able to know if their interventions are working or if we need to change them.
**My son has NLD which is debatable as to whether it is in the autism spectrum. I found some assessment questions & goals were not applicable to my son. If my child had HFA or AS I would have given the book 5 stars.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great pleasure to read for practical advice, February 4, 2003

By 

John Harpur (Trim, Meath, IRELAND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Incorporating Social Goals in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers and Parents of Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome (Paperback)

While not as weighty as some other social skill oriented books, Moyes' book is probably more accessible to the average parent and teacher. It is a relatively short book and easily read. The references are good and there is no scent of snake oil from the overall product.

While notionally the book is about framing individualised education plans (IEPs), the bulk of the book is taken up with explanations of Asperger syndrome, its manifestations, assessment and various interventions. Practically speaking, the sections on assessment will probably be of more interest to teachers than parents.

There is a long chapter covering interventions and it is reasonably comprehensive. The author has clearly tried to position the book between the professional literature on interventions and the barely above anecdotal. And it works surprising well. Each of the inteventions is reviewed sparingly but fairly. At all times the emphasis is on listing advantages and disadvantages. The chapter on IEPs covers all the relevant requirements but isn't slow to point out the problems to be encountered. Given the intensive requirements of interventions, reading Succeeding with Interventions for Asperger Syndrome Adolescents will flesh out the issues for professionals and parents.

All in all I found this a very remarkable book, and worth at least twice its weight in gold.