A Land We Can Share: Teaching Literacy to Students With Autism [Paperback]

Paula Kluth Ph.D. (Author), Kelly Chandler-Olcott Ed.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1557668558 | ISBN-13: 978-1557668554 | Edition: 1

This book helps in-service and pre-service teachers understand how students with mild to significant autism can be perceived as literate and then supported to participate in literacy activities both in and out of school.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A dynamic text filled with practical examples that will motivate and inspire readers to view all individuals as capable, successful literacy learners. --Monica Delano, Ph.D., University of Louisville

Not only a treatise describing literate possibility for all students, but also a powerful meditation on rethinking the very nature of autism . . . will dramatically impact classroom instructional practices and the underlying educational theory. --Chris Kliewer, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

An accessible, well-researched text that respects the competence of students with autism and the teachers who work with them. --Curt Dudley-Marling, Professor of Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

Not only a treatise describing literate possibility for all students, but also a powerful meditation on rethinking the very nature of autism . . . will dramatically impact classroom instructional practices and the underlying educational theory. --Chris Kliewer, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

An accessible, well-researched text that respects the competence of students with autism and the teachers who work with them. --Curt Dudley-Marling, Professor of Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

Not only a treatise describing literate possibility for all students, but also a powerful meditation on rethinking the very nature of autism . . . will dramatically impact classroom instructional practices and the underlying educational theory. --Chris Kliewer, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

An accessible, well-researched text that respects the competence of students with autism and the teachers who work with them. --Curt Dudley-Marling, Professor of Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

Not only a treatise describing literate possibility for all students, but also a powerful meditation on rethinking the very nature of autism . . . will dramatically impact classroom instructional practices and the underlying educational theory. --Chris Kliewer, Ph.D., Professor of Special Education, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

An accessible, well-researched text that respects the competence of students with autism and the teachers who work with them. --Curt Dudley-Marling, Professor of Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College

About the Author

Paula Kluth, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Kluth has a master degree in educational policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a doctoral degree in special education from the University of Wisconsin. She is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and inclusion facilitator. She has taught in and engages in research in both elementary and secondary schools. Her professional and research interests center on differentiating instruction and on including students with significant disabilities in inclusive classrooms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Paul H Brookes Pub Co; 1 edition (December 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557668558
• ISBN-13: 978-1557668554
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Special Education > Behavioral Disorders
  • #96 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Special Education > Communicative Disorders

More About the Author

Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Her research and professional interests include differentiating instruction, and supporting students with autism and significant disabilities in inclusive classrooms.

Paula is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher, consulting teacher, and inclusion facilitator. She works with teachers in K-12 schools, pre-schools, and early intervention programs. She also regularly works with family organizations and disability-rights and advocacy groups.

She is the author of "You're Going to Love This Kid": Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom ; the lead editor of Access to Academics: Critical Approaches to Inclusive Curriculum, Instruction, and Policy, and the co-author of several other books including A Land We Can Share: The Literate Lives of Students with Autism; Joyful Learning: Active and Collaborative Structures for the Inclusive Classroom; You're Welcome: 30 Innovative Ideas for Inclusive Schools, Just Give Him the Whale: 20 Ways to Support & Honor the Interests of Students with Autism; and A is for All Aboard.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Parent's perspective June 15, 2008

By Jonathan M. Wenig

Format:Paperback

A Land we can Share is directed primarily at educators and para professionals working with children with ASD to welcome then into the world of literacy.

My perspective is somewhat different. I am a parent of a 7 year old girl with ASD. We are currently in the throes of teaching our daughter to read (in collaboration with her teachers and therapists at school, of course). Whereas with my older children, the process of teaching them to read happened almost intuitively and naturally (on our part as parents), for our youngest the process has involved more effort. We have had to try more things, read more literature, consider different approaches, test more software programs and reader packages.

And much as parents really just want a simple solution, the instructional rigour of Paula's book is at once insightful, engaging and inspiring. It resonated with us, in that it delved in a practical and useful way into different literacy approaches, and provided examples and suggestions that we find useful, and that can be passed on to classroom teachers and reading assistants. But even more significant than its practical applications were the themes of approach and attitude that permeate the pages. Those messages are the catch cries of so many parents with children on the spectrum. We tell teachers, administrators, friends, onlookers - try different things; children are all different; just because something works for most kids doesn't mean there won't be a different approach that will help the rest of the kids, put aside judgment; practice real inclusion.

I would highly recommend this book (as well as Paula's other books) for parents. Read it. Practice it with your children. Pass it on to teachers and school administrators.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for all teachers at the primary and secondary levels April 2, 2008

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

It takes some adaptation to the curriculum and some insights on the part of the reading instructors, but autistic students can be literate students. "A Land We Can Share: Teaching Literacy To Students With Autism" is the collaborative work of Paula Kluth (consultant, teacher, author, and advocate in Oak Park, Illinois) and Kelly Chandler-Olcott (Associate Professor, Syracuse University Reading and Language Arts Center, Syracuse, New York) and specifically designed to teach the teacher of an autistic student in grades K-12 how to implement researched-based practices in reading and writing instruction (including those consistent with Read First recommendations); plan effective lessons that build on their student's strengths, interests, and individual needs; design a classroom environment that promotes literacy learning for all students while addressing the individual needs of mainstreamed autistic students; assess students who do not (or cannot) show their literacy learning in tradition fashion; and how to include autistic students in a wide range of classroom literacy activities. Superbly co-written, organized and presented, "A Land We Can Share" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and should be considered essential reading for all teachers at the primary and secondary levels having to work with autistic students within a classroom environment.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read! February 23, 2008

By Margaret Hartung

Format:Paperback

If you are looking for answers to help your students diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum with literacy activities look no further. Paula Kluth and Kelly Chandler-Olcott have put together a valuable resource. Not only will the activities in this text help differentiate your curriculum for those students on the Autism Spectrum but also for those students who are considered neurotypical. The text is very user friendly with explanations of what you will see in the child diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, the components identified in a strong literacy program, straight-forward explanations of practices and approaches to use in developing your literacy program (both reading and writing), assessment strategies (so important today!), and help developing ideas to use in working with those students who have significant disabilities. Paula and Kelly use many testimonials by individuals that have experienced difficulties in the classroom and what helped them to make gains in the area of literacy. I couldn't believe the wealth of ideas to use (and their easy implementation) in the classroom. This is a MUST text!
Margaret Hartung (General Education Instructor)