Book Description
row will we cope?Why did it happen to us?How will we tell our other children?What help is available to us? Will our child be able to work, to marry, or have children? These are just a few questions frequently asked by parents that are discussed in this positive, practical, and comprehensive guide.Dr. Mark Selikowitz, a consultant paediatrician, has drawn on his extensive experience of children with Down syndrome to write this sympathetic and authoritative book, and to dispel the many false notions about the syndrome.Most children are now brought up at home and this book gives their parents the information they need to make choices about treatment, education, and general welfare.In this new edition, he looks at the many new developments that have taken place over the past few years in educational, social, and employment opportunities for people with Down syndrome as well as changes in community attitudes.A particularly encouraging development is the greater attention paid to the wishes of people with Down syndrome, and this book offers advice and reassurance to these people as well as providing an essential guide to their parents and the many health workers who have contact with Down syndrome children and adults. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Buy a different book!!
I read this book yesterday at the library and found the author to be spineless, inhumane and downright mean. This person should have never written this book!!

The beginning of the book explains the many emotions parents, siblings, grandparents etc. may experience when faced with a Down syndrome diagnoses, but the advise given is from the heart of a man who couldn't go into the nursery to see or touch his baby for three days simply because she has DS. An extra chromosome 21 does not render a person unlovable or contagious. The author does assure the reader that love will blossom but it could take some time. There's nothing wrong with that advice but a serious attitude adjustment is in order. I understand not everyone's reactions are the same but a loving heart is a loving heart even if it may be paralyzed for a bit by shock or other emotions.This author's poor daughter needed to be hugged and kissed and cuddled by her dad.Hisactionsshouldn't have beenguided byhis emotions.He should have seen to the baby's needsandlet his emotions catch up withhis obligation to care for his baby.I dealt with my emotions when my son was diagnosed with DS. In my eyes he's the cutest most wonderful baby on the planet as were my other children when they were the babe in my arms.

The book goes on to explain that siblings may have negative feelings toward the sibling with DS. The author suggests that you let the siblings know that they will not be responsible for the care of the sibling with DS after the parents are no longer able to. GRRRR!!Siblings should want to support each other whether they have DS or not.For the brother or sister with DS it may be visiting at an assisted living facility or opening up an extra bedroom.My younger brother was born with DS and we always knew he needed more care and attention than the rest of us.We gave it willing. We were just dealt a different hand than other families.

The author wants parents to help their children deal with taunts about their sibling with DS by allowing the child to take it out on the parents. What?!!! Subtract DS from the equation and see how to deal with taunting and teasing. It's the same situation when DS is added back in.

The book includes the same clinical information about DS as any other book so it's no goldmine of knowledge.

The author explains the prenatal tests available to detect DS. There is a warning about the possibility of a miscarriage but concludes that parents are going to have to decide for themselves if they would terminate the pregnancy if DS is detected. I would have loved to read that the author found such joy in raising a daughter with DS that he encourages parents to see past societies shallowness and love their baby but the author never does.

I know I'm a better person because I had the privilege of being touched by DS.I'm the mother and the sister of wonderful people, two of them have an extra chromosome.

I wish I could impress upon every man, woman and child that DS is not a curse.This book doesn't do anything to bring that wish to fruition.

Positive and informative
Written by an Australian pediatrician, this book is both positive and informative. The book presents a great deal of material but does it in an clear and accessible style . The author is extremely optimistic about the future of people with Down syndrome and this optimism shows in his writing. The material covered includes early childhood development, school, adolescence, and adulthood. Laws in the US, UK, and Australia are covered.

A very good overview
I read this book shortly after my son was born with Down Syndrome.It was not as "mushy" as the Stray-Gunderson book.It has wonderfulinformation on the joys of raising a child with down syndrome, while givingvery specific information on potential health problems and what to be sureyour pediatrician is aware of.I liked the fact that he recomends that theparent is the child's biggest advocate, and that we prepare ourselves forthat role. ... Read more

Product Description
Back by popular demand and with an updated look, this simple children's book tells the story of Ben, a young boy who has a secret.Before revealing his secret, Ben shares much about his life and likes.All readers find they have much in common with this charming boy with Down syndrome.A must have for siblings, school classrooms, church and synagogue reading rooms and public libraries.THis new edition includes mischievous bear illustrations by David Tesnar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic book for anyone who knows a child with DS
I love this book!It is well written, contains great photos, colorful pages, and it has an awesome message! Ben describes his life and every so often asks "have you guessed my secret yet?"Towards the end of the book he explains about Down Syndrome. At the end he says "you can call me "special" but...most of all I hope you will call me "friend."As a special education teacher I appreciate the fact the book is really not about DS, it's about Ben.Bravo! ... Read more

Product Description
Announcing Book 2, the much-anticipated sequel to DeAnna Horstmeier's popular and successful first book on teaching essential math used in daily living. TEACHING MATH TO PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND OTHER HANDS-ON LEARNERS, BOOK2: ADVANCED SURVIVAL SKILLS continues with her proven, practical hands-on activities--with the help of games, manipulatives, props, and worksheets--to make learning concrete and more tangible to hands-on learners, including those with Down syndrome, autism, or other cognitive disabilities. All the visual supports and worksheets that make DeAnna's teaching technique so effective are included in the book. Just like Book 1, the follow-up book focuses on survival math--computations and concepts that relate to everyday life and being as independent as possible.

Book 2 reviews some of the basics but mostly focuses on more challenging skills that are usually taught in upper elementary, middle school and beyond, such as:
Multiplication & Division: Using manipulatives and a calculator; solving word problems; memorizing multiplication facts.
Fractions: Practicing fractions through cooking, especially measuring for baking; reading and writing mixed numbers (5 1/4); learning fraction equivalents.
Measurement: Measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch; understanding how long a mile is and measurements for temperature, weather, food and units of capacity (cup, pint, quart, gallon).
Money: Adding up mixed coins and bills; banking basics (depositing money, writing and cashing checks); tracking spending; budgeting (understanding the difference between discretionary and necessary purchases).
Decimals: Writing and reading dollar amounts to the 10ths and 100ths; memorizing percentage and fraction equivalents. ... Read more

Book Description
Down Syndrome: A Promising Future, Together provides a comprehensive and up-to-date look at life with Down syndrome. Designed to meet the needs of parents and professionals alike, this edited volume addresses a variety of critical medical, developmental, educational, and vocational issues. It discusses current trends and presents the most recent update of the Health Care Guidelines for Individuals with Down Syndrome: Down Syndrome Preventative Medical Check List, which groups by age medical assessments and other important information. Also covered are the controversial and high-profile issues surrounding alternative and nonconventional therapies. The book concludes with the personal stories of young adults with Down syndrome, including an account by Chris Burke of the television series Life Goes On. Filled with practical advice from leading practitioners and advocates in the field, Down Syndrome: A Promising Future, Together is an essential reference for families of people with Down syndrome, for primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals, and for researchers, educators, social workers, early intervention workers, and students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A collection of very interesting articles
This book is a collection of 34 articles summarizing many of the presentations at one of the recent NDSS annual conferences. The list of authors read like a who's who of the Down syndrome community. The book is divided into ten sections with articles ranging from advocacy to communication to education to the role of the family. The last section is made up of six articles written by people with Down syndrome. The book is very similar to the more recently published "Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st Century," (ISBN: 0471418153). But this book is not replaced by the new edition. The articles in this book are different and are still very much worth reading. This isn't a book for a new parent and it certainly shouldn't be your first book on Down syndrome. There are other books such as "Babies with Down Syndrome," that would be a better choice as a first book. But this book does provide a lot of very useful and interesting information. Anyone interested in finding out what is going on in the world of Down syndrome will want to get a copy.

a must-have for all new and expecting parents of DS children
Book contains current info in every category a new parent wonders about. Answers questions before you even think to ask them. Especially poignant are the sections on advocacy and education. Chapters written by people withDS are very powerful. Can do without the section on genetics.A must read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Short but Sweet!
This is a great book for new parents of special needs children.It is also a great inspiration and a lesson of what is possible with love and compassion.It is short but sweet, a great story.You will pass it around the office!

Touching
Tomacina Hochgurtel tells the story passionately and honestly about how she became the legal guardian of her sister's baby, Jordan Lee, who was born with Down syndrome, in her soon-to-be released book, "Aunt Mommy."

She and Dan Hochgurtel were not married when she found out that her sister was pregnant with her fourth child.

Tomacina Hochgurtel, now 29 and profound beyond her years, had this to say of her situation at the time:


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Special to The R-C Tomacina Hochgurtel's book, 'Aunt Mommy.'

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"I was only 20 years old. Dan and I were living together in a tiny apartment. We were striving to live life as adults. Struggling to go to work everyday and pay the bills on time. It is bizarre how something so common could seem like such a chore. Life doesn't always come easy from the beginning. We are all entitled to make our mistakes. Everyone spends their entire life trying to figure out how to live life to the fullest.

"Dan and I were definitely not perfect; we made our share of mistakes. We fought like cats and dogs. We let a lot of little things come between us.

"Marriage was not really a thought yet. Having a child was nearly inconceivable. We could not even remember to feed the cat most of the time. Getting out of bed in the morning to go to work on time was a task we had not yet mastered. Needless to say, to start a family and live for each other was something we could not even fathom."

Hochgurtel talks about how she, along with her two other sisters, witnessed the birth of their sister's son, and immediately fell in love with him, at the time not knowing he was a Down syndrome baby.

"He had very light blond hair, ivory skin and those beautiful eyes. I could see right into his eyes. They were magical! I knew right away that there was something special about Jordan Lee. I just wanted to hold him forever and never let him go. I had never felt anything so intense; I was speechless," said Hochgurtel in her book. "I was so madly in love with this new little angel!"

Each chapter in this short and poignant little paperback book - 75 pages - begins with a new picture of this child deemed "amazing" by Hochgurtel. She tells the tale of Jordan's tumultuous first year, with a troubled life quite the opposite of the structured one he eventually came to have with Tomacina and, her intense and emotional struggles to get legal guardianship. Hochgurtel talks about how Jordan eventually made her and Dan's lives complete beyond their expectations.

"Jordan Lee has always been the kindest and most loving person I have ever met! Being loved by Jordan is the most wonderful and fulfilling love that I have ever and most likely will ever experience. It is as if he loves on a whole different level than most people. His love is so pure and so innocent and selfless. He is the brightest light, even brighter, like the sun, and he came into my life and lit up my whole world like a brand new summer morning."

Jordan is now 8 and in third grade. Tomacina Hochgurtel has lived in Carson Valley for her entire life. Tomacina and Dan Hochgurtel were married in 2003 and welcomed their youngest son David into their lives in 2004. Tomacina Hochgurtel is the manager of her family's restaurant, Two Guys from Italy in Gardnerville, where she works as a waitress, cook and bookkeeper. She always dreamed of being an author and was excited to have a story, she was so passionate about, to write.

"When I was younger I used to say I would write mystery novels," said Hochgurtel. "This book actually started as a diary. It was what I could do to get through all the chaos."

Hochgurtel's book is selling for $8.99. "Aunt Mommy," a 2007 publication by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC, of Mustang, Okla., can be purchased now at Two Guys from Italy in Gardnerville, or at tatepublishing.com. After the book's release date, July 3, it will be available at amazon.com, borders.com or barnesandnoble.com.



-- Jo Rafferty is People editor at The Record-Courier. She can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210. ... Read more

Book Description
An exceptional memoir that provides emotional insight and practical advice.

It's like planning a trip to Italy, only to get off the plane and discover you're actually in Holland. You need a new road map, and fast...

When Jennifer Groneberg and her husband learned they'd be having twin boys, their main concern was whether they'd need an addition on their house. Then, five days after Avery and Bennett were born, Avery was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Here, Jennifer shares the story of what followed. She dealt with doctors-some who helped, and some who were disrespectful or even dangerous. She saw some relationships in her life grow stronger, while severing ties with people who proved unsupportive. And she continues to struggle to find balance in the hardships and joys of raising a child with special needs. This book is a resource, a companion for parents, and above all, a story of the love between a mother and her son-as she learns that Avery is exactly the child she never knew she wanted. ... Read more

Book Description
This practical handbook offers advice on strategies for meeting the special educational needs of children with Down's syndrome in mainstream schools. The aim is to increase the confidence of support assistants, teachers, SENCOs and senior managers in both primary and secondary schools in providing a quality education for these pupils, while using scarce resources to best effect.

The author offers an introduction to the particular characteristics of children with Down's syndrome and their impact on learning and behaviour. She considers the benefits of inclusive education and the most effective ways in which the National Curriculum can be made accessible. She also examines working with the whole-school, parents and outside agencies, as well as providing practical resources such as photocopiable proformas and checklists, materials for INSET in schools and support services and a list of reading materials. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

everyone needs this one
the cover of this book is actually pink so when you hear people talk about the pink book - this is it. it is an absolute must have for anyone with a DS child trying to get them in a mainstream classroom. it has all the concrete evidence needed to force the issue with the school as well as a ton of practical suggestions and examples of what needs to be done to make it work. i take this book to every IEP meeting we have.

Useful
This is a good book about including students with Down syndrome in regular classes. There are references to research. It covers both common problems and solutions. Even though the book is British, I think it's very useful for me in Sweden. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

very educational
i think this book should go to individuals to learn about issues that might be dealing with. these two advocates have learned a lot and how their parents has taught them i think i definitively recommend this book to go to many libraries and bookstores so that other mencan learn how to do things on their own just like any other men. i am a women and i have down syndrome to i have read this it made me realize that havingdown syndrome is a celebration

As a Mom, I Couldn't Relate
I read this when my son was a baby and the book was new. I couldn't relate to ANYTHING about these boys lives. As a woman, I just couldn't relate to their male view of the world. We did not share any interests either. This book might be more appreciated by an adult male relative, professional, or family friend, but I wouldn't recommend it for a teen. It is nice that these two boys with DS are so capable, but their book would be more interesting for someone that shared their viewpoint and/or interests. If you are a woman, read something more uplifting.

Count Us Inby Jason Kingsley, & Mitchell Levitz
This is a book written in their own words by two young men who have Down's Syndrome.They share the ups and down's of their lives .Although my son is only nine, I found this book very helpful because it gave me some preview of things to come. Because the book was written in the boys' own words,it gives a unique picture into the minds and lives of older children with Down syndrome.It also gave some insight into familiar problems, as well as some events that were unique to these boys who authored the book.I found myself wishing that myown son had a close friend to help guide him through the ups and downs that await him in his teenage years.Then I realised that I could actively seek out peers for him to become friendly with at my local Down syndrome chapter, and maybe I couldfind some friends that he could become close with in a similar fashion to the authors of this book. Ihighly recommend this bookto all parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals who work with children who have disabliities similar to Down Syndrome, because the experiences of these boys could cover a broad spectrum of disabilities, not only Down Syndrome.So many books are written from an outsider's prespective. This book comes straight from the sourcel.

irinaz
I first read this book when my son with Down Syndrome was very young.It was extremely encouraging to me to read the very complex and interesting thoughts of two adult men who have Down Syndrome.I wish all teachers would read this book.I think any parent with a child who has Down Syndrome, especially a very young one, would benefit from reading this book.I really fell in love with Jason and Mitchell. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good for primary grade classmates
I bought this book for my daughter's kindergarten class. Nice simple explanations of kids learning but slower, maybe needing help in class or other aids. Nice pictures of typical not just extra cute kids with DS and some adults too. Wish it ended with someone in a real job not a workshop. ... Read more

Book Description
You will love reading JACKIE!113 entertaining pages of laugh-out-loud, cry-out-loud stories...with a point: practical, experience-based advice for nurturing the full potential of special children. You will revisit JACKIE again & again as your child grows. Includes Jackie's Photo Album, four pages of color photographs, depicting & accompanying her real life adventures.

A must read for all family members, friends, clergy, family doctors, pediatricians, caseworkers, special education teachers, & other professionals associated with newborn & young mentally retarded children! ... Read more

Book Description
The underlying theme of this book is that children with Down syndrome, despite their constitutional anomalies and their additional medical problems, can be understood from a normative developmental framework.The contributions, all of which are based on the latest theories and research, demonstrate that the application of a developmental perspective to the study of young children with Down syndrome sheds light on the universality of ontogenetic sequences, stages, and structures, and highlights the respective roles of biological, perceptual-cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional factors in the developmental process. Finally, it is shown that the application of a developmental perspective will suggest age and stage-appropriate interventions for Down syndrome children and their families.This will be a suitable book for psychologists, psychiatrists, special education teachers, pediatricians, and other medical researchers interested in Down syndrome and mental retardation, as well as graduate students in these areas. ... Read more

Book Description
Childhood and adult experiences of individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are becoming increasingly well documented, yet the crucial formative teenage years have, so far, been neglected. Adolescence is a difficult time for any teenager, but when you have Asperger Syndrome this already emotionally complex time of life becomes all the more challenging. Reflecting the views of parents, professionals and those with AS themselves, this book tackles issues that are pertinent to all teenagers, such as sexuality, depression and friendship, as well as discussing topics like disclosure and therapeutic alternatives that are more specific to those with AS. This book aims to make the transition from child to adult as smooth as possible, and is an essential survival guide to adolescence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Special Education Teacher Review
An insightful resource! I found this book to be very informative. The author's explanation of the syndrome was clear and very easy to understand.To read the preface by Luke Jackson, a student identified with Asperger's, was also very moving and validating. I am in the process of referring a high school student for Asperger's screening. This book was my number 1 resource in my own exposure to this disability and its place on the Autistic spectrum. The author covers such innovative topics as; cognitive behavior therapy, exploring friendships,the sexuality of Asperger teens, the importance of occupational therapy, safety issues,diagnosis, parenting, interventions strategies, educational concerns and disclosure & self-advocacy. One would hope a child with Asperger's would be diagnosed at the elementary level. However, with such a new awakening to the topic, I feel there are probably hundreds of misdiagnosed adolescents out there waiting for help and insight. Parents, I urge you to approach your child's teachers if you suspect Asperger-like characteristics in your own child. Then, I recommend you all read this book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointed
This book tells of a grandmother's reaction to the birth and ongoing life of a down syndrome boy.I bought it in the expectation of learning something useful about another person's view of this syndrome.I was very disappointed as the book was very slight, ill written, and I learnt nothing of the little boy himself. His fears and pleasures and his joy or sadness in life were not touched on.I admire the grandmother's desire to share her experiences but for me they were too closely focused on herself .Basically when you could forgive the poor writing , the book was dull.I also have a grandson with the same syndrome and I learnt nothing new here.

A heart rendering account of one family's treasure!
Genre: Non-Fiction/Journal
Title: He has Up Syndrome not Down Syndrome
AUTHOR: Caroline Brandt
Caroline Brandt is a daughter, mother and grandmother like millions of other women. This is the true story of how her life was changed by a lovable little boy named Riley her grandson who has Down Syndrome.

Written in journal form, this tiny book tells of the trials and tribulations that a family experiences with a special needs child. It is written in first person and explores the emotional roller coaster of coming to grips and learning to accept this new child and all of his challenges. The story covers the period from birth to the start of school.

Although the book is directed at a specific demographic, it is a heart rendering tale and an informative read for everyone. The vocabulary and style are simplistic and remind the reader of a `chit chat' between friends, around the kitchen table.

Only 61 pages, it is a quick read.

Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews.

He has Up Syndrome not Down Syndrome
Very touching story about a family dealing with a Down Syndrome child.Reads very well and fast.. The author is very honest in her writing. ... Read more

Product Description
While the struggle for disability rights has transformed secular ethics and public policy, traditional Christian teaching has been slow to account for disability in its theological imagination.Amos Yong crafts both a theology of disability and a theology informed by disability. The result is a Christian theology that not only connects with our present social, medical, and scientific understanding of disability but also one that empowers a set of best practices appropriate to our late modern context. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

finally!
i am filled with gratitude nearly each time i read another section of this book.i'm thankful that mr. yong has taken on such a work and really don't have words for how this book will help me as a parent and as a follower of jesus. ... Read more

Book Description
Language is the foundation for learning and school success. This is true for all students, including children with Down syndrome. Inclusive school settings provide children with Down syndrome great opportunities to improve their communication development— speaking, writing, listening, and following spoken instructions. But these same opportunities create real challenges for them because of wide-ranging skill levels and abilities in language and speech.

Libby Kumin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a leading expert on Down syndrome and its impact on communication development. Her new book covers every aspect of a child's language needs in school from kindergarten- age through early adolescence. Early chapters provide an overview of the characteristic communication problems associated with Down syndrome, their underlying causes, and how they can affect a child in school. Later, the book explains how to address communication needs directly in a child's IEP, and then goes into detail about the best strategies for adapting school work and teacher-student communication in an inclusive classroom.

CLASSROOM LANGUAGE SKILLS FOR CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME emphasizes the crucial role teachers and speech-language pathologists play. It explains how to make adaptations to curriculum, verbal instruction, classroom routines, and written assignments. The book discusses ways to enhance social communication between children with Down syndrome and other students during class, lunch, and recess. Also covered is the use of augmentative communication methods for children with Down syndrome who are non-verbal or rarely use speech.

As an added bonus, there are numerous forms and checklists for parents such as an IEP planner, home-school communication tips, samples of visual prompts, graphic organizers, and worksheet adaptations. Overall, this guide offers parents an in-depth overview of their child's language skills in school, while providing teachers and SLPs with useful ideas and adaptations that will help them meet the communication needs of their students with Down syndrome. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Classroom Language Skills for Children with Down syndrome
Wonderful book, too many great ideas to list.

A must have!
While written specifically for children with Down Syndrome, this book is an excellent source of information for any parent of a child with a language impairment, advocate or teacher.It clearly encompasses best practices in the provision of language services to students with language impairments and gives valuable-- and specific-- insights and advice on the design of IEPs and curriculum.The language is clear and accessible to those without professional training or certification in speech and language pathology.My non-Down Syndrome child has a language impairment and I am involved in professional ESE advocacy; I use this book extensively in training parents on SLP issues, best practices, delivery models , and the development of meaningful IEPs.I also suspect that an earlier reviewer intended to review another book, this is not a book about reading or phonics, but about the provision of educationally relevant services and development of academic and functional skills for students with communication impairments.

Buy it for your child's teacher!
This book picks up from where Dr. Kumin's earlier book, "Communication Skills in Children with Down Syndrome" leaves off. Aimed at the elementary and middle school years, this book is about developing good communication and learning skills. Parents and teachers interested in reading skills will want to look at, "Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome," by Patricia Logan Oelwein. I have had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Kumin speak and she is undoubtedly one of the leading expert on communication skills in children with Down syndrome. The book starts with a look at what language skills a child will need in school and then goes on to discuss building a team and a curriculum to reach that goal. The main topic of the book is how to help the child with Down syndrome learn in an inclusive environment. Dr. Kumin shows us that children with Down syndrome can learn and can succeed but they may need to have the curriculum adapted to their needs. For example, she shows how worksheets can be confusing for a child with Down syndrome but she also shows how they can be easily adapted to make them less confusing. Many children fail, not because they don't understand the material but rather because they have trouble following complicated multi-step instructions. One specific example she discusses is math word problems. The complex language of the word problem can be very difficult for the child to understand even though they have no difficulty doing the actual math problem. Dr. Kumin discusses how IDEA requires that children with disabilities be given accommodations in order to help them be fairly assessed. As a parent or a teacher you will want to read this book. The research discussed and the many ideas put forth can help a child succeed and build self confidence where before there was fear and failure. If you are a teacher of a child with Down syndrome, buy this book. If you are a parent of a child with Down syndrome then buy two copies, one for yourself and the other for your child's teacher.

A must have for parents and teachers
This book is full of information to help parents and teachers adapt the language demands of the classroom to the needs of their child with Down syndrome. There's information on how the teacher can adapt her spoken instructions, written work, and classroom routines for the child with Down syndrome. There's information on figuring out how the speech therapist could best help your child master the curriculum and improve his communication skills--not to mention how to advocate for the type and amount of speech therapy that would most benefit your child. And there's information about how parents can work with teachers to make homework assignments do-able and meaningful for your child, as well as ways to enrich communication development outside of the classroom. I must say that it sounds like the previous reviewer meant to review a different book and mistakenly clicked on this one! Her review seems to be about a book on teaching reading--Classroom Language Skills includes a little information about adapting reading work in the classroom, but goes way beyond that. She obviously didn't read the same book that I did.

It's just "whole language"
Get a good book on "whole language" if that's the teaching method you want to use. Better yet, use a good phonics-based approach that also emphasizes the "whole word" approach. There's nothing magic in this book for children with Down Syndrome, and the suggested materials are time-consuming to make. My child now reads well, having learned all the "word attack" skills, rather than just one word attack skill, which is what "whole language" amounts to. ... Read more

Product Description
An appealing request for understanding and frienship; Nick's story explains what Down Syndrome is and how it affects children born with it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just the right touch
I found this book to be a very sensitive and positive treatment of a topic that needs to be discussed in schools today.As more children with Down Syndrome and other disabilities are entering our classrooms, discussions of pertinent issues are important. Exposure of non-disabled children to books such as this one will facilitate their communication with and acceptance of the disabled youngsters with whom they will be expected to associate. Ms. Glatzer does an admirable job of presenting the information in an informative, gentle, non-threatening way, at just the right level for a young elementary school aged child to grasp. By writing the book as a first-person narrative, told in the words of Nick, the young boy with Down Syndrome, she makes it easy and natural for the young reader to empathize with him. The similarities between Nick and the reader are stressed, rather than the differences.This book (and the others in the same series) should be in every elementary school classroom today. ... Read more

Product Description
Celebrate each day with the joyous faces of children with Down syndrome in this beautiful calendar featuring hand painted photography by Kendra Dew. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

beautiful photos of beautiful children
this calendar is is beautiful and a pleasure to turn to the next month. I like that proceeds go for education of children with Downs syndrom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Such an important book
This book is not only an important piece of research but also a great story of gifted teachers and unique learners.This book is beyond throught-provoking...it is ground-breaking.Those who read it will learn much about possibilities for people with disabilities and their teachers and for schooling itself. ... Read more

Product Description
Where is up, where is down? Are you in your house or out? Is your friend standing in front of the tree or behind it?

These are just a few phrases that MY UP & DOWN & ALL AROUND BOOK inspires. Playful, color photographs by Marjorie Pitzer in the style of her popular I CAN, CAN YOU? board book help introduce many of the most frequently used prepositions--words that tell something about location or time.

Children with Down syndrome who typically experience speech and language delays can take longer to master the use of prepositions than their peers. Kids up to age six will love this little book, and so will their parents who know that it offers fun and practice!

Page spreads feature opposites--Before and After; Above and Below, for example--and corresponding pictures of toddlers and preschoolers with Down syndrome illustrate the concept behind the words. At the end of the book, a section written by Libby Kumin, speech-language pathologist and author, provides parents, teachers, and therapists with tips on how to expand their child's language skills, using the words in sentences, and tailoring the book to a particular child's needs.

Take this sturdy board book to school, to the park, or in the car. Families and classmates will have hours of fun reading the book aloud and thinking up phrases that use these key words...
Did you ride your bike before lunch or after?
Is my hat on or off?
Are you sitting next to your buddy or in between two friends? ... Read more

Product Description
A young man with Down syndrome’s inspirational life story written by his younger sister.His story proves that even those who appear to have limited potential have unlimited possibilities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Highly Recommended
This is one of those books you just want to read again and again!Ian's spirit comes alive early on, and by the time you finish reading you feel like you know him personnally.His story is truly inspirational and uplifting, and the book itself is very well-written and has many lessons to teach.Highly recommended...

What will your other children think?
One of parents' biggest concerns about having a child with Down syndrome is "how will this affect my other children?"Well, now, directly from the mouth of a little sister, you can find out how Down syndrome can enrich the lives of everyone in the family.

This is not a story of tragedy or triumph; it is not a story of an adult who has "beat all the odds" or "overcame" anything. It is a story about a family who recognizes that an extra chromosome is just one more thing that makes their family wonderful.

If you are looking for a tear-jerker, or a story of heroism, look elsewhere. All you will find here is a story of a family who realizes that the "everyday" is something special!

An Everyday Inspiration
Wonderful reading tool that inspires you about the life of a family with an extra special son.It shows how expectations and reality can be total opposites.Would recommend this book especially for families, friends and professionals that are involved with special needs children. ... Read more