Synopses & Reviews
SAVE when you order the guide and the illustrated children's story together!
When learners with autism have deep, consuming fascinations—trains, triangles, basketballs, whales—teachers often wonder what to do. This concise, highly practical guidebook gives educators across grade levels a powerful new way to think about students' "obsessions": as positive teaching tools that calm, motivate, and improve learning.
Written by top autism experts and nationally renowned speakers Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz, this guide is brimming with easy tips and strategies for folding students' special interests, strengths, and areas of expertise into classroom lessons and routines. Teachers will discover how making the most of fascinations can help their students
- learn standards-based academic content
- boost literacy learning and mathematics skills
- develop social connections
- expand communication skills
- minimize anxiety
- and much more
Just Give Him the Whale! is packed from start to finish with unforgettable stories based on the authors' experience, firsthand perspectives from people with autism themselves, research-based recommendations that are easy to use right away, and sample forms teachers can adapt for use in their own classrooms. An enjoyable read with an eye-opening message, this short book will have a long-lasting impact on teachers' understanding of autism—and on their students' social and academic success.
Review
"Once again Paula and Patrick have hit the nail squarely on the head . . . A practical book that is crystal clear in its values and powerful in its vision. I recommend it for every teacher who wants to make a difference in all students' lives." Carol Tashie
Synopsis
Co-written by autism expert Kluth, this guide helps teachers use the deep fascination of students with autism as positive teaching tools. Includes case stories, recommendations based on the authors research, and guidelines on incorporating student strengths and interests in classroom design and planning.
Synopsis
SAVE when you order the guide and the illustrated children's story together
When learners with autism have deep, consuming fascinations--trains, triangles, basketballs, whales--teachers often wonder what to do. This concise, highly practical guidebook gives educators across grade levels a powerful new way to think about students' "obsessions": as positive teaching tools that calm, motivate, and improve learning.
Written by top autism experts and nationally renowned speakers Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz, this guide is brimming with easy tips and strategies for folding students' special interests, strengths, and areas of expertise into classroom lessons and routines. Teachers will discover how making the most of fascinations can help their students
- learn standards-based academic content
- boost literacy learning and mathematics skills
- develop social connections
- expand communication skills
- minimize anxiety
- and much more
Just Give Him the Whale is packed from start to finish with unforgettable stories based on the authors' experience, firsthand perspectives from people with autism themselves, research-based recommendations that are easy to use right away, and sample forms teachers can adapt for use in their own classrooms. An enjoyable read with an eye-opening message, this short book will have a long-lasting impact on teachers' understanding of autism--and on their students' social and academic success.
Synopsis
When learners with autism have deep, consuming fascinations--trains, triangles, basketballs, whales--teachers often wonder what to do. This concise, highly practical guidebook gives educators across grade levels a powerful new way to think about students' "obsessions" as positive teaching tools that calm, motivate, and improve learning.
Written by top autism experts and nationally renowned speakers Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz, this guide is brimming with easy tips and strategies for folding students' special interests, strengths, and areas of expertise into classroom lessons and routines. Teachers will discover how making the most of fascinations can help their students
- learn standards-based academic content
- boost literacy learning and mathematics skills
- develop social connections
- expand communication skills
- minimize anxiety
- and much more
Just Give Him the Whale is packed from start to finish with unforgettable stories based on the authors' experience, firsthand perspectives from people with autism themselves, research-based recommendations that are easy to use right away, and sample forms teachers can adapt for use in their own classrooms. An enjoyable read with an eye-opening message, this short book will have a long-lasting impact on teachers' understanding of autism--and on their students' social and academic success.
Synopsis
Highly practical accessible guide that shows teachers how to use children's fascinations to improve learning
About the Author
Paula Kluth, Ph.D., is one of today's most popular and respected experts on autism and inclusive education. Through her work as an independent consultant and the high-energy presentations she gives to professionals across the country, Dr. Kluth helps educators and families create responsive, engaging schooling experiences for students with disabilities and their peers, too. An internationally respected scholar and author, Dr. Kluth has written or cowritten several books for Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., including "You're Going to Love This Kid!": Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom, Second Edition (2010); Pedro's Whale (2010); From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks: 100 Ways to Differentiate Instruction in K–12 Classrooms (2010); "A Is for All Aboard!" (2010); "A Land We Can Share": Teaching Literacy to Students with Autism (2008); and "Just Give Him the Whale!": 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise, and Strengths to Support Students with Autism (2008).
Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D., is Professor of Diversity in Learning and Teaching for National-Louis University, Chicago. A dynamic author and motivational speaker, Dr. Schwarz is also Chief-Executive Officer of Creative Culture Consulting, LL. His books From Disability to Possibility: The Power of Inclusive Classrooms (Heinemann, 2007; and "Just Give Him the Whale!": 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise and Strengths to Support Students with Autism (2008) have inspired teachers nationwide to reconceptualize inclusion in ways that help all children. Dr. Schwarz's professional focus is furthering education and services that promote the status of individuals with a range of support needs. He works to facilitate successful engagement in carious environments, allowing people to make contributions and develop experiences that are meaningful to them.
Table of Contents
About the Authors
About the Cover Artist
A Note About Terminology
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Fascinations, areas of expertise, and strengths can be used
- To Develop a Relationship with the Student
- To Expand Social Opportunities
- To Expand Communication Skills and Opportunities
- To Help Minimize Anxiety
- To Plan for Inclusive Schooling
- To Build Classroom Expertise
- To Boost Literacy Learning
- To Comfort
- To Inspire Career Ideas
- To Encourage Risk Taking
- To Connect Students to Standards-Based Content
- To Encourage In-Depth Study
- To Make Sense of a Confusing World
- To Let Students Shine and Showcase Talents
- To Give Students "Power"
- To Encourage Chit-Chat
- To Boost Mathematics Skills and Competencies
- To Teach Manners, Cooperation, and the Expression of Empathy
- To Encourage Greatness
- To Make Life Worth Living
References
Appendix A Frequently Asked Questions
Appendix B Additional Resources Focused on Strengths, Abilities, and Interests