Customer Reviews
get this book 
2008-05-06
I LOVE the chapters on teaching strategies and behavior. Lots of great tips for helping challenging kids. The teaching strategies chapter has ideas for getting ready for transitions, preparing the classroom, and teaching lessons effectively. The planning-in-reverse strategy is really effective!
philosophy and helpful practices 2008-02-20
I have recommended this book to many -- the philosophy is sound but the practical suggestions are the highlight for me.
Brilliant and eye opening 2007-07-25
Brilliant, eloquent, and helpful, this book is not only eye opening, but gives a clear grasp and understanding to the broad spectrum Autism occupies. Dr. Kluth's book clearly explains the way parents and teachers can impact children not only at home, but in an inclusive classroom.
"You re" Going to Love this Kid" is written in a clear, no non-sense style capturing the unique challenges that can occur between school systems, teachers, parents and the special child with autism. Dr. Kluth brilliantly gives examples and steps to help overcome the obstacles so many parents face with educational professionals who may be ignorant or unaware of the promising and doable outlook of inclusive teaching.
Dr. Kluth's book is not only creative, but easy to follow and useful. It is information on routines and other helpful ideas and all done in an easy to follow creative way. This book is inspiring and touching with the many stories she includes from actual students.
I borrow Dr. Kluth's book out regularly and strongly encourage teachers, administrators and parents to attend Dr. Kluth's seminars regarding inclusive teaching and understanding autism.
So Glad I Read This Book! 2007-07-20
My Boss gave me a copy of this book and suggested that I read it last summer. It sat on my desk for almost a year. When I finally did read it I couldn't believe I waited so long! I couldn't believe all the information, strategies and inspirational stories that where sitting in this wonderful book just waiting for me to read!
I got a tremendous amount of information, tips on planning, routines to follow and I feel it would have made my last year so much more fun, challenging, rewarding and hopeful if I would have just read it when it was given to me! That is why I had to tell people to read this book, don't procrastinate, do it! Dr. Kluth's book has given me such a bright and promising outlook on the future of inclusion. Her easy to follow, creative, and doable steps on including students with Autism into the classroom make sense. Her stories from actual students with Autism were touching and made me realize why I am doing this. I can't wait for the new school year.
If I have to say one thing......just read this book! It's for your own good!
This book at least understands the meaning of inclusion. 
2006-10-01
This book provides information on how to make classrooms inclusive enough for autistic people and a wide range of other people, by adapting the way everything is done so that a broader range of people can participate than exists in the everyday classroom. Unlike people that view inclusion as putting a disabled child in with nondisabled children with nothing modified except adding an aide for the disabled child, this book views inclusion as about changing the entire way the class is taught so that a wider variety of people can participate to begin with.
For people who want to work within the education system at all, this would seem to be the way to do it. The only problem I had with this book was that it assumes as one of its key points that there is something good and right and natural about having children separated by age in their education.
I can see why that would be a tempting idea, because it removes the problem of, for instance, an autistic person being stuck in a class of entirely people five years younger than them because that's how they come out on standardized tests of their grade level. It allows autistic people to be exposed to the same academic material as others their age without being assumed not to benefit from this. However, there's nothing particularly natural or right about learning entirely with and from people in your exact age group, for anybody. This aspect of the school system has been extensively criticized by non-disabled students and their parents. I was disappointed to see this problem was not addressed, but rather reinforced.
Finally, as an autistic person, I was glad to see our points of view directly represented throughout the book. While I believe the education system has to change a lot more than is outlined in this book, this book is a good start.
Must have book! 2006-08-29
This book provides strategies and concepts to aid educators in creating an inclusive environment for students with autism in both primary and secondary schools, covering such topics as collaboration, lesson plans, supports, and community. The chapters are designed to highlight how any student with autism spectrum disorders can be supported to participate in academic instruction, school routines, and social activities. The book uses examples of how to plan lessons, engineer a safe and comfortable classroom, provide communication opportunities, and understand and support challenging behaviors. The author uses her own classroom and school observations and her experiences as an elementary and high school educator to explore methods of adapting the school environment to be comfortable and appropriate for students with autism and autism spectrum disorders
Educator's perspective of autism, but some things off the mark 
2005-11-16
As a parent with a child who is half way through her first year of inclusion, I found this book to be on the mark in many ways - especially in preparation of the social/community aspects of including a child in a typical classroom (e.g. listening to parents, preparing the class, the teacher). However, I had hoped that this book would provide more useful information on the biggest problem that my school has with inclusion: prompting and prompt dependance. Applied Behavioral Analysis has a very formal language and method of describing and fading prompting. This book could have performed a useful service if it had taken these concepts and put them into terms that a teacher could understand.
Also, the author did not give ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) enough (any) credit for the real advance of treatment and education for autistic learners. She describes "behaviorism" as "complex" - well, yes, but Cognitive models for understanding and teaching are even more so. I think she really needs to sit down with a good (or even an average) behavioral consultant and make a chapter on how to integrate the learnings of Discrete Trial, Pivotal Response, Errorless Teaching, etc. into an included classroom. We are lucky that our classroom aide was also our daughter's home ABA therapist. It is a very powerful combination to have in an included classroom.
A very good book if you want inclusion 2005-09-11
My son is in preschool and has autism. This book is extremely helpful in giving you an overview of inclusion. It covers the law quickly but thoroughly in the beginning so you know what your rights are as a parent. It also talks a great deal about the benefits of inclusion not just to your special needs child but also to the other students. It gives you ideas on how to think "outside of the box" in teaching your child.
My only reason for giving it 4 stars rather than 5 is that in some cases, your child can get a better education by not doing inclusion and this is really not covered in the book. I think that my current situation is a good example of this. I am currently living in an OK school district but their is an autism teacher who is OUTSTANDING! I would be foolish not to take advantage of this teacher. My son still has some inclusion but not over 50%. Most importantly, the amount of inclusion is constantly discussed between the teacher and myself. This book proves to me that by law, I could fight and win to get more inclusion for my son. However, that doesn't mean that it is best for him.
A dynamic and absorbing read 2005-06-11
A book dedicated to guiding the teaching of students with autism in the inclusive classroom is long overdue. You're Going to Love this Kid!: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom is a landmark work by Paula Kluth, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University. She has been a special educator and inclusion facilitator and currently consults with school districts across the country. In her book, she provides ready-to-use strategies for including students with autism in both primary and secondary school classrooms. First-person accounts of students' autism give readers insight into the experience of having autism and show educators how to adapt classrooms to support student participation in class work, school routines, social activities and more.
This volume is unique in many ways in the world of teacher education. It focuses exclusively on inclusive education as both ideology and pedagogy. Communication, behavior, and learning problems are understood in context and within relationships. Useful strategies for teachers, administrators, therapists, counselors, etc. are included. In addition, the voices of students with autism spectrum disorders are featured in a sensitive and enlightening fashion. As the author notes, "...these students are often a catalyst for change and creativity. Specifically, including students with autism may help teachers think more carefully about the choices offered to students: the design of the lesson; the ways in which students can participate in teaching and learning; and the comfort, engagement, and opportunities for all." (p.31)
Kluth shows educators how to adapt their classrooms to support student participation in classwork, as well as school routines and social activities. The author skillfully weaves relevant research with lessons learned from her teaching experience to give readers a comprehensive approach with specific ideas that are both pragmatic and creative for:
* understanding the attitudes, values, and actions that support inclusive schooling
* connecting, communicating, and collaborating effectively with families
* enhancing literacy by adapting reading materials, using visuals, and tapping in to student interests
* planning challenging, multidimensional lessons that encourage all students to participate and help students reach their individual goals
* supporting student behavior in sensitive, positive ways
* fostering friendships and social relationships between students with and without autism
* adapting the physical environment for students with autism who may have heightened sensitivity to factors like temperature, sounds, and smells
Meeting students "where they are" at every turn makes You're Going to Love this Kid! philosophically compatible with the concepts of "Floortime" and the DIR model. Furthermore, the language and practices of inclusive education go a long way towards responding to the diversity that exists in every classroom. The weakness for this reader is the incomplete treatment of how to handle the nonverbal child with autism who does not have a reliable communication system and whose behaviors can be extremely challenging and even disruptive to the classroom as a whole. One gets the impression that all specialized settings and self-contained classrooms are obsolete. Another stumbling block that needs more consideration is the resistance to accepting inclusive education in a school culture that is often competitive, individualistic, and authoritative. As we can see all too clearly in the world around us, culture changes slowly and only with respect and patience for the other's point of view.
On the whole, Kluth's book is a dynamic and absorbing read that gives educators a humanistic perspective on understanding students with autism - and helping them participate as fully as possible in every aspect of classroom life. The author's aspirations encompass the whole classroom--that all learners feel safe, comfortable and capable. Towards this objective, Kluth provides astute guidance in preparing teachers and students for inclusive schooling. Learner-centered, multi-dimensional perspectives for effectively educating kids with autism, their peers and their teams come to life. Paula Kluth intelligently embraces the full spectrum of team, family, and learning perspectives.
While the primary audience for this book is classroom teachers, parents and other professionals working in partnership on a child's team will find this volume comprehensive and extremely valuable.
Robert Naseef, Ph.D. is a psychologist specializing in families of children with special needs in the Philadelphia area and on the Internet at www.alternativechoices.com. He is the author of "Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Raising a Child With a Disability" (2001, Brookes Publishing.
Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People With Autism, And Professionals Share Their Wisdom
A Chance to Belong 2004-12-17
Ms. Kluth's stellar work on including students with autism is a gem no educator should be without. I like the way she breaks down behaviors; describes possible triggers and offers reasonable, practical approaches to responding to socially unacceptable behaviors.
This is an extraordinary work that deserves a place of honor among professionals. I like the way she discusses other conditions and ways to provide accessibility.
The only thing I admit I didn't like was the word perseverate. That is a highly charged and extremely damaging/judgmental word that many people find offensive. While many professionals and other "neurotypical" people use it as a short hand or descriptor, it is still a very negative, stigmatizing word.
One thing that is so readily apparent about autism is that it is chiefly a sensory condition. Autism is a neurobiological condition that affects sensory processing and in some cases sensory integration; in very rare instances "linked" senses or synesthesia, i.e. "seeing music," "tasting words" and "hearing colors." Since autism is so plainly rooted in the senses and expressed in sensory terms, it is patently ridiculous to wonder if people with autism feel things. I like the way Ms. Kluth debunks a lot of misperceptions about autism and recognizes the fact that autism is a spectrum condition that varies among individuals.
I give this book an A+!
