Intrigued by a book in the Harried Parent's Book Club, or want to learn more about a subject that's covered? Read more about it through book excerpts. Choose from this index listed alphabetically by the title of the excerpt, or go to an alternate index listed by book title.
1. Excerpt Title: "Accommodations for Specific Disabilities"
Cover image courtesy of AMACOM
From the Book: A Parent's Guide to Special Education
Authors: Linda Wilmshurst and Alan W. Brue
Quote: "The accommodations required for a child vary based on the child's needs as well as strengths and weaknesses. In general, there is a common set of accommodations for children who have a particular disability. We will address some disabilities and include accommodations that may be helpful." ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Linda Wilmshurst and Alan W. Brue
Quote: "The accommodations required for a child vary based on the child's needs as well as strengths and weaknesses. In general, there is a common set of accommodations for children who have a particular disability. We will address some disabilities and include accommodations that may be helpful." ... Go to full excerpt
2. Excerpt Title: "Brain Train Crashes"
Cover image courtesy of Nancy Mucklow
From the Book: The Sensory Team Handbook for Pre-Teens
Author: Nancy Mucklow
Quote: "Brain train crashes occur when the timing of messages is off, or where the nerve networks are rough or weak. The brain has about a millisecond to respond to most situations. There's no time to think. If nerve networks aren't strong and solid, or the information isn't on time, then messages can get derailed or mixed up." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Nancy Mucklow
Quote: "Brain train crashes occur when the timing of messages is off, or where the nerve networks are rough or weak. The brain has about a millisecond to respond to most situations. There's no time to think. If nerve networks aren't strong and solid, or the information isn't on time, then messages can get derailed or mixed up." ... Go to full excerpt
3. Excerpt Title: "Breathing Techniques to Relax Your Child"
Cover image courtesy of Patti Teel
From the Book: The Floppy Sleep Game Book
Author: Patti Teel
Quote: "Children are naturally fascinated by their own breathing, just getting quiet and paying attention to it is extremely soothing. Rather than thinking about the events and worries of their day, as children focus on their own breath, their minds will become quiet. Their breathing will also automatically slow down and deepen, bringing more oxygen into their bodies and helping them to relax." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Patti Teel
Quote: "Children are naturally fascinated by their own breathing, just getting quiet and paying attention to it is extremely soothing. Rather than thinking about the events and worries of their day, as children focus on their own breath, their minds will become quiet. Their breathing will also automatically slow down and deepen, bringing more oxygen into their bodies and helping them to relax." ... Go to full excerpt
4. Excerpt Title: "But I Didn't Sign Up for This"
Cover image courtesy of Katherine Schneider
From the Book: To the Left of Inspiration
Author: Katherine Schneider
Quote: "Realize that your family will no longer be anonymous like "normal" families. The equipment you have to carry, the visibility of the disability, etc. make quick trips to the mall or last-minute getaways with your spouse with a babysitter holding down the fort things of the past. Your organizational and planning skills, as well as your public speaking and advocating skills, will grow by leaps and bounds." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Katherine Schneider
Quote: "Realize that your family will no longer be anonymous like "normal" families. The equipment you have to carry, the visibility of the disability, etc. make quick trips to the mall or last-minute getaways with your spouse with a babysitter holding down the fort things of the past. Your organizational and planning skills, as well as your public speaking and advocating skills, will grow by leaps and bounds." ... Go to full excerpt
5. Excerpt Title: "Create a 'Sensory Bag'"
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
From the Book: Understanding Sensory Dysfunction
Authors: Polly Godwin Emmons and Liz McKendry Anderson
Quote: "Our experience has been that while initially children may need to be directed to use the sensory bag, they will soon be open to it as a suggestion and may quickly gravitate toward using it independently. Why? Because it makes them feel better and helps them regain composure using a positive, proactive approach. The other aspect of the sensory bag that is extremely valuable is that it will give those working or living with the child valuable 'clues' as to which sensory activities help the child to calm and regroup." ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Polly Godwin Emmons and Liz McKendry Anderson
Quote: "Our experience has been that while initially children may need to be directed to use the sensory bag, they will soon be open to it as a suggestion and may quickly gravitate toward using it independently. Why? Because it makes them feel better and helps them regain composure using a positive, proactive approach. The other aspect of the sensory bag that is extremely valuable is that it will give those working or living with the child valuable 'clues' as to which sensory activities help the child to calm and regroup." ... Go to full excerpt
6. Excerpt Title: "Dealing With Staring"
Cover image courtesy of Judy Winter
From the Book: Breakthrough Parenting
Author: Judy Winter
Quote: "Staring is part of the deal that comes with giving your child every opportunity to be fully included in society. The good news is that it often gets easier to handle once you come to love and accept your child unconditionally. The next time someone stares at you or your child, give the benefit of the doubt -- and think of it as an opportunity to enlighten this person." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Judy Winter
Quote: "Staring is part of the deal that comes with giving your child every opportunity to be fully included in society. The good news is that it often gets easier to handle once you come to love and accept your child unconditionally. The next time someone stares at you or your child, give the benefit of the doubt -- and think of it as an opportunity to enlighten this person." ... Go to full excerpt
7. Excerpt Title: "Determining Reading Level"
Cover image courtesy of Rich Weinfeld and Michelle Davis
From the Book: Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book
Authors: Rich Weinfeld and Michelle Davis
Quote: "Want to determine the readability level of your child's schoolwork? Evaluate your child's reading and writing levels by following the steps below." ... Go to full excerpt
Authors: Rich Weinfeld and Michelle Davis
Quote: "Want to determine the readability level of your child's schoolwork? Evaluate your child's reading and writing levels by following the steps below." ... Go to full excerpt
8. Excerpt Title: "Differentiating Instruction"
Cover image courtesy of Peggy A. Hammeken
From the Book: A Teacher's Guide to Inclusive Education
Author: Peggy A. Hammeken
Quote: "With differentiated instruction, classroom teachers plan what the students will need to learn, how they will learn it and how they will demonstrate what they have learned. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student's growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is and assisting in the learning process. One of the most popular terms when referring to differentiating instruction is that 'one size does not fit all.'" ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Peggy A. Hammeken
Quote: "With differentiated instruction, classroom teachers plan what the students will need to learn, how they will learn it and how they will demonstrate what they have learned. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student's growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is and assisting in the learning process. One of the most popular terms when referring to differentiating instruction is that 'one size does not fit all.'" ... Go to full excerpt
9. Excerpt Title: "Disappointment: Containing the Spill and Moving On"
Cover image courtesy of Da Capo Press
From the Book: "Freeing Your Child From Negative Thinking"
Author: Tamar E. Chansky, Ph.D.
Quote: "For children with a tendency toward the negative, disappointing experiences don't just ruin that one event; they spill over and ruin all surrounding events. The game plan is to help children learn to be more flexible with their expectations so they can be better buffered from any eventuality." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Tamar E. Chansky, Ph.D.
Quote: "For children with a tendency toward the negative, disappointing experiences don't just ruin that one event; they spill over and ruin all surrounding events. The game plan is to help children learn to be more flexible with their expectations so they can be better buffered from any eventuality." ... Go to full excerpt
10. Excerpt Title: "Eye Contact"
Cover image courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
From the Book: Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome
Author: Luke Jackson
Quote: "Sometimes it is too hard to concentrate on listening and looking at the same time. People are hard enough to understand as their words are often so very cryptic, but when their faces are moving around, their eyebrows rising and falling and their eyes getting wider then squinting, I cannot fathom all that out in one go, so to be honest I don't even try." ... Go to full excerpt
Author: Luke Jackson
Quote: "Sometimes it is too hard to concentrate on listening and looking at the same time. People are hard enough to understand as their words are often so very cryptic, but when their faces are moving around, their eyebrows rising and falling and their eyes getting wider then squinting, I cannot fathom all that out in one go, so to be honest I don't even try." ... Go to full excerpt
