Rita Williams-Garcia is the bestselling author of picture books for young readers and novels for young adults and middle grade readers — including Clayton Byrd Goes Underground and her trilogy about the Gaither sisters (One Crazy Summer, PS Be Eleven, and Gone Crazy in Alabama). Many of her books are rooted in recent American history and all her stories brim with the authentic voices of young people. Her novels have received numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor Book, and Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction.
In this interview, you’ll learn about the origins of One Crazy Summer, why Williams-Garcia always does deep research for her books, and what she does to push through writer’s block (it might surprise you!).
Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D., is currently a researcher, consultant, and author of many books on autism spectrum disorder, including The Hidden Curriculum, Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments, and Simple Strategies That Work! Helpful Hints for All Educators of Students With Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism, and Related Disabilities.
A school in which students are performing at a much higher (or much lower) level than might be predicted using such standard measures as family SES is often described as an “outlier.”
This list was created to help teachers know which spelling words should be taught to kids in grades 1–5. The list contains 850 words that account for 80 percent of the words children use in their writing — the ones they need to be able to spell correctly.
If your child or student is a “poor” listener, frequently misunderstands speech, and has difficulty following directions, read this article. Learn symptoms of Central Auditory Processing Disorder, how it is diagnosed, and what can be done about it.
Many students with learning or reading disabilities find homework challenging. Here are five research-based strategies that teachers can use to help students.
Choosing a preschool for your child can be a tough decision, especially for a preschooler with special learning or behavior needs. Get some ideas on finding the right setting for your preschooler.
Play with rhymes and words as you read these delightful picture books together with kids. You’ll find silly rhyme games, alliteration, palindromes, a cumulative story, short poems that encourage close listening — and more!
The lovable, literal-minded Amelia Bedelia has been irresistible since she first arrived on our bookshelves fifty years ago. Amelia Bedelia really knows how to “dress” a chicken (in tiny clothes that fit just right). And when Amelia Bedelia is out driving, don’t ask her to look for “a fork in the road!” Herman Parish has been writing fresh Amelia Bedelia stories since 1995, inventing new adventures for the beloved character his aunt, Peggy Parish, created all those years ago.
For learners with sensory, physical, cognitive, or learning differences and their teachers, accessible educational materials (AEM) may open doors to teaching and learning that ordinary print-based materials have closed. Accessible educational materials or AEM are specialized formats of curricular content that can be used by and with students who are unable to read or use standard print materials. Specialized formats include braille, audio, large print, and digital text. The AEM Center serves as a resource for stakeholders, including state- and district-level educators, parents, students, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers, and others interested in learning more about AEM and implementing AEM and he National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS). The Center is part of CAST: National Center on Universal Design for Learning.
If you’re thinking of hiring a private specialist to test your child for a learning disability, here are some key questions to ask yourself and the prospective evaluator.
