Teaching Children with Autism and Related Spectrum Disorders : An Art and a Science

Tackling the challenges of teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) Christy L. Magnusen argues that teachers who can blend the 'science' of education methodology with the 'art' of teaching are best able to reach these children. She takes a fresh look at established and more recent teaching techniques such as structuring spaces, emphasising language and planning for transition, and then explores the art of implementation: why, when and how to apply these methods. Based on twenty-five years of working with ASD children, this book provides guidance on engaging students and offers workable solutions to everyday teaching problems. Based on twenty-five years of teaching and working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), Christy L. Magnusen contends that it is those teachers who can blend the 'science' of education methodology with the 'art' of teaching who are best able to reach these children. Examining both these aspects of teaching, she takes a fresh look at established and more recent teaching methods such as structuring spaces, emphasizing language and planning strategies for transition and generalization, and then explores the art of implementation: why, when and how these techniques should be applied. By highlighting workable solutions to everyday problems, and emphasizing that teachers need to understand techniques and have the ability to adapt them to the situation that faces them, this book will be invaluable to all those involved in teaching children with ASDs. Based on twenty-five years of teaching and working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), Christy L. Magnusen contends that it is those teachers who can blend the 'science' of education methodology with the 'art' of teaching who are best able to reach these children. Examining both these aspects of teaching, she takes a fresh look at established and more recent teaching methods such as structuring spaces, emphasising language and planning strategies for transition and generalization, and then explores the art of implementation: why, when and how these techniques should be app "Students with autism spectrum disorders are as different from each other as they are similar. They each present with unique combinations of behavioral, communication and sensory issues, which makes teaching them very challenging. With the understanding that no two children are the same, and that the condition of autism is not static, it follows that their educational programs must involve a specialized and ever-changing combination of interventions. Simply put, teaching children with autism is an art and a science, and this book is designed around this theme Based on 25 years of working with children with ASDs Magnusen contends that teachers who can blend the 'science' of education methodology with the 'art' of teaching are best able to reach these children. She takes a fresh look at established and more recent teaching methods and then explores why, when and how these techniques should be applied. Dr. Christy L. Magnusen is Director of Special Education in Belleville, Illinois and an experienced teacher of ASD children. She has a PhD in Educational Leadership and teaches graduate course work at Southern Illinois University. Christy is also a mother of four and co-edited Autism: Clinical and Research Issues.