1st Edition
Positive Special Education Theories, Applications and Inspiration
Positive Special Education spotlights the power of positive special education, combining insights from researchers and teachers in special education from several countries.
The expert team of authors, being both teachers and academics, highlight the powerful influence of teachers fostering optimistic approaches as well as the impact a positive educational experience has on young students. Instead of focusing on medical perspectives and individual deficits, this book’s uniqueness lies in showcasing how educators, students and care-workers can be empowered to overcome daily challenges by changing beliefs and attitudes. Based on extensive experience in schools across Sweden and the UK, this book consists of three major parts:
- Part I contains a history of positive special education and central theoretical concepts such as self-efficacy, implicit theories, and inclusion.
- Part II explores the potential of digital tools and how they can support students with their learning and development, and
- Part III focuses on instructional methods in reading, writing and vocabulary development.
Practical case studies throughout the book provide various examples for educators to apply the principles of positive special education in different learning environments. It is a must-read for teachers in SEND and mainstream schools, in preschool, pre-service teachers as well as undergraduate or masters’ students in education.
1. What is positive special education?
Monica Reichenberg
02. Positive special education: Why are teachers’ and students’ self-efficacy important? Consequences for reading instruction and civic education
Monica Reichenberg
03. Special educational consequences of implicit notions of ability
Anna-Carin Jonsson
04. An inclusive optimistic approach to inclusion
Elin Lande
05. Inviting students to develop their capabilities through narrative
Ian Bearcroft
06. Digital tools in the classroom
Ann Johansson and Alexandra Kappel
07. Teaching expressive communication to pupils with SEND
Georgiana Woodcock
08. Teaching Functional Literacy to Pupils with SEN
Matt Maguire
09. Inclusive Literacy: film, visuals and creative writing - the Facts in the Case of Misfter Hollow
Catherine Shipton
10. Using visuals and film to support literacy
Melanie Walker
11. Positive Special Education: Challenge students to read and write in a creative way without fixed material
Ann-Katrin Swärd
12. Learning words and understanding their morphological structures
Solveig-Alma Haalas Lyster
13. Using a simple text to develop literacy in an inclusive classroom
Carolyn Harver
14. Differentiated teaching
Olivia Carter
15. The Witting Method - safe, creative and without textbook
Louise Wramner and Ann-Katrin Åkerman
Biography
Monica Reichenberg is Senior Professor at Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Ann-Katrin Swärd is Senior Lecturer at Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Catherine Shipton is the Headteacher of Archdale School, Sheffield, UK.
