Parent Recommendation:
Hi,
My name is Phebe
Roberts. I wear a few hats - mom of Shane (who has CLS), Kyle and Ethan as well
as wife of Jeffrey. I am also an Educational Consultant for EDC Educational
Services (the exclusive provider of Usborne Books) as well as Barefoot Books.
Knowing that Shane
can
learn and as part of my aspiration to help Shane reach his maximum potential as
a human being, I am constantly seeking materials that I can use to help in that
process. In my search, I discovered many things and one that I
would like to share with all of you is Usborne Books.
Usborne Books have features that makes them ideal for Special Needs:
Top 11 Series or Books for "Speech and Language"
| First 100 Words – "Talk-about" pictures of everyday activities for use with language, articulation, and phonology goals. Sticker book version also available. |
| Everyday Words – Detailed claymation scenes, appropriate for all age levels and language goals. Also ideal for written language with key vocabulary provided in margins. Book can become a game board or even more interactive with a sticker book. |
| First 1000 Words (H), Sticker book and CD-ROM – Includes pages categorized by scene, as well as, pages about opposites, seasons, actions, sizes and more. Perfect for vocabulary, articulation, language goals for pre-K through adult. |
| Slot books – All 5 slot books are perfect for the interactive nature of therapy. They elicit language through actions of moving the character, are filled with concept vocabulary, and make books come alive for children who are not book-lovers. (Turn-taking and social gestures also reinforced.) |
| Lift the Flap – Interactive stories with rhyming, predictable text. Action-filled illustrations elicit language, questions, and the hidden characters are perfect for reinforcing prepositions. |
| Easy Words to Read – Rhyming text is perfect for phonemic awareness. Also, ideal for simple narratives, prediction, artic and phonology, etc. |
| Touchy-Feely – Perfect for negation, descriptive words, turn-taking, and predictable language structures. |
| Farmyard Tales – Perfect for early sequencing of stories, narratives, articulation carryover, and early literacy. Each story is told at 2 language/ reading levels. |
| What’s Happening?– Detailed illustrations elicit questions and answers, predicting, descriptions, storytelling with one picture, and more. |
| Puzzle Books – Problem-solving, predicting, attention to detail, auditory memory, and sequencing are just a few of the skills in these series. Books for all ages. |
| What Shall I? And Playtime – Step-by-step projects are perfect
for extension activities, sequencing, and retelling. |
Autism - A developmental disorder that primarily affects communication and social skills and is typically present before age 3. It has a broad range of severity from mild to severe, thus the term "autism spectrum disorder."
Asperger’s Disorder – A disorder of social interactions and restricted interests without clinical impairment of language skills. People with Asperger’s disorder typically have above average intelligence.
Top 10 Series for Autism - Features of series
|
Language Books: First 100 Words - Vocabulary builders, picture exploration |
|
First 1000 Words, Everyday Words - language development, CD-ROM available |
|
Touch-Feely - Textures, descriptor words |
|
Easy Words to Read Rhyme - phonemic awareness, pre-reading skills |
|
First Experiences - Rehearsing and talking about new situations |
|
1001 Things to Spot - Independent, visual based activity, categorizing |
|
Puzzle Books - Problem-solving, predicting, cognitive activities |
|
Great Searches - Independent, visual based activity, bite size |
|
First Encyclopedias - Visually stimulating, bite size pieces |
|
Art books - Independent, repetitive motion activity |
|
Personal Interests and Goals - Ask! Personal interests/passions are
key! |
A learning disability is a specific brain dysfunction that affects one or more areas including reading, writing and math.
Top 13 Series for LD - Features of series
| Easy Words to Read - phonics, hi/lo, duck |
| What’s Happening? - language development, duck |
| First Experiences - dual reader, duck |
| First Encyclopedias - bite-size pieces, hi/lo |
| Flip-Flap Learners - bite-size pieces, hi/lo |
| Learning Wrap-Ups - kinesthetic, self-correcting |
| Cooking School - step by step, activity based |
| Fantasy Adventures - hot topic, activity based |
| Spotter’s Guides - activity based, success built in |
| Better English - provides practice for skills |
| Discovery Series - I-L, hi/lo |
| Beginners - non-fiction, hi/lo |
| Computer Guides - computer activities |
ADD is a medical condition that impairs the ability to concentrate and complete tasks. ADHD is ADD paired with a need for constant activity.
Top 10 Series for AD/HD - Features of series
| 1 2 3, A B C - constant practice, duck, hi/lo |
| Slot Books - visual tracking, activity based, hi/lo |
| Puzzle Books - activity based, hi/lo |
| Great Searches - activity based, hi/lo, bite size pieces |
| What Shall I Do Today? - activity based, step by step |
| Learning Wrap-Ups - kinesthetic, self-correcting |
| Fantasy Adventures - hot topic, activity based |
| Spotter’s Guides - activity based, success built in |
| Everyday Words - language development, activity based |
| Discovery Series - I-L, hi/lo |
SID is a disorder of the central nervous system that causes messages from the senses to become confused. This can be a hyper (over) or hypo (under) reaction.
Top 10 Series for SID Features of series
| FYT Sticker Learning - Fine motor skills, activity based learning |
| Touchy-Feely (Hypo) - Provides stimulus for CNS |
| Slot Books - Fine motor skills, activity based learning |
| Playtime - Fine motor skills, encourages varied play |
| Flip-Flaps - Explains body and CNS |
| What Shall I Do Today? - Fine motor skills, activity based |
| Cooking - Fine motor skills, encourages working with texture |
| Book of the Seasons - Activity based play, textures |
| Science Activities - Activity based learning, textures |
| Science for Beginners - Explains body and CNS |
The feature I-L means internet-linked. In an internet-linked book, the content of each double page spread includes specific websites found at http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com.
An Usborne internet-linked book brings the power of the written word and the vast information of the internet together to enhance your child's learning experience. Quicklinks save time by eliminating the need for search engines, however, a computer is not required to fully enjoy these books. These books are packed with fantastic information, illustrations and breathtaking photography.
Please note that there are 1300+ titles suitable for all children of all ages and walks of life. The ones listed above happen to match the needs of special education very well and will be useful to you or your child's school for that very purpose as it has been for our family.
Although I consult for both Usborne and Barefoot Books, the books in the list above are only from Usborne Books - they have the kinds of books I deem most suitable to the needs of special education. Usborne Books can be viewed and purchased at http://www.usborne.biz/proberts
Barefoot Books may have a small selection suitable for certain challenges. Barefoot Books can be viewed and purchased at http://www.mybarefootbooks.com/pheberoberts - a list of my recommendations of their books will be posted at a later date.
20% of your purchase from either site will be donated to CLSF.
Phebe Roberts
Educational Consultant
http://www.usborne.biz/proberts
http://www.mybarefootbooks.com/pheberoberts