The Education Shelf

The Way to Inclusion
Julie Causton, et al.
ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416631804, $30.95, PB, 137pp

https://www.amazon.com/Way-Inclusion-Leaders-Schools-Student/dp/1416631801

Synopsis: The research is clear: Including students with disabilities in ge= neral education classrooms is the most effective way for all students (able=
and disabled) to learn.

With the publication of "The Way to Inclusion: How Leaders Create Schools W= here Every Student Belongs " by the team of educators and inclusion experts=
Julie Causton, Kate MacLeod, Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, Jenna Mancini Rufo,=
and Paul Gordon is an invaluable guide for for those charged with the resp= onsibility of educator leadership..

A compendium of research, resources, and seasoned advice, "The Way to Inclu= sion" takes the reader, step-by-step, through the inclusivity change proces=
s, from envisioning a path to reimagining the roles of existing staff and e= verything in between. "The Way to Inclusion" also outlines seven clearly de= fined milestones tied to an Action Plan that will help the reader to stay t=
he course with so vital an initiative.

In addition to milestones and leadership questions, "The Way to Inclusion" = offers: Instructions for conducting an equity review of your system with a = focus on special education; Guidance for creating and analyzing service-del= ivery maps, including before-and-after examples from systems that have succ= essfully shifted to greater inclusivity; Classroom observation and staff su= rvey tools; First-person accounts from educators who have undergone the cha= nge process; Best practices for developing an inclusivity-focused vision st= atement; Downloadable forms and templates to help you move forward with imp= lementation.

Critique: Segregating students with disabilities from the rest of the stude=
nt body is simply not necessary. A strongly recommended and core addition t=
o personal, professional, school district, college, and university library = Special Education Integration collections and supplemental curriculum studi=
es lists, "The Way to Inclusion: How Leaders Create Schools Where Every Stu= dent Belongs" is an exceptionally 'user friendly' and indispensable guide f=
or making certain that all students in a school system will not only learn = but also thrive in the least restrictive environment possible.

Editorial Note #1: Dr. Jenna Mancini Rufo is an experienced public-school l= eader turned inclusive education consultant. She is the founder and owner o=
f empowerED School Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in equity and = inclusion. Having served as an assistant superintendent, director of specia=
l education, state policy specialist, special education teacher, and inclus= ion facilitator, Jenna has practical experience in leading systems change f=
or inclusion. She has shared her knowledge at numerous events, including Th=
e Atlantic's Education Summit, and recently launched a blog and video serie=
s. Jenna was inspired to enter the field of education by her sister, Nina, = who has multiple disabilities. She views education as her calling and is pa= ssionate about providing high-quality programs for all students.

Editorial Note #2: Dr. Paul Gordon has spent much of his education career w= orking for the Adams 12 Five Star School District outside Denver, Colorado,=
where he served as a classroom teacher, a middle school principal, the dir= ector of professional development, and the chief academic officer. During t=
he last 10 years, Paul has served as the superintendent of three school dis= tricts. Early in his career, he worked with students with significant readi=
ng challenges, which forged his path toward creating inclusive environments=
for each student and understanding the impact this has on the overall syst= em. As a practitioner, Paul continues to learn from students, teachers, par= ents, and others working in inclusive classrooms about the challenges and t=
he incredible opportunities that inclusion offers each student.

The Handbook of Racial Equity in Early Childhood Education
Jen Neitzel, author
Ebonyse Mead, author
Brookes Publishing Company
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681257204, $39.95, PB, 200pp

https://products.brookespublishing.com/The-Handbook-of-Racial-Equity-in-Ear= ly-Childhood-Education-P1470.aspx

Synopsis: The goal of every early educator is to prepare all students for s= chool success -- but for young Black children, entrenched biases and racial=
inequities have created an achievement gap that must be closed. Now with t=
he publication of "The Handbook of Racial Equity in Early Childhood Educati= on", educators can transform their practices and work for systemic change w= ith the help of a visionary guidebook presenting a comprehensive roadmap to=
promoting racial equity in early childhood education.

The only handbook of its kind that takes a rigorous, in depth look at the h= istorical roots of racial bias, "The Handbook of Racial Equity in Early Chi= ldhood Education" goes beyond band aid approaches to equity and prioritizes=
real transformation and healing: of adults, communities, programs, systems=
, and children. Grounded in research but focused on action, this empowering=
guide offers both deep foundational knowledge and practical classroom stra= tegies that promote better outcomes for Black children and families.

Of special note are the contributions from voices of experience (influentia=
l scholars, teachers, and parents) offering authentic perspectives on the i= mpact of racism and the importance of anti racist practices.

Critique: Timely given the present attempts in many parts of the country to=
eliminate information about Black American History, Personalities, Histori= cal and Current Racism from elementary school curriculums, "The Handbook of=
Racial Equity in Early Childhood Education" must be recognized as essentia=
l reading for classroom educators, school administrators, and schoolboard/g= overnmental policymakers working toward equity and justice. Simply stated, = "The Handbook of Racial Equity in Early Childhood Education" will materiall=
y help early childhood professionals to fight back and dismantle racially b= ased inequitable systems and ensure high quality learning experiences for e= very child regarding their racial identity and the genuine history of Afric= an-Americans. While an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to s= chool district, college, and university library Early Childhood Education c= ollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted fo=
r personal reading lists that "The Handbook of Racial Equity in Early Child= hood Education" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.99.

That Behaviour Book
Stephen Baker
Crown House Publishing
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785836688, $28.95, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/That-Behaviour-Book-teaching-children/dp/1785836684

Synopsis: What kind of teacher are you? What values, beliefs and principles=
do successful teachers have and how do they sustain these in the face of c= hallenging pupil behaviour?

In this timely book, Stephen Baker contends that rigid punishment systems w= eaponize young people's defiance against them and that punishment doesn't w= ork. He believes that teachers need to take responsibility for behaviour an=
d to lead it, not just 'manage' it, that we need to love the kids (even if =
we don't like them), that children are people, that we are an event in thei=
r lives, and that teaching is a relationship-based activity.

With each chapter followed by engaging 'takeaway tasks', That Behaviour Boo=
k will allow teachers to rapidly improve both their practice and their rela= tionships with pupils and classes. The book looks at the values that will s= ustain you as a teacher, how routines will help you teach better and what '= positive expectations' really mean, making child-centred relational practic=
e easy to apply in the classroom. Teachers will have a more realistic appre= ciation of their own situation and of the context in which they teach. In s= hort, this book will help teachers learn how to get the very best out of th= eir pupils.

"That Behaviour Book" is an essential guide for both the beginner and the m= ore experienced classroom teacher. Its unique tone makes it an indispensabl=
e companion for the busy teacher, providing a sense of connection, challeng=
e and reassurance all at once. Stephen Baker's anecdotes, drawn from his ye= ars as a pupil, teacher and trainer pack an emotional punch and are often h= ilarious.

Critique: Expertly written and presented by educator and consultant Stephen=
Baker, "That Behaviour Book: The simple truth about teaching children" is = essential and instructive reading for every classroom teacher. Providing a = wealth of engaging, illustrative, and unique mix of anecdotes, practical st= rategies and moral imperatives for successful and child-centered behavior m= anagement in an education setting, "That Behaviour Book" is a solid and rec= ommended pick for personal, professional, school district, and academic lib= rary Educational Instruction and Child Management collections and supplemen= tal curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that it is also readily av= ailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.75).

Editorial Note: Stephen Baker (https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/stephen-baker) = spent 17 years in teaching, before working with local authorities and for t=
he National Strategies as a regional adviser in Yorkshire and the Humber. H=
e is now a behavior consultant and trainer, passionate about helping teache=
rs to succeed.

Transforming Social Work Field Education
Julie L. Drolet, et al.
LCR Publishing Services
c/o University of Calgary Press
https://press.ucalgary.ca
9781773854380, $94.99, HC, 408pp

https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Social-Work-Field-Education/dp/17738543=
80

Synopsis: Social work field education in Canada is in crisis. New understan= ding and approaches are urgently needed. Innovative and sustainable models = need to be explored and adopted. As professionals, social workers are expec= ted to use research to inform their practice and to contribute to the produ= ction of research. Yet many social workers are reluctant to integrate resea= rch into their practice and into field education.

Collaborative compiled and co-edited by the team of Julie L. Drolet, Grant = Charles, Sheri M. McConnell, and Marion Bogo,"Transforming Social Work Fiel=
d Education: New Insights from Practice Research and Scholarship" encourage=
s the adoption of research and scholarship into the practice of social work=
, especially field education. It offers current theoretical concepts and pe= rspectives that shape social work field education and provides case studies=
of practice research grounded in the experiences of diverse communities an=
d countries. Highlighting cutting-edge research and scholarship, each chapt=
er addresses critical issues in social work practice and their implications=
for field education.

Bringing together scholars at various stages of their careers, "Transformin=
g Social Work Field Education" fosters a meaningful dialogue on the dynamic=
, complex, and multi-faceted nature of social work practice, research, and = innovation in the critical area of field education. A vivid and original wo= rk, "Transforming Social Work Field Education" stimulates interest and disc= ussion on the integration of research and scholarship in social work field = education in Canada and around the world.

Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking body of work, "Transforming Social W= ork Field Education: New Insights from Practice Research and Scholarship" i=
s informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of Figures, Tabe=
s, and Introduction (Field Research Scholarship in Social Work Education), =
a Conclusion by Sherri McConnell, Julie Drolet, and Grant Charles, a ten pa=
ge listing of the contributors and their credentials, and a thirteen page I= ndex. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academ= ia, active social workers, and social work supervisors/trainers that "Trans= forming Social Work Field Education" is also available in a paperback editi=
on (9781773854397, $44.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.55).

Editorial Note: The contributors include: Wasif Ali, Helen Asrate Awoke, Ke= lemua Zenebe Ayele, Afework Eyasu Aynalem, Nicole Balbuena, Morgan Jean Ban= ister, Natalie Beck Aguilera, Sheila Bell, Heather M. Boynton, Janice Chapl=
in Mailing, Emmanuel Chinlanga, Jill Ciesielski, Alise de Bie, Emma De Vync=
k, Cyerra Gage, Anita R. Gooding, Zipporah Greenslade, Annelise Hutchinson,=
Christine Anne Jenkins, Vibha Kausik, Ermias Kebede, Edward King, Kaltrina=
Kusari, William Lamar Medley, Karen Lok Yi Wong, Alexandra Katherine Mack,=
The Ottawa Adult Autism Initiative, Endalkachew Taye Shiferaw, Richardio D= iego Suarez Rojas, Margaret Janse van Rensburg, Jennie Vengris, and Courtne=
y Larissa Weaver.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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