BOOKS TO READ
In my personal life, having all brothers and sons and in almost every Montessori classroom I taught, being boy heavy, this book clarified the needs of young boys through adolescents. For any Montessori guide who asks the questions: Why do boys have so much energy?; Why do boys tend to challenge boundaries within the classroom?; Why do boys tend to not listen as well as girls their same age? This book will help you understand their basic needs to be successful in mostly female-led educational environments.
A must read for Montessori leaders and guides. As the author and team of Psychologists share their decades of research on self-control in Early Childhood and school age children. You’ll gain a better understanding of how children develop self-regulation and self-control and has many applications to the Montessori classroom.
Birth to age three is such a time of transformation and growth. In this book, Susan Stephenson shares what she has learned during her years as a trained Montessori guide to help readers understand the development of children ages 0-3. For any Montessori guide working in an Infant/Toddler classroom, this book is a must read for encouragement in the preparation of the adult and the environment to best meet each child’s needs.
My family and I purchased this book when we were experiencing emotional regulation difficulties with my granddaughter. We found that Kranowitz’s descriptions of sensory processing challenges in plain language made the concept easy to understand. Her inclusion of charts outlining behaviors of a typically developing child side by side with those of a child with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) helps readers clearly understand some of the observed differences. Kranowitz’s book is very detailed, including questionnaires to help teachers and parents identify a need for concern and/or intensity of symptoms. The sections of the book include: your child at home, your child at school, how to collaborate with teachers, and resources for further reading. I highly recommend this book from a parent and a teacher perspective as a tool to help you engage in meaningful conversations about a child’s functioning in every aspect of their lives!
Many young children experience challenges with executive functioning. In this must read for all educators, psychologist, Peg Dawson, and neuropsychologist, Richard Guare, help readers identify a child’s executive function strengths and weaknesses and provide tips for motivating students and assisting them in problem solving challenges in daily routines. You’ll learn practical, detailed advice that shows hope for students struggling with everyday tasks like starting a work, completing a project, and managing anger.
As a teacher who changed careers and entered the teaching profession with the sole purpose to make a positive change in students’ lives, this book is a great resource to turn to to gain an understanding of what needs to be done to change the existing education system and help all children thrive in a holistic way. This book discusses challenges in education that have existed for decades as well as those that have arisen due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Dr. Hansen structures the book in three main parts: 1) a history of how we got to where we are in education; 2) the present status of how our education is currently functioning and often failing; and 3) a future of what we can do to transform education to ensure education aligns with human development and needs. I love the way this book gives a history of education and outlines what everyone (from parents to teachers to administrators to investors) can do to work towards change that benefits everyone.
Guiding a child’s behavior in a positive, communicative manner can be challenging for parents and educators alike. In this book, Developmental Psychology Specialist and Early Childhood Education Expert, Becky Bailey, introduces a powerful strategy for managing and responding to children’s behavior. Her approach relies on the “7 Powers for Self-Control” (attention, love, acceptance, perception, intention, free will, and unity) that fosters parents’ and educators’ self-discipline, allowing them to model appropriate behaviors for children while equipping themselves with the “7 Basic Discipline Skills” (including choices, encouragement, and consequences). Bailey’s approach will be helpful for any adult looking for inspiring and practical tips for understanding children’s behavior and implementing strategies to make positive changes.
Dr. Anthony E. Wolf offers a practical survival guide for those living and working with teenagers that includes authentic stories and scenarios. This book is helpful for anyone asking the questions: Why do teenagers do what they do? How do I get along better with teenagers? How do I handle a teenager’s demand for freedom, while continuing to provide strength and authority? This book will help you understand the basic challenges of adolescence and the ways to navigate relationships with teens.
The number of neurodivergent children seems to be on a consistent upward trend as new knowledge of ADHD and other disorders is gained and additional diagnoses are made. With these rising numbers also comes an obvious increase in the number of neurodivergent children in the classroom. For those without a background in Psychology, one might assume that ADHD presents only as a difficulty remaining focused or bountiful energy. In their book, Hallowell and Ratey explore the varied forms ADHD takes through vivid stories and case histories of patients. The coping strategies they provide can be helpful both in the classroom and for families in the home environment. Hallowell and Ratey shift the paradigm for readers, allowing them to view this “disorder” through a positive lens. For this reason alone, this book is a must read for teachers and administrators as they will be empowered to see the high energy, intuitiveness, creativity, and enthusiasm and the positive influences these characteristics can withhold for students.
Most educators have heard of ADHD and have a child in their class with a diagnosis. Often, however, the potential upsides of an ADHD diagnosis is overlooked. Drs. Hallowell and Ratey help readers make a plan to minimize the downside and maximize the benefits of ADHD. The book includes behavior assessments that will help identify the work, activity, and creative outlet best suited to a child’s unique strengths; provides recommendations for adjusting the environment to suit the child’s needs and enhance their creativity; and gives tips for establishing and maintaining a positive connection. As inspiring as it is practical, ADHD 2.0 is a must read for any classroom teacher or parent of a child with ADHD!