The Inclusive Learning Center Book

For Preschool Children with Special Needs

This book invites all children to learn and play in learning centers. Research has clearly shown that play in centers helps young children learn language, develop social skills, and enhance cognitive understanding. Children with special needs can actively participate and use materials that interest them. This stimulates brain connections in young children.

This book includes:

• 31 practical and appropriate learning centers to use with young children with special needs.
• Learning objectives, materials needed, vocabulary enrichment, literacy connections, drawings of center layouts, activities, and evaluation methods are included for each center.
• Specific adaptations to the environment so each activity will work effectively for children with a variety of special needs.
• Specific suggestions for the following categories of special needs: speech and language problems, Autism Spectrum Disorder, physical challenges, developmental and/or cognitive delays, behavioral challenges, and visual challenges.
• Opportunities to promote all areas of development in young children, including language, gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, cognitive, and self-care.
• Open-ended activities, allowing children of different abilities and challenges to work side-by-side. For example, a child who has a speech and language delay may work alongside a child who is more advanced in vocabulary and communication. In this environment, both children gain, as they listen, interact, and adjust.

This book provides teachers with valuable information so they can use centers effectively with children who have special needs in the classroom. By using the adaptations, teachers will be able to work to meet the individualized needs of each young child. This book considers specific learning objectives and evaluation methods that are appropriate for each child. The recommendations provided are designed to assist teachers in the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for preschoolers with special needs.

Reviews

"Any teacher who wants to use developmentally appropriate practices to include children with special needs in learning centers will find this a necessary addition to the library."

"The Inclusive Learning Center Book focuses on interest centers. It offers an overview of traditional centers - block, library, and writing, for example. It also gives an overview of more unconventional centers, such as the private place, the tactile center, and the ball center. Each center descriptions contains learning objectives, lists of props that support discovery, curriculum connections, and a sampling of activities and appropriate accommodations. Inclusive Lesson Plans and The Inclusive Learning Center Book share a significant strength. They are both enthusiastic about helping teachers building meaningful preschool experiences for every child - and offer tools to help every teacher succeed. The introductions of both books review the basics of early childhood education. Each offers both experienced and novice teachers ideas for expanding traditional themes. Both books provide guidance on modifications and accommodations for chidren with disabilities. But most importantly, both ofer support to programs and teachers who want to make the successful inclusion of children with disabilities a hallmark of their work."

"The authors bring unique backgrounds to The Inclusive Learning Center Book. Christy Isbell is a pediatric occupational therapist with specialized training in both Sensory Integration and Neurodevelopmental Treatment. Her experience in evaluation and treatment of preschoolers with special needs strengthens the adaptations and evaluation methods section of the book. She co"

"Rebecca Isbell is Director of Tennessee's Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning. She has worked to create inclusive environments that are good for all children. She is also a Professor at East Tennessee State University where she received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching. In addition to The Complete Learning Spaces Book for Infants and Toddlers, she is the co"