Keeping a Head in School: A Student's Book About Learning Abilities and Learning Disorders

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a book for students!
Review: As the parent of two learning disabled students, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all the kids out there who are in need of a wonderful guide not only for school, but every day problem solving. My son refers to this book often, for reinforcement, for reassurance, and for guidance. There are many books written about learning disabilities, but this one stands out as a wonderful guide for your child to use.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely well written
Review: I love that this book does not focus on labels. Rather the focus is on overcoming challenges with pragmatic methods in an easy to understand and digest format. Careful attention was paid to the student-reader's capabilities and frustrations.

Dr. Levine creates a hopeful atmosphere in this book but does not lessen the critical importance of achieving academic potential.

He discusses brain function and describes how those functions differ to affect memory, spelling, math and even social relationships. The most important aspect to me is his embrace of all contributions from all strengths.

A parent or other adult dealing with the challenges of a student affected by learning disorders would benefit enormously from not just the information in this narrative but the patience and conversational tone and tenor the book uses to get the points across.

If you know a child struggling with a learning disorder and want to provide a little loving guidance - this is a great book to direct his or her way.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely well written
Review: I love that this book does not focus on labels. Rather the focus is on overcoming challenges with pragmatic methods in an easy to understand and digest format. Careful attention was paid to the student-reader's capabilities and frustrations.

Dr. Levine creates a hopeful atmosphere in this book but does not lessen the critical importance of achieving academic potential.

He discusses brain function and describes how those functions differ to affect memory, spelling, math and even social relationships. The most important aspect to me is his embrace of all contributions from all strengths.

A parent or other adult dealing with the challenges of a student affected by learning disorders would benefit enormously from not just the information in this narrative but the patience and conversational tone and tenor the book uses to get the points across.

If you know a child struggling with a learning disorder and want to provide a little loving guidance - this is a great book to direct his or her way.

Rating:
Summary: Helping Kids Meet Academic Challenges
Review: _Keeping A Head in School_ is designed to help students with a wide range of learning disorders "gain a realistic insight into their personal strengths and weaknesses."

The book is targeted at adolescents and pre-adolescents. It can also be used effectively by younger and older students, however. Dr. Levine makes information accessible to young people by presenting it in small chunks with frequent headings. His style is conversational, and he uses familiar metaphors to explain physiological concepts. Attention, for example, is described in terms of channel selection and filtration.

Levine heartens his readers -- not only by demonstrating a clear understanding of their difficulties but also by providing hope for the success that everyone needs. While he recognizes that people succeed in different areas -- academics, athletics, and art, to name just a few -- he acknowledges that during the school-age years, lack of success in the academic area can have far-reaching
consequences.

After explaining how the brain functions normally to help a person focus attention, use language, and employ memory, Levine discusses various problems that might arise in these areas. He then relates performance in reading, spelling, writing, and math to those disorders. Levine even addresses social skills, recognizing that school has a very strong social component.

Levine celebrates the many strengths that people with learning disorders might have. He encourages them to appreciate and bolster their strengths even as they are attempting to understand and bypass their weaknesses. He empowers students to advocate on their own behalf, and he reassures them that they are likely to be more successful in life after school -- when they are free to work in their preferred area rather than in one assigned to them by someone else.

_Keeping A Head in School_ is most effective if readers with learning disorders have the opportunity to discuss concepts presented with parents, teachers, and/or other adults.

The book can also provide valuable insight for those who interact with people who have learning disorders: siblings, friends, parents, teachers, and others. Understanding the problems will help people to be more compassionate and encouraging.