book reviews
Understanding & Managing Dyslexia for Dummies Tracey Wood and Katrina Cochrane John Wiley and Sons Publishers Paperback, 370 pages £15.99 ISBN: 978-0-470-74132-0
In this book, the authors cover the basics of dyslexia, getting a diagnosis, exploring intervention options and the longerterm implications of the condition. Tracey Wood has run her own reading clinics and written several related books. Katrina Cochrane, is Principal of the Dyslexia Institute Egham Centre. The book is divided into five parts and is visually attractive, with the use of cartoons, text boxes and easily identifiable action points and tips. Each chapter opens with a brief overview of the content and is broken down into bite-sized chunks for the reader. It is packed with information and would appeal to many anxious parents. The authors include information about many specific programmes, though I was a little disappointed to see that there was little or no supporting research to guide parents when faced with programme options, all of which have a cost implication. At the end of the book, the authors have included two appendices. In the first, they provide an informal assessment of phonetic awareness and phonic skills, which they claim is “typical” of what SENCOs use in school to pinpoint a child’s phonic skills. This is an interesting concept, and I am sure that some parents will find it useful, but I would be cautious in recommending its use. The second appendix is given over to a list of resources and organisations. Though I have some reservations, this book is a useful introduction for parents.
www.senmaGAZINE.co.uk
Breathe, Stretch, Write: Learning to Write with Everything You’ve Got Sheree Fitch Pembroke Publishers Ltd Paperback, 178 pages £19.99 ISBN: 978-1-55138-256-2
This is a great book for teachers who believe that movement and learning go together. The author, who has studied yoga and core fitness programmes, takes the reader on an enjoyable journey using exercises designed to spark imagination and enhance creativity. The book covers a wide range of exercises which can be undertaken standing, sitting, reclining or moving around, or as group activities. The structure of the book enables the reader to dip in and out at random, or to use the book as the basis for a creative writing club programme. Each exercise follows a common format, where the instruction simply involves focused breathing, followed by an exercise, followed by a writing activity. The activities are illustrated with basic line drawings and examples of creative writing. I found some of the examples provided to be very funny and others very moving. Fitch covers 56 different activities in this book and they would appeal to a teachers working in a wide range of school situations, as they can easily be adapted to suit the needs of particular pupils or groups of pupils. The concept of combining creative writing with a physical approach is an interesting one and I am sure that these activities, honed over many years of running workshops, will promote a healthy and active approach to classroom performance.
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