Asperger Syndrome: What Teachers Need to Know

Asperger Syndrome: What Teachers Need to Know
Writer	Matt Winter
Date	2003
Publisher	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN	1843101432

Asperger Syndrome: What Teachers Need to Know is a guide for teachers of children with Asperger syndrome.

The author, Matt Winter, is a primary school teacher and private tutor from New Zealand. He has worked in many schools and have come across many children diagnosed with Autism and Asperger syndrome. The book tells about the personal experiences of Matt Winter and contain many useful tips and suggestions to address almost all significant issues of Asperger syndrome - social skills, homework, playground behaviour and assisting with studies.

Structure

The original book is a compact book of 96 pages. An Introduction is followed by 12 chapters:

1. So what is Asperger Syndrome?
2. What signs might a child express?
3. What are some strategies for the classroom?
4. Can I help a child with their social skills?
5. How can I help them in the playground?
6. What should happen before the child changes class or school?
7. Should I make the child do homework?
8. How can the child be assisted with study?
9. What should the teacher aide be focusing on?
10. Who else in school needs to know?
11. Am I qualified to teach this child?
12. I want to know more. Where should I start?

Five separate sections on Further Reading, References, Websites, Resources for some common conditions associated with Asperger syndrome, and an Index complete the book.

Second edition

Asperger Syndrome: What Teachers Need to Know
Writer	Matt Winter Clare Lawrence
Date	2011
Publisher	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
ISBN	1849052034

In 2011, an updated version of this book was released. This edition credits Clare Lawrence as a contributor.

Reviews

First Edition

• Jennifer Nixon: This book is wonderfully practical with easy to implement ideas. It never gets bogged down in medical terms or psychology. A must buy gift for your child's teacher and school.
• D Olson: Very short and succinct and to the point. Having read other materials, attended workshops, etc., this book got to the heart of what teachers need to know when they have a child (or children) in their classrooms with Aspergers. I would highly recommend this book to teachers and administrators.

Second Edition

• Anna Yarrow: This is exactly what I was looking for: a short book with all the relevant information, to give to my daughter's teachers and IEP team. I will definitely make sure this book moves with her from grade to grade. A very helpful resource.
• Cheryl: This book was recommended to me by another parent who said that she was going to require every teacher who has her 4th grader to read this book. On that recommendation, I bought 3 copies--one for my 3rd grader's regular classroom teacher, one for his special ed teacher, and one for me. Although there are some things that I would emphasize more than the author, I thought the book was very well written and nicely concise. It was an easy read for the teachers as well as for me. The section on homework was especially enlightening.