Home's Cool Education
  • Welcome!
  • Blog
  • My Friends
  • List Love!

The Asperger Teen's Toolkit

7/6/2017

 
Picture
The Asperger Teen's Toolkit by Francis Musgrave is a very exciting and needed book concept. As a mom of a Teen with ASD there really isn't much out there to help us guide our children through the rough waters of the teenage years. For that reason, I really appreciate the effort of this book.

I especially like the toolkit concept, the use of graphics, and the chapter on depression.

There is a Gender Identity and Relationship and Sex section that I would not use as they go against our religious values and aren't really something I would expect any book to cover as, I believe, they are better covered by family discussion. It's important to note that those sections are written with a secular world view and as a result may be offensive to some of my readers.

Others may not have any concerns about them at all and, frankly, when there is nothing else like this on the market I'll take what I can get. 

The Gender Identity and Relationships and Sex sections are only 12 pages/ 136). I would just not use those 12 pages.  I really saw great value in the rest of this book. The Asperger Teen's Toolkit covers important topics like bullies, depression, social media, health and more. Overall I think it's a very useful resource on a subject matter that greatly needs attention.

Because I could not use all of the contents I would look for this book at a library rather than purchasing it. 

Those who want to purchase can do so HERE for $19.95 on July 21st, 2017 (Publication date). 


Disclosure: I received a free copy of The Asperger Teen's Toolkit from Jessica Kingsley Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I give this book three stars.

Picture
Picture

The Most Magnificent Thing

1/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ashley Spires has written and illustrated an adorable, simple book with big impact and a message that matters. 

Who doesn't experience feelings of failure, frustration and insurmountable obstacles? 

The author knows this is a universal feeling and she does something amazing by not naming her main character but instead introduces her as "a regular girl". She could be any of us. We can all relate. This simple detail makes us root for her and (in rooting for her) we root for ourselves and subtly learn a life lesson in innovation. 

The main character just wants to build the most Magnificent thing. She makes plans. Her dog assists. However, when her plans go awry she has a decision to make. Will she quit her goal or succeed against all  odds? 

This is an excellent book for children and sets an exceptional example especially for young girls. 

Take a minute to watch the book trailer:

Aren't the characters just precious? I love her spunk. I have classified this book under both character and life skills categories because I believe it teaches the importance of perseverance, a crucial character trait that is very valuable in life. Perseverance and flexibility are life skills worth teaching at a young age and The Most Magnificent Thing is a sweet way of doing it. 

Order your copy on Amazon ($4.49 Kindle/ $15.18 Hardcover) and then be sure to check out the free Teaching Guide that uses the book to teach students (grades 1-12) how to identify and organize their goals, observe social barriers and push through, apply perseverance strategies, think creatively and operate like engineers. Assignments are created at different age levels and vary in difficulty. It's a very good resource for expanding the learning opportunity of this book.

The author also encourages children to create something of their own and invites them to use #makesomething to show off their creations.  
Disclosure: I received a free copy of The Most Magnificent Thing from Kids Can Press via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
​

I give this book five stars
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

The Inspiration of Marigold Garden

1/30/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
Recently I found a beautifully illustrated copy of Kate Greenaway's Marigold Garden. My copy was printed by Fredrick Warne & CO LTD. which makes it even more special to me.

​If you didn't know, Fredrick Warne &CO was the same publishing house who took on Beatrix Potter and gave her her first big break.

I was already familiar with Kate Greenaway's artistic style. I'd seen several of her illustrations and fallen in love with her soft muted color pallet and the gentle childhood expressions she put on the faces she painted. These expressions she created always seemed to float between innocence, peaceful resolve and slight boredom. I couldn't tell if the child was as pure as the driven snow, content beyond words or bored out of its mind. Still, these quiet images soothed me.

If this artist is new to you, I know you will enjoy reading and viewing free examples of her beautiful artwork and poetry here.

I knew that I liked Kate Greenaway's style and that she was an English artist and illustrator who lived in the Victorian period, but I didn't know much more about her. You can read a brief bio here. That was all I knew about her.

I didn't know was that Kate Greenaway was a pivotal influence on needlework. I learned later that many of the red work sunbonnet sue patterns that are common on children's quilts are actually inspired by her.

Even though I don't sew, this new information sent me on a massive hunt for Kate Greenaway red work patterns. It's never to late to learn a new skill right?
I found a cross stitch pattern, iron on transfers, and a cheap copy of a hard cover book of patterns.

But I still didn't know how to sew, or stitch or embroider or . . . .

Then I found this amazing site that has a primer with pdf lessons in stitches and free samplers.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but that is when the light bulb clicked on. This would make a wonderful life skill to teach my daughter!

And . . .

I could even tie it into our current living book. In Hetty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field, young Phoebe is learning to do stitch work as a hobby, she was also made to work a more challenging sampler as punishment for her misbehavior.

This new life skill would tie my daughter to the character and bond them together through personal experience. I would be giving her a richer connection to the book and pulling her into the story.

Bonus!

Another great embroidery site primer can be found here.

This great site is also bubbling over with information on red work.

Would you rather start small?
This site has beautiful free samplers for beginners- advanced. After reviewing the pdf primer lessons together with your child and developing confidence in your stitches, maybe consider allowing your child to choose their pattern themselves. This creative choice might inspire them.

Also, if you're really brave, you can follow in the footsteps of Victorian young ladies who made their own patterns. Here is a site that will teach their method for making perforated patterns.

As you begin learning this skill, remember to take some relaxing time snuggled up on a couch together reading Kate's poetry. As the pages turn, allow the warm images and the quiet beauty of childhood to invite you back in time.

Happy Reading!

0 Comments

    Connect w/ Me:

    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    13+
    Ages 3 7
    Ages 3-7
    Ages 6 12
    Ages 6-12
    Art
    Bible
    Books
    Character
    Charlotte Mason
    Coloring
    Coping Tools For Teaching Special Needs Learners
    Copywork
    Curriculum
    Dyslexia
    Educational Book
    Educational Pleasure Reading
    Faith
    Fractured Fairy Tales
    Freebies
    Fun Schooling
    Fun-Schooling
    Games
    Grammar
    History
    Information
    Interviews
    Journals
    Language Arts
    Life Skills
    Literature
    Math
    Mother Culture
    Occupational Therapy
    Phonics
    Places I Love
    Planners
    Pleasure Books
    Poetry
    Poet Study
    Reading
    Reading Activities
    Resources
    Reviews
    Science
    Special Needs
    Spelling
    Supplemental
    Unit Studies

    Affiliate Partner:

    A Firm Foundation Memory Verse System
    Picture

    Upcoming Reviews:

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    February 2018
    July 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    July 2013
    October 2012
    April 2012
    January 2011
    January 2010
    September 2009
    July 2009

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Welcome!
  • Blog
  • My Friends
  • List Love!