Winter, Matt (2003).
Asperger Syndrome: What Teachers Need to Know.
London: Jessica Kingsley.
Matt Winter, the author of this slender volume, is a primary teacher who currently volunteers at the Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation, a support organization that operates in New Zealand to help children and teenagers who have Asperger Syndrome. The book is written for the classroom teacher, and the author’s stated aim is to provide a summary of the information currently available about Asperger Syndrome as well as “quick tips and practical ideas” that teachers can use in their classrooms.
The first two chapters are titled “What Is Asperger Syndrome?” and “What Signs Might a Child Display?” The remaining eight chapters include numerous specific suggestions for the classroom teacher. Topics covered include classroom strategies, helping the child with his/her social skills, helping the child on the playground, and homework. Chapters are short and to-the-point, and the language is nontechnical. Several lists of resources are included at the end of the book.
This book is useful in terms of providing a quick overview of Asperger Syndrome, and teachers always welcome practical suggestions. The author notes that there is no foolproof list of strategies that will work for every child, and he encourages the reader to choose among the strategies that he presents. The readers, however, may find themselves a bit overwhelmed by the number of suggestions. Although many of the strategies should require little extra time on the part of the teacher, others could take considerable time and effort.
Knowing which of the strategies to select could be a significant challenge for the classroom teacher, but this is an area where teachers in the United States have a distinct advantage. The book makes no mention of the role of the special education teacher, the school psychologist, or any other specialists. These professionals are available to classroom teachers in the U.S., and they should play a role in the
accommodations that classroom teachers make for students.
Even though the educational system in the U.S. differs from the one described in this book, an inexpensive book primarily devoted to practical suggestions will still have appeal. Recommended primarily for libraries supporting large teacher education programs.
Pages: 96
Price: $15.95
ISBN: 1-84310-143-2
Reviewed by Sharon Naylor, Illinois State University
