Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS BOOK DESERVES 10 STARS! (* * * * * 5 more), 19 Jan 2003
By A Customer
Every parent with a child that learns in a different way than the norm will find strategies, empathy, and hope in between the pages of this book. Because of what I learned from Mel Levine, I have taken a more active role in advocating for my son. I have scheduled meetings with the teacher and adjunct staff to search for workable options that will allow my son to learn and operate in ways that best suit him. He has sensory intergration problems, but is very gifted in computer programing and very well liked. He performs poorly on almost all standardized tests, but we found if someone reads the questions out loud to my son during the test, he understands the questions better and his scores significantly improve. He also has trouble keeping his place on the scantron answer sheet, which causes the answers to be off by one if he by accident misses answering a question. I'm told this happens due in part to his spatial learning disability. So when someone is able to check that my son is making a choice for each and every question, thereby keeping him on track taking the test properly, his score will more accurately reflect his cognitive ability in the subject matter. I believe, as does Mel Levine, that all children can learn to solve problems. After an initial meeting with my son's very dedicated and cooperative teacher along with regular follow-up sessions (that include my son), adjustments have been made in homework assignments, test-taking, and study routines. I am delighted that my son is doing much better academically in school and he feels he has actually gotten smarter. My son is proud of what he has accomplished.
I would like to also recommend two other books that go well with the Levine's philosophy. One is called "KIDS ARE WORTH IT-Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline". This book offers parents many specific ways to communicate more effectively with their children, so that their kids learn how to think and solve problems for themselves. If you have preschoolers (ages 2-5), "THE POCKET PARENT" offers similar skills geared to the very young child, thereby building a foundation for success and self-esteem even before grade school begins. Although a child's inner discipline and self motivation take some time to fully kick in, there are many things parents can do on a daily basis at home to help children succeed and feel good about themselves. Depending on your chid's age, I highly recommend both of these compatible books as a discipline and communication reference along with the more academic, cognitive manual-- "A MIND AT A TIME". Also recommended: KIDS ARE WORTH IT--Giving your kids the gift of inner discipline and THE POCKET PARENT--Hundreds of fast answers for parents of preschoolers (ages 2-5).
|
|
|
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 'must-read' for any parent, 26 Aug 2002
I watched Dr Mel Levine on Oprah and couldn't get hold of this book fast enough. This is probably the most important book I have ever, or will ever read.Until now I'd fallen into the trap of thinking that a child's educational progress was directly linked to their degree of intelligence but this book rightly dismisses this unhelpful myth.As Dr Levine himself explains 'different brains are differently wired' and his book goes on to explain why and how, liberally explained with helpful examples from his own experience as an education expert.The various learning patterns he describes are revelatory - it all seems obvious once you've read it which just goes to show that he puts his points across with immense lucidity and passion.
The book not only sheds light on the facinating subject of how children learn but also provides invaluable insight into practical coping strategies to deal with weaknesses. Better still, it constantly reminds you to celebrate their strengths.I felt immensely uplifted and encouraged by this book and would urge any parent of a child who might be struggling at school to read this book immediately.
|
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the mother of a special needs son, 2 Nov 2002
If only more of the special needs co-ordinators would read this book, then they would view my son in the same way that I do. Although he cannot read or write, he is without doubt a supremy intelligent young man. He has practical skills that people of adult age cannot comprehend. By tapping into the mechanics of his mind, I will be able to re-train his thought pattern and re-introduce a reading and writing programme specially formatted to suit his capabilities and knowledge base.
Well done Mel Levine for writing this book and helping me to unlock my son's knowledge stores.
|
|
|
|
by Adele Faber
by John Holt
by Adele Faber; Elaine Mazlish
by Tony Buzan
by Mel Levine
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home