Our Summer Reading List: 10 Books on Education, Disability, and Inclusion
Looking for a good read this summer? If you're looking for a book on education, disability, or inclusion, here's our recommendations for the summer! Let us know what you're reading in the comment box below.
Note: If you’re inspired by this list and decide to purchase a book or two through Amazon, we invite you to use AmazonSmile and designate the Christian Learning Center. When you do this, Amazon will contribute a percentage of your purchase to us! Simply click this link to enroll!
"If you are baffled by the challenging behavior of your child, I highly recommend you read this book. Greene takes the reader beyond the behavior to help them understand the why behind the behavior. I appreciate Greene's encouragement and insight on how to come alongside your child and problem-solve with them (as opposed to using punitive punishments that don't work)."
-Becky Tubergen, director of school services
“My staff and I are reading Help for Billy this summer. It’s a helpful read for understanding kids impacted by trauma.”
– Mary Ashby, teacher consultant
"I've been quite intrigued by this book, in which Rose challenges the fact that society's definition of 'normal' is based on averages. He argues that nothing is truly average. If normal does not exist, how does this impact work, learning, and relationships that have been designed around averages? I'm looking forward to reading and discussing this book in All Belong's online book study. If you're intruiged by this topic, I hope you'll join the book study."
- Phil Stegink, special projects consultant
“According to Andy Crouch, flourishing people are both strong and weak—they utilize authority and know when to be vulnerable. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this: ‘The real test of every human community is how it cares for the most vulnerable.’ I can’t help but think of this as a test for every school. How a school cares for those society considers vulnerable--the student who learns differently, the student who has annoying and destructive behaviors, the student whose intellectual and adaptive behaviors are far different than the ‘typical’ student—is a testament to the school's level of flourishing. Flourishing will happen in a community if the school embraces authority and vulnerability in welcoming each learner. This short book is a must read!”
– Pam Maat, teacher consultant and Schools Attuned/All Kinds of Minds facilitator
“Author Lorna Bradley is an excellent leader for parents. She has lived and led in parenting a child with special needs, and is now equipping others to lead in their homes and in this arena. She provides a tried and true set of learning opportunities in this excellent resource.”
– Barbara J. Newman, director of church services and teacher consultant
“I’ve read this book several times as it offers excellent insight into creating a school and home environment that’s ripe for learning. One area Medina highlights is stress. Stressed brains don't learn the same way as non-stressed brains. A little stress brings increased productivity, while chronic stress (continual stress over long period of time) is harmful. He also points out the strong relationship between home and school life. Medina shares, ‘One of the greatest predictors of performance in school turns out to be the emotional stability of the home.’ Teachers can and need to partner with parents not only in academic areas, but also in emotional areas. They can do this by encouraging parents to provide a safe, stable, and emotionally nurturing home. If you’ve had any training on Neurodevelopment, you’ll find this book pairs nicely with the eight Neurodevelopment constructs. ”
– Pam Maat, teacher consultant and Schools Attuned/All Kinds of Minds facilitator
“Setup as a recipe book, Every Child Welcome is creatively and beautifully written with practical tips and helpful information weaved within its pages. Katie and Jolene are a treasure trove of idea after idea after idea for kids that learn and experience church differently.”
– Barbara J. Newman, director of church services and teacher consultant
“If you want to learn how to be overjoyed, rather than overwhelmed by the task of daily caregiving for a family member with a disability or illness, I highly recommend this easy-to-ready workbook. As I read through and discussed this book in an online book study this spring, I found that it offered great perspectives on the temporarily-abled life we lead and the attitude we have about serving, loving, and caring. As someone who has lived with a debilitating illness, it impacted my attitude about my own struggles.”
– Tory White, church services coordinator
“This was a fascinating book (and interview) about a man who has autism spectrum disorder who underwent an experimental treatment that opened up his ability to read emotions. In his radio interview, it’s particularly powerful when you can hear a guy who has ASD speak with such emotion about his experience. I appreciate Temple Grandin’s questions and synthesis, highlighted on the book’s back cover: 'Switched On is a mind-blowing book that will force you to ask deep questions about what is important in life. Would normalizing the brains of those who think differently reduce their motivation for great achievement?"
– Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, executive director
“I am intrigued by the idea of structuring workplaces around the gifts of persons with disabilities. Changing workplace tasks and culture to help persons with varied abilities thrive and utilize their gifts is an important challenge and calling for the modern workplace.”
– Katie Barkley, marketing communications manager
Note: If you’re inspired by this list and decide to purchase a book or two through Amazon, we invite you to use AmazonSmile and designate the Christian Learning Center. When you do this, Amazon will contribute a percentage of your purchase to us! Simply click this link to enroll!
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
"If you are baffled by the challenging behavior of your child, I highly recommend you read this book. Greene takes the reader beyond the behavior to help them understand the why behind the behavior. I appreciate Greene's encouragement and insight on how to come alongside your child and problem-solve with them (as opposed to using punitive punishments that don't work)."
-Becky Tubergen, director of school services
Help for Billy by Heather Forbes
“My staff and I are reading Help for Billy this summer. It’s a helpful read for understanding kids impacted by trauma.”
– Mary Ashby, teacher consultant
The End of Average by Todd Rose
"I've been quite intrigued by this book, in which Rose challenges the fact that society's definition of 'normal' is based on averages. He argues that nothing is truly average. If normal does not exist, how does this impact work, learning, and relationships that have been designed around averages? I'm looking forward to reading and discussing this book in All Belong's online book study. If you're intruiged by this topic, I hope you'll join the book study."
- Phil Stegink, special projects consultant
Strong and Weak by Andy Crouch
“According to Andy Crouch, flourishing people are both strong and weak—they utilize authority and know when to be vulnerable. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this: ‘The real test of every human community is how it cares for the most vulnerable.’ I can’t help but think of this as a test for every school. How a school cares for those society considers vulnerable--the student who learns differently, the student who has annoying and destructive behaviors, the student whose intellectual and adaptive behaviors are far different than the ‘typical’ student—is a testament to the school's level of flourishing. Flourishing will happen in a community if the school embraces authority and vulnerability in welcoming each learner. This short book is a must read!”
– Pam Maat, teacher consultant and Schools Attuned/All Kinds of Minds facilitator
Special Needs Parenting – From Coping to Thriving by Lorna Bradley
“Author Lorna Bradley is an excellent leader for parents. She has lived and led in parenting a child with special needs, and is now equipping others to lead in their homes and in this arena. She provides a tried and true set of learning opportunities in this excellent resource.”
– Barbara J. Newman, director of church services and teacher consultant
Brain Rules by John Medina
“I’ve read this book several times as it offers excellent insight into creating a school and home environment that’s ripe for learning. One area Medina highlights is stress. Stressed brains don't learn the same way as non-stressed brains. A little stress brings increased productivity, while chronic stress (continual stress over long period of time) is harmful. He also points out the strong relationship between home and school life. Medina shares, ‘One of the greatest predictors of performance in school turns out to be the emotional stability of the home.’ Teachers can and need to partner with parents not only in academic areas, but also in emotional areas. They can do this by encouraging parents to provide a safe, stable, and emotionally nurturing home. If you’ve had any training on Neurodevelopment, you’ll find this book pairs nicely with the eight Neurodevelopment constructs. ”
– Pam Maat, teacher consultant and Schools Attuned/All Kinds of Minds facilitator
Every Child Welcome by Katie Wetherbee and Jolene Philo
“Setup as a recipe book, Every Child Welcome is creatively and beautifully written with practical tips and helpful information weaved within its pages. Katie and Jolene are a treasure trove of idea after idea after idea for kids that learn and experience church differently.”
– Barbara J. Newman, director of church services and teacher consultant
The Heart Of The Caregiver by Mary Tutterow
“If you want to learn how to be overjoyed, rather than overwhelmed by the task of daily caregiving for a family member with a disability or illness, I highly recommend this easy-to-ready workbook. As I read through and discussed this book in an online book study this spring, I found that it offered great perspectives on the temporarily-abled life we lead and the attitude we have about serving, loving, and caring. As someone who has lived with a debilitating illness, it impacted my attitude about my own struggles.”
– Tory White, church services coordinator
Switched On by John Elder Robison
“This was a fascinating book (and interview) about a man who has autism spectrum disorder who underwent an experimental treatment that opened up his ability to read emotions. In his radio interview, it’s particularly powerful when you can hear a guy who has ASD speak with such emotion about his experience. I appreciate Temple Grandin’s questions and synthesis, highlighted on the book’s back cover: 'Switched On is a mind-blowing book that will force you to ask deep questions about what is important in life. Would normalizing the brains of those who think differently reduce their motivation for great achievement?"
– Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, executive director
No Goodness without Greatness by Randy Lewis
“I am intrigued by the idea of structuring workplaces around the gifts of persons with disabilities. Changing workplace tasks and culture to help persons with varied abilities thrive and utilize their gifts is an important challenge and calling for the modern workplace.”
– Katie Barkley, marketing communications manager