A Mind at a Time: America's Top Learning Expert Shows How Every Child Can Succeed by Mel Levine
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.08 You Save: $11.92 (74%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of A Mind at a Time: America's Top Learning Expert Shows How Every Child Can Succeed
Book Review: Why Aren't Our Students Learning?
Summary: 4 Stars
Dr. Mel Levine believes the answer to this questions lies within neurodevelopmental dysfunctions, which are the basic instruments of learning and compose the wiring of our brains. In our schools, these dysfunctions are being overlooked, misdiagnosed, and labeled, perhaps as ADD and Learning Disabilities. Through various case studies, Dr. Levine assesses different dysfunctions that impede a child's ability to perform well in a school environment. He looks at these deficits, not from a hope to eradicate, but in order for students, parents, and teachers to be able to monitor and accommodate so actual learning can take place. He introduces the concept of the Managementt by Profile System, which uses the term management to communicate, "we aren't aiming for a cure, nor do we particularly care to totally revise any developmental mind." As educators, we have the opportunity and responsibility to teach our kids through various learning strategies and to be aware of which kids falter and those who succeed. He is truly calling teachers to be informed of brain development and the neurodevelopmental functions that are employed in the educator's particular subject matter. If we can change our thinking in this direction, we could exercise various teaching strategies and different ways for kids to learn, making the classroom a more inclusive environment. And isn't that what it's all about? Trying out different methodologies in order to find what will foster growth and learning in our students. I appreciated Dr. Levine's encouragement of awareness of these differences and the celebration of the diversity that we find.
Book Review: Rich with Personal Case Studies to Demonstrate His Points
Summary: 4 Stars
I didn't get what I wanted out of this book because I am not the intended audience--My daughter is only four years old and is ahead of the curve in every subject I test her on. Dr. Levine writes for an audience whose children are mostly in high school even though he will review their histories all the way back to pre-school in many of his case histories. That being said, I found this book rich with real-life case studies of children with learning difficulties. He has examples from the boys and girls that he has personally worked with to illustrate several points that he makes. I find those specific case studies to be the best part of his book. They support some of his theories and assertions. His arguments become weaker when he refers to other people's research--like when he said that research has shown that high school children can learn a second language better than pre-school children and therefore he recommends that children with verbal deficiencies should postpone studying a second language until the 11th grade. This skirts over the differences between pre-school language learning vs. high school language learning and ignores that there is a different kind of language learning going on at age 4 and at age 16. At age four you can't memorize as much information or learn as quickly as can a 16 year old, but the four year old can easily learn native syntax and pronunciation which the 16 year old may never learn. Anyway, this book offers a lot to parents and teachers of high school children who have learning difficulties but perhaps is less relevant for those outside of that audience.Book Review: Ignore Dr. Levine's uncertain circumstances and read this book
Summary: 4 Stars
If you have a child with special needs, you must read this book. The previous reviewer who suggested that a reader not buy the book because of the accusations against Dr. Levine is overlooking the fact that many, many parents and teachers have found his books very helpful and hopeful. He has already volunteered to revoke his license and is no longer seeing patients. But what he has to say about children with learning differences gave me insights to both my children who have their own individual struggles. Instead of focusing on their inability to spell or memorize where the states are, I see two very creative children with their own gifts. Would I bring my children to see him? Not a chance. But I would recommend this book to another parent of a child with special needs in an instance because what it says is that important.Book Review: Thank you Dr. Levine
Summary: 4 Stars
I loved this book because I believe that every child is unique and I appreciate being reminded about the complexity of the brain and why it should be expected that we all have little quirks. Educators can sadly have blinders to differences in learning style. Mel Levine's work reminds me of Howard Gardner's in many ways. I sense that he truly cares about kids and I like that he supports what is best practice in education. Levine says he can learn more about a child by getting to know that child than by reading a list of test scores........let's hear it for that! Levine says, "sometimes you fix a weakness by pursuing strengths." I support that positive approach. To enhance my teaching I found many great quotes perfect for Back to School night and parents who have borrowed his book have enjoyed it immensely.Book Review: Good reading to understand how a mind works
Summary: 4 Stars
The book illustrates how the mind of a child works and learns. It is clear and well written and can be also entertaining. It applies to children with or without learning disabilities. The main thesis is that for better or worse, everybody is afflicted by a learning disability, even if that can be minor and didn't give rise to any problem at school. Defects can be unnoticeable and go undetected. Sometimes those problems lies in unexpected places. We can develop, consciously or unconsciously, strategies to come around those little difficulties. However, the book does not provide practical guidance to detect those difficulties or to cope with them. It provides an useful background but not a roadmap. Sometime the author comes up with commonsensical advise. However, it is a very good starting point.