I wrote a book called, “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up – Life Lessons from Special Kids.” I want this site to be a place where people can purchase my book and find new ideas, support and encouragement.
I started teaching when Public Law 94-142 was born in the ’70s. It later became the now familiar IDEA, or Individuals with Disabilities Act, in 1990. Special education was trying to define itself, and I was trying to find my place as a special education teacher. I learned many lessons along the way, most of them were not found in the textbooks of my college education. I want to share these lessons with everyone, as I believe we can all learn from special kids. Sometimes I
wondered, “Who is the teacher, and who is the student?” I would argue that we both taught each other and learned from each other.
Read this book for information, for new ways to deal with challenges, or read it for pure entertainment. I hope it brings you some awareness and understanding of children who face challenges. The book spans the 42 years of my teaching career and gives examples of how everything you need to know about working with children is not covered in college courses or found anywhere in books. Much of my learning was on-the-job training, learning as I taught.
Sometimes the lessons were about what not to do; sometimes, they were followed by continual learning when I almost had it right but had to learn new methods and techniques. This can be a tool for discussing what to do and what not to do. After teaching through the many changes in special education, I wanted to share my experiences to help others.