Copyright 2010: Reading2008 & Beyond
Home
The Authors
Book Reviews
Resources
Reading Disabilities
Beating
The Odds
The Odds
I love the book. Simply written with incredible depth and breadth. Parents will feel like they are getting support from a trusted friend. Professionals would do well to read it-to remind us of what we were meant to do!
Gloria Lodato Wilson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education, Hofstra University
-----------------------------------------------------
A great book. So practical for both students and parents.
William H. Rupley, Ph.D., Professor of Reading Education, Distinguished Research Fellow, Executive Editor of Reading Psychology: An International Journal, Regents Fellow, College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University
------------------------------------------------------
Finally, a practical, well-organized book for parents of youngsters with reading and learning disabilities that provides a comprehensive process for developing and getting appropriate programs. Especially important are the sections on assessing risk, understanding evaluations, understanding the principles of reading instruction, and resolving conflicts with schools. Together, they arm parents with the comprehensive, practical, in-depth, realistic tools they need to help their children. This is truly the best book I have read on the subject. It is well-written and sorely overdue.
Arthur Shapiro, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus, Special Education & Counseling, Kean University
------------------------------------------------------
With this book, Margolis and Brannigan have given us insight into the complexities of reading disabilities. Their personal connections and writing style foster understanding and make information accessible. Moreover, their expertise, experience, and sheer honesty have created an aerial view of the educational maze. This readable, practical resource is a must have for parents and educators who advocate for children.
Karen Russo, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Child Study, St. Joseph College, New York
------------------------------------------------------
Impressive. Written for concerned parents, this important book provides accessible insight into the complexities of reading disabilities. Using easily understood language, Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan provide a wealth of information to help you craft a unique, individualized support program for your child at home. Furthermore, the information in this book will help parents advocate effectively with the schools to develop successful instructional plans. Highly recommended reading for parents and professionals.
Bruce Saddler, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Methodology, State University of New York at Albany
------------------------------------------------------
This is a book for parents to use, not merely read. Keep it handy. It is, by any definition, a valuable resource for all parents of children with reading and learning disabilities. It provides concrete tools for parents to assess their child's reading capabilities, offers them techniques they'll need throughout their child's development, and educates them about their child's educational rights. Margolis and Brannigan have given parents an important resource.
Ila Keiner, M.Ed, MSW/LCSW, JD, Director of Outpatient Services, Cape Counseling Services, Cape May Court House, NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Beating the Odds is an outstanding resource for parents of children with reading disabilities. As a parent and an educator, I highly recommended it to all parents of struggling readers. It's informative, balanced, and gives parents the information needed to identify their child's' reading difficulties and get needed services. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan offer indispensable strategies for helping children beat the odds. It's a must read for all parents of struggling readers.
Sueanne Agger, Parent of a struggling reader and Director of the Country School, Cape May, NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Every parent and every teacher who has felt the frustration of obtaining needed services and education for children with learning disabilities should read Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds, not as a novel or a textbook, but as a recipe for successfully helping our kids. It's a portable support group.
Theresa C. Cavanaugh, LDT-C, President, Learning Disabilities Association of NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a wonderful, practical tool for parents of struggling readers who need to advocate for their children. Its critical questions, checklists, and guided actions will help parents and teachers focus their efforts on improving instruction. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan offer practical, insightful ways of problem solving and using education and civil rights laws to successfully get struggling readers the evaluations and services they need. I urge you to read this book.
Claire Drapkin, M.Ed., The Youth Group Advocates, Manalapan NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds should be required reading for all Child Study Teams.
Jamie Epstein, Esq., Special Education Attorney, Cherry Hill, NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Beating the Odds is hard to put down. As a guide, it will help parents of struggling readers assess and work with their children and negotiate the daunting bureaucracies of schools. Well-written, encyclopedic in its depth, clear in its recommendations, hard-nosed and compassionate in tone, fair to parents and teachers, this outstanding work should be read by everyone trying to help struggling readers.
Steven Van Pelt, M.S., Reading; M.S., English Education; M.S., Counseling & Guidance; Reading Teacher, NY
------------------------------------------------------
Finally: A resource to help parents of struggling readers successfully navigate the complex world of education and advocate for their children. Beating the Odds provides a complete, well-organized explanation of reading disabilities, the school system's responsibilities, and the educational laws that bind the two. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan have combined their extensive knowledge and experience to produce a comprehensive work that parents can read in its entirety or use to answer specific questions. It's an invaluable guide for answering the question: How can I help my child beat the odds?
Irene Clarke, Ed.D., Former Coordinator of Reading and Remediation
Sewanhaka Central High School District, NY
------------------------------------------------------
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a fabulous book. It's an invaluable resource for parents of struggling readers and for teachers and other school staff who strive to help these students. More than a clearly written, comprehensive guide to understanding reading disabilities, it offers practical, step-by-step advice for getting struggling readers the services they need, for resolving conflicts, and for monitoring the effectiveness of programs. It offers parents case studies that clarify important points, clear definitions of critical, but difficult to understand technical terms, checklists to guide their efforts, and quotes from experts and laws that parents can use to ensure their children get what they need. In short, Beating the Odds is a terrific, must have resource for parents, teachers, and school staff who care about struggling readers.
Joyce Feder, M.A., Former Director of Special Services West Deptford Public Schools, NJ
------------------------------------------------------ This book should be in the hands of every parent who has a child with reading or learning disabilities. It is by far the best book I have read to help parents help their children. Well written and easy to understand. Bravo!
Teresa Alissa Citro, Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Worldwide
------------------------------------------------------
Finally, the book that parents and others who take care of children have been waiting for and deserve is here. Howard Margolis and Gary G. Brannigan, two highly renowned educators with a wealth of experience, offer research-based information for parents on recognizing the early signs of reading and learning problems as well as practical suggestions for negotiating the educational bureaucracy and understanding the language of educators. Written in a reader friendly style, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a plan of action to maximize children's academic success. It's a must read.
Patrick P. McCabe, Ph.D., Coordinator, Ph.D. in Literacy Program, St. John's University
------------------------------------------------------
A wonderful book!!! Brilliant, comprehensive, and easy to read. It attacks important questions from all sides. It prepares parents to meet their children's learning problems head on. As a parent and child advocate, I recommend that parents of struggling learners keep studying and using Beating the Odds. It will be invaluable throughout their children's school years. It can prevent failure and anguish.
Ronee Groff, Former President of the Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey and Atlantic County Special Services School Board
------------------------------------------------------
A great book for parents of struggling readers. Clear and comprehensive. Parents (and professionals) will find it brimming with practical, easy to implement suggestions. I will be recommending it to many of my clients. In fact, I will keep copies in my waiting room.
John Manni, Ed.D., Clinical Psychologist, Former Coordinator of School Psychology, Lehigh University
Gloria Lodato Wilson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Special Education, Hofstra University
-----------------------------------------------------
A great book. So practical for both students and parents.
William H. Rupley, Ph.D., Professor of Reading Education, Distinguished Research Fellow, Executive Editor of Reading Psychology: An International Journal, Regents Fellow, College of Education and Human Development, Texas A&M University
------------------------------------------------------
Finally, a practical, well-organized book for parents of youngsters with reading and learning disabilities that provides a comprehensive process for developing and getting appropriate programs. Especially important are the sections on assessing risk, understanding evaluations, understanding the principles of reading instruction, and resolving conflicts with schools. Together, they arm parents with the comprehensive, practical, in-depth, realistic tools they need to help their children. This is truly the best book I have read on the subject. It is well-written and sorely overdue.
Arthur Shapiro, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus, Special Education & Counseling, Kean University
------------------------------------------------------
With this book, Margolis and Brannigan have given us insight into the complexities of reading disabilities. Their personal connections and writing style foster understanding and make information accessible. Moreover, their expertise, experience, and sheer honesty have created an aerial view of the educational maze. This readable, practical resource is a must have for parents and educators who advocate for children.
Karen Russo, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Child Study, St. Joseph College, New York
------------------------------------------------------
Impressive. Written for concerned parents, this important book provides accessible insight into the complexities of reading disabilities. Using easily understood language, Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan provide a wealth of information to help you craft a unique, individualized support program for your child at home. Furthermore, the information in this book will help parents advocate effectively with the schools to develop successful instructional plans. Highly recommended reading for parents and professionals.
Bruce Saddler, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Methodology, State University of New York at Albany
------------------------------------------------------
This is a book for parents to use, not merely read. Keep it handy. It is, by any definition, a valuable resource for all parents of children with reading and learning disabilities. It provides concrete tools for parents to assess their child's reading capabilities, offers them techniques they'll need throughout their child's development, and educates them about their child's educational rights. Margolis and Brannigan have given parents an important resource.
Ila Keiner, M.Ed, MSW/LCSW, JD, Director of Outpatient Services, Cape Counseling Services, Cape May Court House, NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Beating the Odds is an outstanding resource for parents of children with reading disabilities. As a parent and an educator, I highly recommended it to all parents of struggling readers. It's informative, balanced, and gives parents the information needed to identify their child's' reading difficulties and get needed services. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan offer indispensable strategies for helping children beat the odds. It's a must read for all parents of struggling readers.
Sueanne Agger, Parent of a struggling reader and Director of the Country School, Cape May, NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Every parent and every teacher who has felt the frustration of obtaining needed services and education for children with learning disabilities should read Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds, not as a novel or a textbook, but as a recipe for successfully helping our kids. It's a portable support group.
Theresa C. Cavanaugh, LDT-C, President, Learning Disabilities Association of NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a wonderful, practical tool for parents of struggling readers who need to advocate for their children. Its critical questions, checklists, and guided actions will help parents and teachers focus their efforts on improving instruction. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan offer practical, insightful ways of problem solving and using education and civil rights laws to successfully get struggling readers the evaluations and services they need. I urge you to read this book.
Claire Drapkin, M.Ed., The Youth Group Advocates, Manalapan NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds should be required reading for all Child Study Teams.
Jamie Epstein, Esq., Special Education Attorney, Cherry Hill, NJ
------------------------------------------------------
Beating the Odds is hard to put down. As a guide, it will help parents of struggling readers assess and work with their children and negotiate the daunting bureaucracies of schools. Well-written, encyclopedic in its depth, clear in its recommendations, hard-nosed and compassionate in tone, fair to parents and teachers, this outstanding work should be read by everyone trying to help struggling readers.
Steven Van Pelt, M.S., Reading; M.S., English Education; M.S., Counseling & Guidance; Reading Teacher, NY
------------------------------------------------------
Finally: A resource to help parents of struggling readers successfully navigate the complex world of education and advocate for their children. Beating the Odds provides a complete, well-organized explanation of reading disabilities, the school system's responsibilities, and the educational laws that bind the two. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan have combined their extensive knowledge and experience to produce a comprehensive work that parents can read in its entirety or use to answer specific questions. It's an invaluable guide for answering the question: How can I help my child beat the odds?
Irene Clarke, Ed.D., Former Coordinator of Reading and Remediation
Sewanhaka Central High School District, NY
------------------------------------------------------
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a fabulous book. It's an invaluable resource for parents of struggling readers and for teachers and other school staff who strive to help these students. More than a clearly written, comprehensive guide to understanding reading disabilities, it offers practical, step-by-step advice for getting struggling readers the services they need, for resolving conflicts, and for monitoring the effectiveness of programs. It offers parents case studies that clarify important points, clear definitions of critical, but difficult to understand technical terms, checklists to guide their efforts, and quotes from experts and laws that parents can use to ensure their children get what they need. In short, Beating the Odds is a terrific, must have resource for parents, teachers, and school staff who care about struggling readers.
Joyce Feder, M.A., Former Director of Special Services West Deptford Public Schools, NJ
------------------------------------------------------ This book should be in the hands of every parent who has a child with reading or learning disabilities. It is by far the best book I have read to help parents help their children. Well written and easy to understand. Bravo!
Teresa Alissa Citro, Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Worldwide
------------------------------------------------------
Finally, the book that parents and others who take care of children have been waiting for and deserve is here. Howard Margolis and Gary G. Brannigan, two highly renowned educators with a wealth of experience, offer research-based information for parents on recognizing the early signs of reading and learning problems as well as practical suggestions for negotiating the educational bureaucracy and understanding the language of educators. Written in a reader friendly style, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a plan of action to maximize children's academic success. It's a must read.
Patrick P. McCabe, Ph.D., Coordinator, Ph.D. in Literacy Program, St. John's University
------------------------------------------------------
A wonderful book!!! Brilliant, comprehensive, and easy to read. It attacks important questions from all sides. It prepares parents to meet their children's learning problems head on. As a parent and child advocate, I recommend that parents of struggling learners keep studying and using Beating the Odds. It will be invaluable throughout their children's school years. It can prevent failure and anguish.
Ronee Groff, Former President of the Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey and Atlantic County Special Services School Board
------------------------------------------------------
A great book for parents of struggling readers. Clear and comprehensive. Parents (and professionals) will find it brimming with practical, easy to implement suggestions. I will be recommending it to many of my clients. In fact, I will keep copies in my waiting room.
John Manni, Ed.D., Clinical Psychologist, Former Coordinator of School Psychology, Lehigh University
5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is a must read! October 20, 2009
By Staci Greenwald, Esq. (Cranbury, NJ)
I just finished your book. Once again you did a great job of making a complicated situation easy to understand and digest for the layperson. As a special education attorney and a parent of a child with a reading disability your book was very informative. I think all school professionals should read it. It's nice to see a guide which explains that a child with a reading disability comes in all shapes and sizes. Your book really explains what a reading disability is and how it affects functioning in the classroom. If the professionals were better able to detect the deficits remediation could occur earlier. Thanks again for a wonderful guide!
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars What every parent needs to know... October 28, 2009
By Susan Arslanian (Yelm, WA USA), MA Counseling and Guidance, MA Theological Studies
Reading Disabilities, Beating the Odds by Drs. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan not only encourages parents to be active participants in their child's education; it also provides step by step instruction on how to do so most effectively. The authors' knowledge and experience are superbly reflected in the clarity, depth and detail of the presented material. Every parent with school age children could benefit from reading this book.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds, October 18, 2009
By Mary Fowler (DC and NJ), Teacher Training Workshops and author of "Maybe You Know My Kid: A Parent's Guide and 20 Questions to Ask if Your Child Has ADHD."
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is the "go to" book for any parent of a child with reading problems or learning disabilities. This book is wise and wonderful. It rocks with practical, positive, and easily readable text that goes far beyond information. It coaches parents, too! By using critical questions, checklists, bulleted points, and guided action plans, seasoned experts Margolis and Brannigan lead parents through the complex maze of reading and learning problems. The authors help parents understand what to look for, what to do, how to make sense of evaluations, how to measure and monitor progress, how to solve problems, and how to help at home. In short, this book shows parents how their child's educators can create and design individualized instructional solutions to improve reading and learning performance. Not every parent who reads this book will become an instant reading expert. More important, every parent who reads this book will know whether or not his or her child is getting what he or she needs, and if not, what to do about it. As an educator, advocate, and parent coach, I recommend this book not just for parents but for teachers, too! I plan to use it in my practice!
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for ALL!, October 1, 2009
By Melissa Williams (Massachusetts)
Reading Disabilites: Beating the Odds is truly wonderful! Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan provide the reader with advice that is both realistic and right on target for meeting the needs of children struggling with a reading disability. As both an educator and parent, I can only imagine how much this book will empower both families and educators to make the right decisions on behalf of children. I have already recommended this book to several educator friends and parents.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Parent School Collaborations. This book will help attain the goal of educating all learners, September 25, 2009
By William D. Nichols, Dept Head Elementary and Middle Grades Education, Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC USA)
While most educators and parents of struggling learners are aware of the importance of individualizing instruction and the importance of getting students to be more actively engaged in learning, many still appear unsure about how to put into practice the ideal of all children learning well. This dilemma engenders feelings of failure for teachers, students and parents alike. It is clear that successfully educating all children will involve considerably more than legislative mandates and standardized testing. It is for that reason that I highly recommend Dr. Margolis and Dr. Brannigan's book Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds. The authors of this text provide very thoughtful and accessible information that is very beneficial for parents as they work with educators to meet the needs of their struggling learner. This book provides a much needed focus that can assist parents and educators in meeting the needs of struggling learners in the classroom. Beating the Odds provides very useful and accessible information about early identification, diagnostic assessments, and ideas for successful remediation that can be utilized by parents and educators alike. For parents with struggling learners this book can be an extremely valuable resource, loaded with wonderful ideas for navigating the waters faced by struggling readers; and shares ideas about how parents can assist educators in developing a successful plan for remediation. Without the ability to read and write students are placed at a disadvantage in almost every educational and "real world" setting. In order to better understand how to meet the individual needs of all learners, it is important for parents and teachers to work together to plan and use instruction that will ultimately lead to a lifelong love of literacy. As the authors of this text point out, the ability to read, write, speak, and understand language--those uniquely human processes that result from a multitude of factors help open the minds of students to new worlds, emotions, insights, and imaginative ideas; information of all types; and exciting, creative pursuits. Literacy helps all learners further their education and career opportunities and increase the quality of their lives through personal enjoyment. Ideas presented in this text can help in the attainment of the goal of educating all learners.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A practical book, September 24, 2009
By Elly J. Shapiro
Finally, a practical book on an extremely important topic for both parents and professionals.
In particular, I found the sections on "Resolving Conflicts with the Schools" and "Understanding the Principles of
Reading Instruction" to be crucial for developing and getting suitable programs for youngsters with reading problems.
This very useful and readable book should be required reading for all teachers.....Elly J. Shapiro.....Case Manager
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars This is where to start, September 20, 2009
By Bobbie Gallagher (Brick, NJ United States)
This book is where every parent should start when they suspect that their child has a reading disability. The effects that a reading disability has on a child is significant across many areas of their lives, not just school or academics, but also self-esteem. The Risk Factors chapter should be read by all parents and teachers to help identify reading disabilities before the student falls behind or becomes discouraged. The easy to fill out checklist gives the reader a fast way to discover if their child/student is at risk. Mr. Margolis and Brannigan take you step by step through the process of determining if your child has a reading disability, identifying your child to the school, ensuring that they are tested in all the areas, how to get the services placed into the IEP or 504 and ensure monitoring to stay on top of the child's progress. This book is where to start if you think your child has a reading disability, and it is the book to keep throughout your journey to ensure your child's success at Beating the Odds.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Buying this book is money well spent and a must read for parents AND educators of reading disabled children, September 11, 2009
By Elizabeth Montanti "Parent of a dyslexic child" (Southern New Jersey)
To educators and parents, I could write a great novel on Howard's creative, no-nonsense abilities to help reading disabled children, as well as his compassionate insistence that all parties remain civil and avoid litigation. Every parent with a special education student should buy this book for the entire Child Study Team of their child's school, including the principal and superintendent.
An IEP lacking such goals and objectives as described in this book is like a carpenter building a house without a measuring tape. One can imagine that the result would be a poorly constructed house unable to pass a building inspection and not be issued a certificate of occupancy. So too would the child, without such an IEP, lack the foundation needed to sound out letters, to form words and sentences, to become a fluent reader, and most importantly become a productive, independent citizen.
To develop an IEP with vague and unmeasurable goals and objectives will leave the child with a bleak future. In today's society, if a child can not read, they simply do not make it in life. Howard is not only an outstanding advocate of children with reading disabilities, he is also an extremely generous, kindhearted man. If not for his tireless, selfless efforts, my son would have been trapped in a self-contained classroom in a public school system that completely refused to address his dyslexic needs.
I sincerely extend my deepest gratitude to Howard (and his colleague) for all he has done and continues to do to help end the heartbreaking struggles faced and low self esteem endured by reading disabled children.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Parent Resource, September 1, 2009
By Richard Selznick, Ph.D. Cooper University Hospital(Voorhees, New Jersey)
As a psychologist specializing in the field of reading/learning disabilities, I am always looking for books to recommend parents. "Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds," by Dr. Howard Margolis and Dr. Gary Brannigan, is one that I will surely be recommending. Within the book Dr. Margolis and Dr. Brannigan ask a range of very insightful questions that help guide parents on an appropriate direction with their child. The book is a wealth of information ranging from early identification, diagnosis, remediation, special education law and a host of other topics. The field of special education can be mired in terminology and confusion that parents find overwhelming and intimidating. This book is very accessible and easily understood by parents. For anyone who needs support and understanding about their struggling child, you should have this book by your side.
Richard Selznick, Ph.D.
Psychologist & Author: The Shut Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book was written three years ago!!!, August 30, 2009
By Art Lederman (Voorhees, New Jersey)
I wish this book would have come out three years ago as I was advocating for my son's IEP. It would have saved me countless hours of research and considerable fees paid to Advocates in assiting me. This book is a must for any parent with a child who has an IEP. You must have the proper knowledge to properly advocate for your child, this book gives you the knowledge you need to create an equal playing field with the Child Study Team to ensure your child is getting proper services.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical, User-Friendly Reading Resource for Both Parents & Professionals, August 25, 2009
By Craig A. Michaels "Professor Special Education" (Queens College, City University of New York)
Kudos to Margolis and Brannigan for putting together a tremendous resource on reading and reading problems that can serve as a resource for parents and professionals alike. Practical and user-friendly are the words that best sum up my review of this new resource. Professional and lay users will find that Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds presents reading and the process of providing supports for reading-related problems within general and special education contexts in a simple and straightforward manner, while simultaneously covering these topics in remarkable breadth and depth. I also want to commend Margolis and Brannigan for creating a resource that is filled with techniques and strategies to address the collateral issues that so often accompany reading problems (e.g., problems with homework completion, academic efficacy, and self-esteem). Thus, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds also is an important resource for families and professionals working to break the "failure-cycle" for struggling readers.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A Tremendous Resource for Lawyers and their Clients, August 24, 2009
By Lisa Gordon Stella Esq. (North Carolina, USA)
As an attorney with an interest in special education and disability law, this book is a must read! It provides a thorough background into the issues that are presented when dealing with special education in the United States. The chapters are discrete and to the point, with an emphasis on the practical. Margolis and Brannigan have empowered parents and their advocates with a easy to read resource that distills the fundamentals necessary to navigate the special education system and address learning disabilities appropriately. I would encourage any attorney practicing or interested in this area to buy this book and to direct their clients to this book as a resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, August 19, 2009
By Marian Fish, Ph.D., School Psychology
What a great idea... a book that people can really understand. As a parent and educator, I found this book, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds, clear and practical. The authors take a complex issue and make it understandable to nonprofessionals. A must read for all parents who see their children struggling with reading.
-----------------------------------------------------------
By Staci Greenwald, Esq. (Cranbury, NJ)
I just finished your book. Once again you did a great job of making a complicated situation easy to understand and digest for the layperson. As a special education attorney and a parent of a child with a reading disability your book was very informative. I think all school professionals should read it. It's nice to see a guide which explains that a child with a reading disability comes in all shapes and sizes. Your book really explains what a reading disability is and how it affects functioning in the classroom. If the professionals were better able to detect the deficits remediation could occur earlier. Thanks again for a wonderful guide!
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars What every parent needs to know... October 28, 2009
By Susan Arslanian (Yelm, WA USA), MA Counseling and Guidance, MA Theological Studies
Reading Disabilities, Beating the Odds by Drs. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan not only encourages parents to be active participants in their child's education; it also provides step by step instruction on how to do so most effectively. The authors' knowledge and experience are superbly reflected in the clarity, depth and detail of the presented material. Every parent with school age children could benefit from reading this book.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds, October 18, 2009
By Mary Fowler (DC and NJ), Teacher Training Workshops and author of "Maybe You Know My Kid: A Parent's Guide and 20 Questions to Ask if Your Child Has ADHD."
Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds is the "go to" book for any parent of a child with reading problems or learning disabilities. This book is wise and wonderful. It rocks with practical, positive, and easily readable text that goes far beyond information. It coaches parents, too! By using critical questions, checklists, bulleted points, and guided action plans, seasoned experts Margolis and Brannigan lead parents through the complex maze of reading and learning problems. The authors help parents understand what to look for, what to do, how to make sense of evaluations, how to measure and monitor progress, how to solve problems, and how to help at home. In short, this book shows parents how their child's educators can create and design individualized instructional solutions to improve reading and learning performance. Not every parent who reads this book will become an instant reading expert. More important, every parent who reads this book will know whether or not his or her child is getting what he or she needs, and if not, what to do about it. As an educator, advocate, and parent coach, I recommend this book not just for parents but for teachers, too! I plan to use it in my practice!
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for ALL!, October 1, 2009
By Melissa Williams (Massachusetts)
Reading Disabilites: Beating the Odds is truly wonderful! Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan provide the reader with advice that is both realistic and right on target for meeting the needs of children struggling with a reading disability. As both an educator and parent, I can only imagine how much this book will empower both families and educators to make the right decisions on behalf of children. I have already recommended this book to several educator friends and parents.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Parent School Collaborations. This book will help attain the goal of educating all learners, September 25, 2009
By William D. Nichols, Dept Head Elementary and Middle Grades Education, Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC USA)
While most educators and parents of struggling learners are aware of the importance of individualizing instruction and the importance of getting students to be more actively engaged in learning, many still appear unsure about how to put into practice the ideal of all children learning well. This dilemma engenders feelings of failure for teachers, students and parents alike. It is clear that successfully educating all children will involve considerably more than legislative mandates and standardized testing. It is for that reason that I highly recommend Dr. Margolis and Dr. Brannigan's book Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds. The authors of this text provide very thoughtful and accessible information that is very beneficial for parents as they work with educators to meet the needs of their struggling learner. This book provides a much needed focus that can assist parents and educators in meeting the needs of struggling learners in the classroom. Beating the Odds provides very useful and accessible information about early identification, diagnostic assessments, and ideas for successful remediation that can be utilized by parents and educators alike. For parents with struggling learners this book can be an extremely valuable resource, loaded with wonderful ideas for navigating the waters faced by struggling readers; and shares ideas about how parents can assist educators in developing a successful plan for remediation. Without the ability to read and write students are placed at a disadvantage in almost every educational and "real world" setting. In order to better understand how to meet the individual needs of all learners, it is important for parents and teachers to work together to plan and use instruction that will ultimately lead to a lifelong love of literacy. As the authors of this text point out, the ability to read, write, speak, and understand language--those uniquely human processes that result from a multitude of factors help open the minds of students to new worlds, emotions, insights, and imaginative ideas; information of all types; and exciting, creative pursuits. Literacy helps all learners further their education and career opportunities and increase the quality of their lives through personal enjoyment. Ideas presented in this text can help in the attainment of the goal of educating all learners.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A practical book, September 24, 2009
By Elly J. Shapiro
Finally, a practical book on an extremely important topic for both parents and professionals.
In particular, I found the sections on "Resolving Conflicts with the Schools" and "Understanding the Principles of
Reading Instruction" to be crucial for developing and getting suitable programs for youngsters with reading problems.
This very useful and readable book should be required reading for all teachers.....Elly J. Shapiro.....Case Manager
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars This is where to start, September 20, 2009
By Bobbie Gallagher (Brick, NJ United States)
This book is where every parent should start when they suspect that their child has a reading disability. The effects that a reading disability has on a child is significant across many areas of their lives, not just school or academics, but also self-esteem. The Risk Factors chapter should be read by all parents and teachers to help identify reading disabilities before the student falls behind or becomes discouraged. The easy to fill out checklist gives the reader a fast way to discover if their child/student is at risk. Mr. Margolis and Brannigan take you step by step through the process of determining if your child has a reading disability, identifying your child to the school, ensuring that they are tested in all the areas, how to get the services placed into the IEP or 504 and ensure monitoring to stay on top of the child's progress. This book is where to start if you think your child has a reading disability, and it is the book to keep throughout your journey to ensure your child's success at Beating the Odds.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Buying this book is money well spent and a must read for parents AND educators of reading disabled children, September 11, 2009
By Elizabeth Montanti "Parent of a dyslexic child" (Southern New Jersey)
To educators and parents, I could write a great novel on Howard's creative, no-nonsense abilities to help reading disabled children, as well as his compassionate insistence that all parties remain civil and avoid litigation. Every parent with a special education student should buy this book for the entire Child Study Team of their child's school, including the principal and superintendent.
An IEP lacking such goals and objectives as described in this book is like a carpenter building a house without a measuring tape. One can imagine that the result would be a poorly constructed house unable to pass a building inspection and not be issued a certificate of occupancy. So too would the child, without such an IEP, lack the foundation needed to sound out letters, to form words and sentences, to become a fluent reader, and most importantly become a productive, independent citizen.
To develop an IEP with vague and unmeasurable goals and objectives will leave the child with a bleak future. In today's society, if a child can not read, they simply do not make it in life. Howard is not only an outstanding advocate of children with reading disabilities, he is also an extremely generous, kindhearted man. If not for his tireless, selfless efforts, my son would have been trapped in a self-contained classroom in a public school system that completely refused to address his dyslexic needs.
I sincerely extend my deepest gratitude to Howard (and his colleague) for all he has done and continues to do to help end the heartbreaking struggles faced and low self esteem endured by reading disabled children.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Parent Resource, September 1, 2009
By Richard Selznick, Ph.D. Cooper University Hospital(Voorhees, New Jersey)
As a psychologist specializing in the field of reading/learning disabilities, I am always looking for books to recommend parents. "Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds," by Dr. Howard Margolis and Dr. Gary Brannigan, is one that I will surely be recommending. Within the book Dr. Margolis and Dr. Brannigan ask a range of very insightful questions that help guide parents on an appropriate direction with their child. The book is a wealth of information ranging from early identification, diagnosis, remediation, special education law and a host of other topics. The field of special education can be mired in terminology and confusion that parents find overwhelming and intimidating. This book is very accessible and easily understood by parents. For anyone who needs support and understanding about their struggling child, you should have this book by your side.
Richard Selznick, Ph.D.
Psychologist & Author: The Shut Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book was written three years ago!!!, August 30, 2009
By Art Lederman (Voorhees, New Jersey)
I wish this book would have come out three years ago as I was advocating for my son's IEP. It would have saved me countless hours of research and considerable fees paid to Advocates in assiting me. This book is a must for any parent with a child who has an IEP. You must have the proper knowledge to properly advocate for your child, this book gives you the knowledge you need to create an equal playing field with the Child Study Team to ensure your child is getting proper services.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical, User-Friendly Reading Resource for Both Parents & Professionals, August 25, 2009
By Craig A. Michaels "Professor Special Education" (Queens College, City University of New York)
Kudos to Margolis and Brannigan for putting together a tremendous resource on reading and reading problems that can serve as a resource for parents and professionals alike. Practical and user-friendly are the words that best sum up my review of this new resource. Professional and lay users will find that Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds presents reading and the process of providing supports for reading-related problems within general and special education contexts in a simple and straightforward manner, while simultaneously covering these topics in remarkable breadth and depth. I also want to commend Margolis and Brannigan for creating a resource that is filled with techniques and strategies to address the collateral issues that so often accompany reading problems (e.g., problems with homework completion, academic efficacy, and self-esteem). Thus, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds also is an important resource for families and professionals working to break the "failure-cycle" for struggling readers.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A Tremendous Resource for Lawyers and their Clients, August 24, 2009
By Lisa Gordon Stella Esq. (North Carolina, USA)
As an attorney with an interest in special education and disability law, this book is a must read! It provides a thorough background into the issues that are presented when dealing with special education in the United States. The chapters are discrete and to the point, with an emphasis on the practical. Margolis and Brannigan have empowered parents and their advocates with a easy to read resource that distills the fundamentals necessary to navigate the special education system and address learning disabilities appropriately. I would encourage any attorney practicing or interested in this area to buy this book and to direct their clients to this book as a resource.
-----------------------------------------------------------
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, August 19, 2009
By Marian Fish, Ph.D., School Psychology
What a great idea... a book that people can really understand. As a parent and educator, I found this book, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds, clear and practical. The authors take a complex issue and make it understandable to nonprofessionals. A must read for all parents who see their children struggling with reading.
-----------------------------------------------------------
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS
AMAZON REVIEWS
