Special Education in Practice: A Concise Introduction

by Leah Wasburn-Moses

Overview

This concise yet comprehensive text offers an introduction to special education practice. It covers the basics in the field—including key definitions, history, and policy—and focuses on evidence-based practices in teaching, strategies for inclusive schools and classrooms, and contemporary issues affecting at-risk students more broadly. The book consists of six chapters designed to fit within various models of practice-based preparation and invites deliberate connections between the ideas it presents, and the active classroom practice it encourages. Each chapter features suggested collaboration and practice activities, and inquiry activities presented in the last chapter align with the 22 High Leverage Practices (HLPs) identified by leading researchers in the field. Special Education in Practice is an ideal text for teacher candidates in any licensure or teacher preparation program working within a practice-based setting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040350683
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/03/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

Leah Wasburn-Moses is Professor of Educational Psychology at Miami University. She is the author of multiple books and articles around innovation in teacher education. Her Campus Mentors on-campus alternative school model has won national recognition for positive youth outcomes.

Table of Contents

1. What Is Special Education?; 2. Collaboration; 3. High-Incidence Disabilities; 4. Low-Incidence Disabilities; 5. Inclusive Schools and Classrooms; 6. Field Guide

Editorial Reviews

Special Education in Practice: A Concise Introduction provides invaluable information about special education, dis/ability, and inclusive education. The book’s emphasis on the daily practice of teaching and numerous application activities distinguishes it as a resource that special education teacher candidates and teacher educators will find indispensable. 

- Dr. Melinda Leko, Professor of Special Education, University of Florida, USA

In Special Education in Practice: A Concise Introduction, Dr. Wasburn-Moses delivers a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the fundamentals of special education. Tailored for a broad range of stakeholders—including educators, parents, and advocates—this guide provides clear insights into the complexities of the field, while offering practical strategies to support exceptional learners. The book highlights evidence-based practices, including the 22 high-leverage practices in special education developed by the CEEDAR Center in partnership with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Each chapter includes a collaborative activity, encouraging engagement with professionals in the field, and a practice activity, allowing reading an opportunity to apply their learning. As written, the text is accessible to a wide audience making it an invaluable resource.

- Dr. Patricia Alvarez McHatton, Chief Program Officer for Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity

This comprehensive text is the first I have read that brings theory and high-leverage practices into the field component of teacher education. This text not only provides strong examples of how to work with students with disabilities but also includes strategies for working with “at-risk” youth, an often-forgotten group. The suggestions and solid examples provided for mentoring/coaching are exemplar. The field guide is clear and concise and innovative. The text certainly provides a much-needed up-to-date resource for both prospective teachers and faculty.

- Dr. Mary M. Murray, Professor and Associate Dean Emerita, Bowling Green State University, Ohio

From the Publisher