Read SEN Magazine SEN128 : Jan/Feb here
It’s definitely a three-brew issue this time, so if you’re sitting comfortably, we can begin.
If you, like me, are intrigued by the idea of selective mutism, please turn first to Hannah Morris’s account (page 59) of how this debilitating anxiety condition manifests itself and how it can be addressed. And even if you aren’t, please read it anyway, because there are echoes of other kinds of awkwardness which we accept as normal but which perhaps we needn’t. The fascination continues on page 39, where Sue Newman discusses sound processing and rhythmic awareness, two superpowers which allow us to thrive in education and in life. Peter Nelmes describes on page 74 how his school unexpectedly became an enlightened therapeutic school, successfully reducing the incidence of challenging behaviour by prioritising empathy towards the students.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, Cecil Burton has been writing his—not entirely positive—impressions (page 93) of Japanese attitudes to special needs, and how Japan caters for students with SEN. Also not entirely positive is Deborah Salsbury’s take on phonics (page 21). She asks how we can help children who don’t respond to phonics when learning to read.
Please save one of the brews for Freya Spicer-White’s thought-provoking article (page 31) on why the loss of Asperger’s as a diagnosis may foretell the waning of other discrete diagnoses, and why we could look instead to a wider world of neurodiversity.
There are too many great features in this issue to mention them all, but spare a few minutes to read Sean Vosler’s piece on AI (page 88) and how AI is precisely the kind of assistance which can enhance accessibility and therefore inclusion. There are useful practical ideas in Lizzie Lister’s article (page 35) on teaching students with ADHD, and in Keir Williams’s article (page 15) on teaching dyslexic children.
Gratitude as always to all our advertisers and contributors, without whom SEN Magazine would not be possible, and to the team here at SEN Headquarters, where all the magic happens.
I wish you good health and happiness in 2024. This is my last issue as Editor, but you will continue to see my name in the credits. In true Doctor Who style, it will soon be time for the Editor to regenerate.
Mary
Click here to read SEN Magazine SEN128 online
Toxic stress, Home educating, School refusal, ADHD, Assistive tech, Artificial intelligence, CReSTeD, Cycling, Art education, Playgrounds, Auditory Verbal therapy, Exclusion, Visual aids, News, Book reviews, What’s New, CPD & Events, Resources and more
