We all know Thomas Edison was a genius of seemingly limitless imagination. Yet few know that he was a failure in elementary school. Scott Teel shows us how Edison's mother, Nancy, guided the boy who was deemed a dunce by officials-even assumed mentally retarded by his father-to become one of the greatest inventors of all time. Nancy Edison's progressive and imaginative teaching methods hold lessons for all children who learn differently from conventional methods and for the parents and teachers who care about them. Furthermore, Teel explains how parents can negotiate the educational maze created by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Individualized education programs (IEPs) are explained in detail, and options such as enlisting the assistance of a professional advocate are also discussed.
The latest research about current medication therapies and the origins/potential benefits of ADHD axe reviewed. A leading professional advocate explains what every parent needs to know about the public school system. Other topics addressed include the effectiveness of homeschooling and parental and student rights. Teel also offers an extensive list of local and national resources.