A pediatrician explains the problems and treatment of children with minimal brain dysfunction

In the seventh grade, Todd Rose was suspended-not for the first time-for throwing six stink bombs at the blackboard, where his art teacher stood with his back to the class. At eighteen, he was a high school dropout, stocking shelves at a department store for $4.25 an hour. Today, Rose is a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Square Peg illuminates the struggles of millions of bright young children -- and their frustrated parents and teachers--who are stuck in a one-size-fits-all school system that fails to approach the student as an individual. Rose shares his own incredible journey from troubled childhood to Harvard, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge research in neuroscience and psychology along with advances in the field of education, to ultimately provide a roadmap for parents and teachers of kids who are the casualties of America's antiquated school system. With a distinguished blend of humor, humility, and practical advice for nurturing children who are a poor fit in conventional schools, Square Peg is a game-changing manifesto that provides groundbreaking insight into how we can get the most out of all the students in our classrooms, and why today's dropouts could be tomorrow's innovators.

This practical easy-to-use guide identifies the barriers that children with a wide range of different additional needs experience in school. It provides case studies of each of the major conditions, describes the behaviour of the child involved and the process of diagnosis, concluding with practical strategies on how to help these children become successful learners.

Chapters address a wide range of issues confronting adolescents, including depression, substance use, teenage pregnancy, conflict with parents, conduct disorder, and stresses that affect young people; the volume goes on to suggest ways in which these can be most competently dealt with. Contributors: JUDITH G. SMETANA, JACQUELYNNE S. ECCLES, SARAH E. LORD, ROBERT W. ROESER, LAURENCE STEINBERG, JAY BELSKY, ROBERT KEGAN, CATHERINE LORD, PER F. GJERDE, JACK BLOCK, RONALD E. DAHL, NEAL D. RYAN, DAVID A. BRENT, GRACE MORITZ, MARGARET BEALE SPENCER, DAVIDO DUPREE, CYNTHIA T. GARCIA COLL, HEIDO A. VAZQUES GARCIA, DANIEL P. KEATING, DARLA J. MACLEAN

The traditional Japanese art of paper folding to create extraordinary shapes and forms has received wide appreciation in the last few decades. Origami has been accepted as means of educating, besides enteraining, children in mathematics, geometry and similar disciplines of study.

Otto is a square peg in a world of round pegs. He often doesn't fit into the world of rounds on the bus, in school, and in public. While he enjoys his squareness, he dreams of fitting in with his peers. A special teacher who is much like him helps him understand how to round out his edges just enough to fit in when he wants to, without losing his individuality. He learns skills such as making eye contact and practicing some of the subtleties of conversation that help him find success in navigating the world of rounds, while still appreciating his unique squareness. Children on the spectrum will relate to Otto's dilemma and appreciate his journey of self-discovery and growth.

Social Leadership encapsulates the mindset, skills and behaviours required to be an effective leader in the Social Age. This book is a guide for organisations looking to develop Social Leadership capability and for individuals looking to become Social Leaders. It's a model of leadership that is more fluid and relevant than ones based on longevity, situation or hierarchy. The NET Model of Social Leadership is built around three Dimensions: 'Narrative', 'Engagement' and 'Technology'. The NET model is both an idea and a call to arms.