Teach Me If You Can!

Teaching in today's world has become a major challenge but imagine trying to educate individuals with special needs such as Downs-syndrome, profound autism, behavioral and authority issues, cerebral palsy, and even medically fragile conditions. Dr. Lazerson shows us that it can be done in a meaningful and fun way, as long as we become knowledgable and effective teachers, making the switch to a more student-centered approach. In this new book, Teach Me If You Can, Dr. Lazerson utilizes a variety of classroom-proven, motivational and exciting techniques to reach his most difficult students, including expressive arts therapies, experiential education, hands-on music and science, peer interactive learning, ropes course activities, black light theatre, and much more.

Teaching in today's world has become a major challenge but imagine trying to educate individuals with special needs such as Downs-syndrome, profound autism, learning & behavioral disorders, authority issues, cerebral palsy, and even medically fragile conditions. Dr. Laz shows us that it can be done in a meaningful and fun way, as long as we become knowledgable and effective teachers, making the switch to a more student-centered approach. In this new book, Teach Me If You Can, Dr. Laz utilizes a variety of classroom-proven, motivational and exciting techniques to reach his most difficult students, including expressive arts therapies, experiential education, hands-on music and science, peer interactive learning, ropes course activities, black light theatre, and much more. While the book combines theory along with practical solutions, it is much more than a textbook, as it contains many first-person stories from the “frontline” of the special education classrooms. The stories are touching, personal, often funny, and always inspiring, as Dr. Laz (as he is affectionately known) takes his students from their usual role of being passive observers to one of active participants. Dr. Laz uses a variety of exciting, motivational techniques, pulling out every trick in the book, to reach these hard-to-reach kids. He forms a “sing & sign” choir, where non-verbal students are taught American Sign Language to communicate to live music. Others with profound physical challenges use assistive technology and adaptive knee & head switches to run lighting and other visual effects. His students put on major drama productions for the entire community. Using their adaptive instruments and technology, students with profound special needs function as the actors, singers, dancers, joke tellers, lighting and stage hands, and even the show's M.C. - many doing so right from their wheelchairs! Dr. Laz then takes his performing troop on the road to visit senior centers, other schools and community centers throughout the state of Florida. His students become powerful self-advocates as they sensitize others that they too, given the opportunity, can make meaningful contributions to society. Dr. Laz goes on to win the “Teacher of the Year” award in 2007nfrom the Broward County public schools – the nation’s 6th largest school district, and his choir performs for thousands at much larger venues, such as the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. In 2008, Dr. Laz was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. It’s an uplifting story, one that will benefit teachers, parents, university students in the field of education, and, in fact, anyone looking for an inspiring read. Dr. Laz is currently conducting a cutting-edge research study using these above-mentioned techniques that may revolutionize the field of profound special needs. In addition, Dr. Laz recently founded the H.E.ARTS Project, which utilizes the expressive arts for individuals with special needs.

David Lazerson, PhD, aka – Dr. Laz, is world renowned educator, musician, & conflict resolution specialist. He has been featured on many national and international TV specials, such as CNN, ESPN, The USA Network, The Montel Williams Show, and The Phil Donahue Show. He has also been written up in most major newspapers and magazines throughout the country. His 3rd book, “Sharing Turf,” was recently turned into the movie "Crown Heights," which stars Howie Mandel as Dr. Laz and chronicled his remarkable race-relations efforts after the Crown Heights Race Riots in 1991. "Crown Heights" is available at NetFlix & online. Race Relations Specialist - Just weeks after the Crown Heights race riots in 1991, Dr. Laz was selected by the Mayor of New York to be the liaison from the orthodox & Hassidic community to work alongside leaders from the African-American community. He and his counterparts created Project CURE - a racial harmony group, and what they were able to accomplish was nothing short of extraordinary. Starting with “dialogues for understanding,” Project CURE soon grew into a major force for positive change on a local and global level. CURE got the NY Knicks to dedicate one night a year to racial harmony and his racially mixed CURE basketball team played during halftime for several years. CURE has won nearly every major civic award, including the Mother Hale award, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fulfilling the Dream award, the NY Foundation Peace award, and the John Lindsay award. Musician - Dr. Laz’s music features an eclectic blend of rap, rock, Hassidic, blues, reggae, jazz, bluegrass and even gospel! Dr. Laz & The CURE, his multi-ethnic music group, has played with Al Green, The Winans, The Manhattans, in front of the U.S. Congress, the Democratic National Convention, at Madison Square Garden, as well as numerous schools, universities and institutions across the country. Showtime used three of his original songs for the Crown Heights movie. His band played the halftime show at the Miami Heat game in Dec. 2010. Educator - Dr. Laz is a world famous educator, winning the 2007 Arts Teacher of the Year award for the Broward County Public Schools (nation's 5th largest district) and the Teacher of the Year award from NY State in 1981 for his rather unorthodox, yet highly acclaimed techniques for reaching students with special needs. Earning a PhD in Educational Research & Evaluation, a master’s degree in learning & behavioral disorders, and two undergraduate degrees, including a Bachelor of Divinity, and more than 30 years in both private & public education – as both an administrator and teacher, he’s done it all! He directed his own alternative high school program and currently teaches graduate level courses at Nova University. His ideas and methods have been published in the NY Times and many major journals including the Journal of Learning Disabilities and the Journal of Emotional & Behavioral Disorders. In 2008 Dr. Laz was one of five teachers throughout the entire USA to be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. He won the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award in 2007 from University of Buffalo - where he completed his Doctoral work, and from Buffalo State College - where he received his Master’s degree in special education. His current work, which utilizes expressive arts & assistive technology for students with profound special needs such as autism, Downs-syndrome, cerebral palsy, and medically fragile conditions, has already made front page news and been featured on news stations such as NBC and Warner Bros. In 2010 he received the National Science Teacher of the Year for Special Needs Author - Dr. Laz has written four books: Sharing Turf; Ammunition - Battling the Elements; and the best-seller Skullcaps ‘N Switchblades – which chronicles his teaching years in an all-Black, inner-city school in Buffalo, NY. Skullcaps ‘N Switchblades is now under consideration for a major motion picture and has been called “a fun & inspiring read,” and “one that sets Black/Jewish relations on the right path.” This highly anticipated "Teach Me If You Can" is Dr. Laz's latest book.