Reaching for the Reins: Stories of At-Risk Students Empowered by Serving Others Through Equine Therapy - Hardcover

Carlsen, Tara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1491707283 ISBN 13: 9781491707289

Publisher: iUniverse, 2013

Synopsis

Tara Carlsen wanted to help at-risk students learn without relying on stale, clinical teaching methods. Instead of trying to find solutions in the classroom, the mathematics teacher transplanted failing students from an alternative high school to a horse ranch. There, she encouraged them to reach for the reins, and she witnessed dramatic results.

Students who could not relate to their peers or teachers could relate to horses-and suddenly their futures looked a whole lot brighter. Carlsen and her students proceeded to take an inspiring journey, learning the basics of horsemanship through equine-assisted learning-a therapeutic approach to interpersonal development using horse-related activities.

After learning the basics, the students taught peers with special needs what they'd learned, drawing upon their own struggles and triumphs to help them achieve success. Punctuated with humor, heartbreak, and hard-won triumph, Reaching for the Reins chronicles the struggles and successes of these students over five years.

About this title

About the Author

Tara Carlsen has a bachelor's degree in secondary education and a master's in education leadership. She teaches mathematics at an alternative public high school in southwest Michigan, where she lives with her husband and horse. This is her first book.

Edition details

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1491707283
• ISBN 13: 9781491707289
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 226