Reference, Language Arts, Communicative Disorders, Special Education 

"Creating Family Harmony Through Tanka" presents an educational model of the twenty-first century using "tanka" as a means to revive humanity and seek general wisdom. Cultural activities such as the creation or appreciation of artwork can be emotionally rewarding for disabled patients and their families. Poetry can offer a form of therapy that helps people regain their sense of humanity. Tanka - a short form of Japanese poetry with five lines - is effective in reviving these profound qualities. Speech and language expert Katsumi Okabe has devoted much of his professional research to the exploration of innovative educational modalities. He aspires for educational reform and gives the name "the whole-personality approach" to an array of ideas and methods that serve the individual, the organization, or society as a whole. The author proposes a way of thinking that facilitates the proposal of a clear, specific and sound plan for devising a realistic and effective system of responsibility. The true secret of education is to protect and cultivate the spirit. "Tanka" is the expression of the spirit through words. Art, including "tanka," seeks to express matters that are invisible -those that cannot be articulated - through modalities that can be discussed. "Tanka" in this sense, is the purpose of education as well as its method. "Tanka" poems beautifully demonstrate cultural similarities and universal needs for creative expression. Today, "tanka" in English belongs to everyone. This book is an ideal resource for speech pathologists, occupational therapists, special education teachers, or those working in the field of speech-language and hearing rehabilitation. - from Amzon