Understanding Multiple-Birth Children and How They Learn

Introduction

My interest in twins extends back to my childhood.  I had the opportunity to watch Melinda and Melissa, neighboring identical twins, interact with others throughout their school years.  I was amazed by their unique relationship and the manner in which others would react to them.   For example, their patterns of communication emphasized cooperation.  While Melinda and Melissa celebrated the uniqueness of twinship, they were also able to support each other’s individual pursuits.

When I attended college and began my career as a middle school teacher, I had the opportunity to teach pairs of twins.  They continued to intrigue me.  I became more interested in how others reacted to them.  Peers, teachers, and even the parents of twins unconscientiously expected them to behave in certain ways.  Such expectations were beneficial or harmful, depending on the situation.  Searching for literature on such issues, I was surprised to find very few research articles addressing the educational concerns of multiples.

The fundamental goal of this book is to illuminate issues involving twin siblings, how they learn, and their educational experiences.  Each chapter addresses specific concerns and provides some prescriptive advice based on research.  I’ve included surveys to help parents, teachers, and multiples discover information about their learning experiences. 

This book is the result of many years of research and consultation with parents, teachers, twins (and higher multiples), and other twin researchers.  As I collected data for various projects, I quickly realized that parents and teachers needed a book to help them understand educational issues.  Administrators, too, need current research to help them make wise decisions.  All names used in this book are pseudonyms.

I hope you will find this book a valuable resource and a bridge to a deeper understanding of multiple relationships.  This is not a book that should just be read.  This is a book you should use with your children.  Throughout this book are surveys and inventories that prompt opportunities to learn more about the preferences and differences among multiple birth siblings.  It is my hope that these activities will be opportunities for shared interaction.  These surveys are suitable to be used with school age children.

Finally, please share this book with other parents, teachers, administrators, and anyone interested in improving their understanding of the learning experiences of twin and multiple birth children.  I welcome your comments and feedback to my research.  My email address is: twineducation@yahoo.com.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to local and national twin organizations to support their work.