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The Reflective School Counselor's Guide to Practitioner Research

Skills and Strategies for Successful Inquiry

By: Vicki Brooks-McNamara, Danielle Torres

Become an advocate for underserved students by using data from inquiry projects!

This timely book is ideal for school counselors unfamiliar with the process of practitioner research, from framing research questions and gathering authentic data to using results that can benefit students and create lasting schoolwide change. The authors use the American School Counselor Association's National Model to build practitioners' inquiry skills on issues of achievement, opportunity inequities, school culture, and community partnerships. The text covers:

Practical methods for formulating questions for inquiry projects
A step-by-step process for collecting, analyzing, and using data
Guidelines for developing counselors' advocacy, leadership, and collaboration skills

Full description

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Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12
ISBN: 9781412951104
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2007
Page Count: 128
Publication date: March 06, 2014

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Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.

Description

"Like the little train that said 'I think I can, I think I can,' this book tells school counselors, 'You can, you can' do research. The text encourages and guides school counselors who have very little time and resources for research, enabling them to show and tell the differences that result from their programs."
—Angie Stansell, School Counselor
Hatton High School, Town Creek, AL

"This text can help any school counselor develop the observation and analytical skills to become a practitioner-inquirer. However, the book is much more than a collection of research techniques—it is a celebration of what is possible when school counselors pursue answers to their own questions about the students with whom they work. I predict this groundbreaking book will become a classic."
—Ruth Shagoury
Author, The Art of Classroom Inquiry

Become an advocate for underserved students by using data from inquiry projects!

This practical and timely book is ideal for school counselors unfamiliar with the process of practitioner research, from framing research questions and gathering authentic data to using results that can benefit students and create lasting schoolwide change. The authors use the American School Counselor Association's National Model to build practitioners' inquiry skills on issues of achievement, opportunity inequities, school culture, and community partnerships. The text covers:

Practical methods for formulating the questions on which inquiry projects are based
A step-by-step process for collecting, analyzing, and using data
Guidelines for developing counselors' advocacy, leadership, and collaboration skills

Key features

Delivers practical guidance for developing questions on which inquiry projects are based
Offers a step-by-step process for collecting, analyzing, and using data
Addresses how inquiry projects develop school counselor essential skills outlined in the American School Counselor Association National Model (advocacy, leadership, collaboration, use of data, and systemic change skills)
Provides examples of real counselor inquiry projects

Author(s)

Vicki Brooks-McNamara

Vicki Brooks-McNamara received her Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of Wyoming. She taught all K-12 levels before becoming a school counselor and counselor educator. Under Vicki’s leadership, the school counseling program at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon transformed into a premier program preparing school counselors to be leaders and advocates who are guided by data to facilitate systemic change.

Vicki currently is a Senior Consultant with The Education Trust. She coordinates and facilitates district and state-wide school counseling workshops to assist practitioners in essential skill development necessary in today’s school reform. She is on the editorial board of the Profession School Counseling journal and a Senior Fulbright Recipient. Additionally, she is a consultant and advisory member for The College Board’s National Office of School Counselor Advocacy. Vicki resides in Portland with her husband Mike.

Danielle Torres

Danielle Torres earned a B.A. and M.A. from Pepperdine University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oregon. She is currently a faculty member of the School Counseling Program at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Her teaching includes courses in action research, diversity issues in education, and the professional development of school counselors. She has experience as a counselor in schools at all grade levels and with various school-based research projects. Dr. Torres resides in Portland, Oregon.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

School Counselors Collaborating for High Student Achievement

School Culture in the Time of School Reform

Tips for Using the Book

1. Launching Inquiry: Developing Your Question

How We Arrived at This Point

Moving Into Inquiry

Data Sources

Thinking About Thinking

Formulating Questions

Exploring Your Question

Strategies for Success

Meet Dianne: An Ongoing Case Study

2. Discovering the Territory: Exploring Others' Expertise

Why Gather Supporting Information?

Exploring Others' Expertise

Keeping It Simple

Components of the Summary

Dianne's Journey Begins

3. Getting It Together: Gathering Your Data

Ethical Considerations

What Data Is Needed?

Avenues for Gathering Data

School Artifacts

The Last Tip: How to Navigate Dead Ends

Dianne's Hunch Pays Off

4. Sorting It Out: Making Sense of Your Data

Descriptive Data as a Powerful Tool

Ways to Look at Data

Dianne Makes Sense of It All

5. Stepping Up: Sharing What You Now Know

The Fundamentals

Know Your Audience

Know Your End Product

Inquiry Support Groups

Routines

The Block

Deadlines

It's All in the Details

Dianne Seeks Support From Key People

6. Building Your Learning Community

Learning Communities

Practitioner Inquiry Suport Team

Dianne Brings Parents Into the Learning Community

7. Review and Can-Do: Putting It All Together

Where's Dianne Now?

References

Index

Reviews

"It is critical that professional school counselors join the ranks of other educators in becoming accountable. This book will help school counselors learn how to use data to both help students better navigate the educational system, and, more importantly, help the school change to better meet the needs of students."

Peggy Hines, Director
National Center for Transforming School Counseling, The Education Trust

"Kudos to Brooks-McNamara and Torres for writing a text about inquiry for aspiring school counselors! Now more than ever, school counselors must be ready and able to participate in determining and documenting how school initiatives, large and small, impact student performance. My students will be thankful to enter the profession ready to ask questions, collect and analyze data, and challenge practices that may not be serving students well."

Chris Jensen, Associate Professor
Seattle University

"This text can help any school counselor develop the observation and analytical skills to become a practitioner-inquirer. However, this book is much more than a collection of research techniques—it is a celebration of what is possible when school counselors pursue answers to their own questions about the students with whom they work. I predict this groundbreaking book will become a classic."

Ruth Shagoury
Author, The Art of Classroom Inquiry

"Provides a much needed resource and guide for those in the midst of school reform. Brooks-McNamara and Torres present an action research framework that enables school counselors to be central in school decision making to improve the learning and community for all students."

Nancy G. Nagel, Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor of Education
Lewis & Clark College

"Provides a practical and valuable tool for all school counseling professionals trying to align their school counseling program with the ASCA standards."

Todd E. Ryan, Director of Guidance & Counseling
Louisa County High School, Mineral, VA

"Offers a means by which school counselor practices can better support and be more clearly aligned with the educational community and greater schoolwide efforts. A very vital and useful publication."

Stephanie A. Bierman, School Counselor
West Lake Elementary School, Apex, NC

"Like the little train that said 'I think I can, I think I can,' this book tells school counselors, 'You can, you can' do research. This book encourages and guides school counselors who have very little time and resources to do research, enabling them to show and tell the differences that result from their programs."

Angie Stansell, School Counselor
Hatton High School, Town Creek, AL

"An excellent outline of skills and strategies for underserved students and their counselors. Chapters provide a framework for gathering data and authenticating results to foster schoolwide change."

The Bookwatch, December 2007
Midwest Book Review

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