Encouraging and Supporting Student Inquiry: Researching Controversial Issues (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship) [Paperback]

Harriet S. Selverstone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2007 | ISBN-10: 1591584965 | ISBN-13: 978-1591584964

Assignments that engage students in inquiry topics of their own choosing contribute to motivation and thus to learning. Very often the topics chosen (particularly by high school students) are considered controversial by school administration, parents, community organizations, and others. This practical book discusses the processes, actions, and policies needed to support and encourage high school students in that type of inquiry. Building trusting relationships over time with administration and the school community will be stressed as a way to build a community of true inquiry in your school and library. Classroom teachers and high school librarians will value the advice and scaffolding techniques presented that will enable their school and high school library to become a safe place for student inquiry into issues of their own choosing— controversial or not. The author draws on her 30-plus years as a high school librarian, deeply concerned with the intellectual freedom of the researchers in her library media center and with offering help and reassurance to those trying to implement school library programs that allow all voices to be heard. Grades 9-12.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Selverstone gives sound advice for advocating inquiry-based research, especially for hot topics that are most interesting to students. She advises library media specialists on what constitutes controversial topics, how to collaborate with teachers to foster critical thinking, and how to gain administrative support for this kind of program research….[t]he philosophies and ideas presented make this book an ideal purchase to promote and foster collaboration with the school communities in which many of us work."

-

School Library Journal

"Librarians will find this resource useful both for setting up lessons and inquiries into the topics listed and as a model for helping students to research other topics….Selverstone's guide is a sound purchase for school librarians and for public libraries serving high school populations."

-

VOYA

Book Description

Assignments that engage students in inquiry topics of their own choosing (often controversial) contribute to motivation and thus to learning. This practical book will discuss the processes, actions and policies needed to support and encourage high school students in that type of inquiry.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited (September 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591584965
• ISBN-13: 978-1591584964
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,722,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaches Critical Thinking and Provides Resources, July 22, 2009

By 

Bizer (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encouraging and Supporting Student Inquiry: Researching Controversial Issues (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides in School Librarianship) (Kindle Edition)

I appreciated the lists of topic specific resources, and I enjoyed the broader discussions of controversy in the classroom. But what I liked most about this book is that it taught critical thinking - possibly the most important thing a student can learn. Since few books even touch this subject matter, and those that do are often theory heavy and light on practical application, I found this book refreshingly simple to read and apply. I've been recommending it to teachers specifically.