Practical Steps to the Research Process for Middle School: [Paperback]

Deborah B. Stanley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Information Literacy Series | Publication Date: January 15, 2001

Stanley applies the same user-friendly format that made her popular guide to teaching the six steps of the research process to high school students such a success. In this new volume geared toward middle school students, field-tested lessons, anecdotes, reproducible charts and templates, and research ideas all work together to transform the research process into bite-size steps that are both adaptable to various teaching styles and not overwhelming for students. By applying Stanley's methods you'll be pursuing education reforms including integrating technology, improving information literacy, teaching critical thinking, modeling collaborative instruction, and adapting research for second language learners and learning disabled students.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

This outstanding resource is designed to help a busy library media teacher present research as meaningful, "doable," and, also, challenging. The process is broken down into a four-day program of scripted lessons that emphasize strategies Stanley has tested and found to work well. The fundamental principle is collaboration between the LMT and classroom teacher to reach the goal of information literacy. The key word in the entire approach is practical. The author assumes that the LMT is familiar with research theories and is ready to plunge into the process of teaching research. The book is divided into four general sections: planning and preparation, the research process, application and accountability, and enrichment and extension. The margins contain icons that represent major trends in educational reform, such as information literacy, ELL/special modifications, problem solving, lifelong skills, etc. "Instructor Information" sections contain lists, charts, and templates, such as, "Examples of MLA Citations and Research Checklist." Permission is given to duplicate the activity sheets for classroom use. The model lessons are for research on Renaissance artists, but could easily be adapted to any subject. The book concludes with a section on connections that offers ties to standards and information literacy, based on models found in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (ALA, 1998). While designed for middle school students, both elementary and high school LMTs would find this a very effective volume.

Elizabeth Stumpf, Clearfield Middle School, PA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

.,."features valuable and specific information about how a LMT (library media teacher) can become an effective collaborator with other classroom instructors. ... There are many aspects of this book which are of great benefit to the field. ...this book is an important text for LMT's seeking high quality curriculum for teaching the research process."-Education Libraries

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Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563087634
• ISBN-13: 978-1563087639
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #551,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Handbook for Middle School Teachers, May 28, 2003

By 

Craig Larson (Maple Grove, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Practical Steps to the Research Process for Middle School: (Paperback)

_Practical Steps to the Research Process for Middle School_ is a book which attempts, largely successfully, to offer just what its title promises. Stanley's book offers a variety of methods for introducing students and instructors alike to the idea that research is in fact a process, including step-by-step lesson plans and techniques which detail each step in that process, from finding and developing a topic to collecting the information, organizing it, and creating a final project. The book shows exactly how to plan and prepare for teaching students about the research process, a process which is often overlooked in the rush to assign essays and other projects which require a modicum of research.

If anything, the book attempts to do too much, with the first sections devoted to very specific instructions for the neophyte library/media specialist. Stanley gets a bit bogged-down in such details as the scheduling of the media center, designing a master calendar, and so forth for the book to be entirely successful at accomplishing its stated goal. In fact, out of the four main sections within the book, only one is devoted to the actual research process, with perhaps a bit too much emphasis placed on the value and importance of note-taking as a part of the process.

Still, _Practical Steps to the Research Process for Middle School_, which is primarily aimed at an audience of library/media specialists, is a useful source, with many charts and other graphics that could be taken directly for use as handouts or overheads. In fact, the book would be a useful source for any middle school instructor interested in teaching his/her students more about the research process.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Research Tool, May 25, 2009

By 

Patricia "Patricia" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Steps to the Research Process for Middle School: (Paperback)

I have been teaching middle school for close to two decades. This book is one of the best research guides I have ever used. Very practical, as the title suggests.