Review My Book
"The solution-focused approach has made a big difference in our school."
Del Bouck, B.R.E., B.Ed., M.Ed., Principal, Edmonton Public Schools
"This is an outstanding book, full of clear examples and easy-to-use strategies that will help professionals solve school problems more quickly."
Maureen Leahey, R.N., Ph.D,, Director, Family Therapy Training Program, Calgary Health Region
"McConkey deserves to be applauded for writing the first Canadian book on the solution-focused approach. If your goal is to be a more effective teacher, principal or counsellor, read Solving School Problems."
Ronald Warner, Ph.D., Director, Certificate Program in Solution-Focused Counselling, University of Toronto
Solving School Problems
Solution-Focused Strategies for Principals, Teachers, and Counsellors
This book gives school professionals practical, solution-focused strategies for solving problems with students and parents, rapidly and effectively.
Unlike traditional problem-solving models, which focus on deficits and the history of the problem, the solution-focused model emphasizes times when the problem does not occur. These exceptions to the problem offer clues to solutions. Learn how to use exception-finding questions to begin the solution-building process. You will also learn how to use powerful future-oriented questions to help students and parents to work towards achievable goals.
The solution-focused model is useful for a wide range of problems and all age groups. No matter what your role, you will learn practical skills to shift from problem talk to solution talk ™.
Principals will learn how to:
- defuse anger and resistance
- use solution-focused discipline strategies
- deal with aggressive and high-risk youth
- deal with bullying problems
- do solution-focused team building with staff
Teachers will learn how to:
- work with difficult students and parents
- conduct solution-focused parent-teacher interviews
- resolve student conflicts quickly
- use brief, positive interventions in the classroom
Counsellors will learn how to:
- do single session counselling
- use solution-focused techniques in groups
- work quickly to promote change
- work with resistant students
Here are just a few of the outstanding features you will find in this book:
- 25 case examples showing how you can be more solution-focused
- case transcripts which give you a dialogue of what to say and questions to ask
- worksheets for solution-focused parent-teacher meetings
- guidelines for solution-focused discipline meetings
- worksheets for counselling sessions
- strategies for dealing with tough problems
- ideas for using this model in groups, in the classroom, and in the school environment
- chapters written specifically for the needs of teachers, principals and counsellors
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nancy McConkey, M.S.W., is a family therapist, professional speaker and leading expert in the solution-focused approach. Informative and dynamic, Nancy has presented hundreds of workshops to professionals from schools, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, community health clinics, child welfare agencies, substance abuse treatment centres, and mental health agencies. She is a sought after keynote speaker, both nationally and internationally, for education, health care and education conferences. |
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Book Information:
Softcover * 6" X 9" * 250 pp. * References * Index *
20 Tables * 7 Worksheets * 6 Figures *
ISBN 0-9689472-0-4 * Cdn. $40 (Incl. GST) plus shipping.
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