Transcript Bibliotherapy - Shaw Communications

Bibliotherapy
Mike Craig
Professional Seminar
Independent Study Presentation
November 25, 2000
Bibliotherapy – A Definition
 Most simply, bibliotherapy is “the use of
books to help people solve problems”
(Aiex, 1993).
 It is the sharing of literature and the family
of techniques to guide that sharing of
literature to facilitate structured interaction
between the facilitator and the participant.
Bibliotherapy - Benefits
 Affective benefits
– Self-esteem and Self-confidence
– Cathartic release
– Psychological relief
– Realize they are not alone
– Helps students with exceptional needs or those
dealing with painful issues, deal with their
problems in an effective, realistic, and sensitive
manner.
Bibliotherapy - Benefits
 Cognitive
– Increase literacy skills.
– Critical thinking (analysis, drawing
conclusions, decision-making, and problem
solving).
– A vehicle for discussion of sensitive issues in
non-threatening manner.
– Self-understanding, coping, conflict resolution,
and self-evaluations skills
Bibliotherapy - Considerations
 Requires training in guided reading and
bibliotherapeutic technique
 Not a cure-all that can be used in every situation.
It is best used in conjunction with other techniques
(e.g. family therapy).
 Requires a large number of books on a variety of
topics.
 It is a process. It is not handing a child with a
problem a storybook about a character with that
problem.
Bibliotherapy - Stages
 Identification
 Catharsis
 Insight
Bibliotherapy - Process
 Selection
 Introduction
 Reading
 Gestation
 Follow-up
Bibliotherapy - Summary
 A valuable technique for educators that can
be used both with a single student and with
a group of students.
 Similar to guided reading techniques.
 Has many benefits both affective and
cognitive for students in need or crisis.
 Requires thoughtful planning and education
to be successful.
Questions?
Bibliotherapy Bibliography
 Aiex, N.K. (1993). Bibliotherapy. ERIC Digest. (ERIC
Document Reproduction Service No. ED357 333).
 Bernstein, J. E. (1989). Bibliotherapy: How Books Can
Help Young Children Cope. In M. K. Rudman (Ed.),
Children’s Literature: Resource for the Classroom (pp.
159-173). Norwood, Massachusetts: Christopher-Gordon
Publishers Inc.
 Cornett, C. E., Cornett, C. F. (1980) Bibliotherapy: The
Right Book at the Right Time. Bloomington Indiana: Phi
Delta Kappa Educational Foundation.
Bibliotherapy Bibliography
 Doll, B., Doll, C. (1997). Bibliotherapy with Young
People. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited Inc.
 Johnson, C.E., Wan, G., Templeton, R.A., Graham, L.P.,
Sattler, J.L. (2000) “Booking it” to Peace: Bibliotherapy
Guidelines for Teachers. Peoria, Illinois: College of
Education and Health Services, Bradley University. (ERIC
Document Reproduction Service No. ED451 622).