The Scientific Art of Classroom Consultation

Abstract

I present an explanation of both the scientific and the artful components of school consultation, relating it to both the scientific and the artful aspects of teaching. The scientific component of school consultation is comprised of the content or technical teaching and intervention strategies used to solve classroom consultation problems. The artful component consists of the process of consultation and is comprised of the various communicative, interactive, problem-solving, and decision-making skills used in the process. This conceptualization of classroom consultation is described as it might be used in school programs to facilitate improved education for mildly handicapped and at-risk students enrolled in general classroom programs.