TACTics
Journal
A Publication for and by TOC
for Education Practitioners
January 17, 2003
In this week’s issue:
Networking
(1)TOCFE/Accelerated Learning
Systems: Ambitious Target Tool in Content,
Cheryl
A. Edwards
(2) Just Two Thoughts, Anthony J. Ranada SVD
Editors’ Notes
(3) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A.
Edwards
NETWORKING
(1) TOCFE/Accelerated Learning Systems:
Ambitious Target Tool in Content
By Cheryl A. Edwards
The Three Little Pigs, retold
Once upon a time there was a
mother pig that had three little pigs. The three little pigs grew so big that
their mother said to them, "You are too big to live here any longer.
Mother Pig wanted to live
comfortably in her house.
What was preventing Mother Pig
from doing this?
Mother Pig’s OBSTACLE- Her
little pigs had grown too big to live at home.
“You must go out into the world
and make your own way,” said Mother Pig.
What action did mother pig take
to overcome this OBSTACLE?
Mother Pig’s ACTION to Overcome
Obstacle-
She sent the pigs out to make
their way in the world.
But Mother Pig warned, “Take
care that the wolf does not catch you."
The three little pigs set off.
“Hmm, what can we do to keep the wolf from getting us”, wondered the little
pigs. “I know,” said the first little pig, “we should build a house to be safe
from the wolf." They all agreed, but then stopped and thought, “Hmm, we
have nothing with which to build our houses?”
Just then the first pig saw a
man with some straw. “Can I have some of your straw to build my house?” he
asked. The little pig had just completed his house of straw when the big wolf
came knocking on his door and asked if he could come in. When the little pig
refused, the big wolf blew his house down.
"I shall build a stronger
house than yours," said the second little pig, “I will build mine of
sticks.” And he went to find some.
"I shall build a stronger
house than yours, too," said the third little pig. “I will build mine of bricks.” And he went to find some.
In this story what were the
first two OBSTACLES preventing the pigs from
making their way in the world?
What ACTIONS did the little
pigs take to overcome these Obstacles?
Little Pigs’ OBSTACLES: ACTIONS
taken to overcome Obstacles:
1. 1.
2. 2.
Click for an answer:
Little Pigs’ OBSTACLES:
1. The big bad wolf wanted to
catch them.
2. Had nothing with which to
build a house.
ACTIONS taken to overcome
Obstacles:
1. Build a house.
2. First pig found some
straw/Second found some sticks/ Third found some
bricks.
Just for Teachers
If you choose to use this
selection in your classroom, you may want to use the following questions to
guide your students in a discussion to discover “the lesson to be learned” from this piece of literature.
_ Why wasn’t the action taken by the first little pig enough to
overcome the obstacle of “The big bad wolf wanted to catch them?”
_ How did the other little pigs make sure their action would
overcome the
obstacle of “The big bad wolf
wanted to catch them?”
_ Why do you think is it important to carefully think about all of
the
actions you could take to
overcome an obstacle and then select the best
one?
_ Think of a time when you took action BEFORE carefully thinking
through
all possible choices. Could you
have made a better choice? Why?
_ What lesson did you learn about life from this story?
Another activity you could do
is to help the three little pigs plan for building
their house by using the
Ambitious Target steps:
· Identify the Ambitious Target
· Identify the Obstacles
· List ways to get around the Obstacles or the action steps needed
to overcome the Obstacles (Intermediate Objectives), and then
· Sequence the action steps (IOs).
(2) Just Two Thoughts
From Anthony J. Ranada SVD,
Philippines
“Failure is an event, not a
person.” This saying reminds me of the TOCFE insight -a reassuring one- that we
don't put blame on the person, but on the situation that we are now able to
improve via TOCFE tools.
“Don't be content with being
average. Average is as close to the bottom as it is to the top. Avoid
mediocrity!” I believe with the TOCFE training, teachers will no longer be
content with mediocrity, but try to be on the path (process) of ongoing
improvement or POOGI!
EDITORS’ NOTES
(3) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A.
Edwards.
Feel free to share with us.
Send your responses, applications of the thinking processes, lessons,
announcements, and etc. by mail to: Cheryl A. Edwards,
2253 S. Hill Island Rd.,
Cedarville, Michigan 49719, USA. Or send hyperlink to cedwards@cedarville.net
or bucknek@earthlink.net.