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.