TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

April 18, 2003

In this week’s issue:

Elementary/Secondary TACTics

(1) Annotated Bibliography for the Logic Branch, Cheryl A. Edwards

Connections

(2) TOC Virtual Conference

(3) 7 th International TOCFE Conference

Editors’ Notes

(4) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY TACTics

(1) Annotated Bibliography for the Logic Branch

By Cheryl A. Edwards

We hope that you will find this annotated booklist useful in your application of the thinking process induced by using the Logic Branch tool.

1. Amazing Poisonous Animals, by Alexandra Parsons

Alfred A. Knopf, NY 1990 ISBN 0- 679-80699-7

All animals have to find food and keep out of the way of other hungry animals. Find out what happens IF you disturb one of these poisonous animals or they get hungry.

2. Busy Week, by Tony Bradman

1996 Rigby Heinemann

Kids work their way through the week with …If it is Monday then it is my Brownie Club meeting night. And if it is Tuesday then…

3. Chester’s Way, by Kevin Henkes

Mulberry Books

Chester has his own way of doing things. So did his best friend, Wilson.  Then someone new moved into the neighborhood. She had her own way of doing things, too. Could they be friends?

4. Endangered Species, by Jo Ellen Moore

Evan-Moor Corp 1991 ISBN 1-55799-217-7

“ Can we walk together on our earth?” Discover the causes for the Giant Panda and many other animals becoming extinct and then learn what we can do to prevent this from happening.

5. The Cloud Book, by Tomie de Paola

Scholastic Books 1975 ISBN 0-590-08531-X

IF there is a red sky at night, THEN…

6. In the Rain Forest (from The Magic School Bus Series), by Joanna Cole,

Scholastic, 1998 ISBN 0- 439-23960-5

Ms. Frizzle and the kids are off to find out why the cocoa tree has stopped growing cocoa beans. Opportunities to practice Cause and Effect thinking are around every tree in the Rain Forest. I would recommend checking out other books in the series, too.

7. Protecting Wildlife, by Penny Malcolm

Steck-Vaughn 1991 0-8114-2389-1

Students learn what is happening to our wildlife, what will happen as a result if we do not do something about it NOW and what we can do to safeguard our animals and their environment.

8. The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash, by Trinka Hakes Noble,

Dial Books 1980 ISBN 0- 395-73170-4

Jimmy brought his pet boa constrictor on the class trip to the farm and what a ruckus it caused!

9. Fossils, by Aliki

Harper Collins Children’s Books 1990 ISBN 0-395-92140-6

Discover how we know what happened ninety million years ago. Readers investigate different kinds of fossils and what we can learn from them.

10. Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola

Scholastic 1975 ISBN 0-590-37038-3

Poor Anthony never ever listens. So, of course, when Strega Nona warns him not to go near her magic cooking pot, does he listen? NO! And if he does not listen, then what happens? Check out the other titles in the Strega Nona series for just as much nonsense.

11. The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister

North-South Books 1992 ISBN 0-7358-1232-2

What will happen if Rainbow fish does not give little blue fish one of his shiny scales? And, what will happen if he does?

 

Besides science and history text books, myths, legends, fables and folk tales all lend themselves to using the Logic Branch to help the student become more proficient at Cause and Effect thinking.

I have also found that student magazines are marvelous sources for practicing cause and effect thinking. Here are a few I have used:

· World, National Geographic Society

· Ranger Rick, National Wildlife Federation

· Cobblestone, Cobblestone Publishing Co.

· Cricket, Carus Corporation

CONNECTIONS

(2) TOC Virtual Conference

From Zzippi Margalit, Israel

I’m happy to share that my presentation, “A Technology for the Effective Moderation of Scholastic Discourse (Synchronous and Asynchronous) Internet Discussion Groups (Forums/Listserves) Inspired by Application of a TOC (Theory of Constraints) Tool,” will take place at the Eighth Annual Teaching in the Community Colleges Online Conference, April 22-24, 2003.

The University of Hawaii organized this virtual conference. If someone in the TOC family is interested, the address for registration is:

http://tcc.kcc.hawaii.edu.

(3) 7th International TOCFE Conference

May 16-19, 2003

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort

1500 Miracle Strip Parkway

Ft Walton Beach, Florida, USA

Hotel:

• For reservations, USA toll free: 800.874.8962.

• Please reserve your room under the TOCFE Conference block of rooms.

• Boxed continental breakfast-up to two per room included.

• Blocked rooms will be held until April 24, 2003 (afterward, reservations only if space available).

• The following prices are for maximum of 2 people per room (additional person is $10/person per night up to maximum of 4 per room).

Standard: $120 (plus tax) per night.

Courtyard: $135 (plus tax) per night

Poolside: $155 (plus tax) per night

Beach Front: $175 (plus tax) per night

Airport:

• Fort Walton Beach, Florida (VPS is the airport code).

• Cab/shuttle service from airport to hotel is about $15.

• Driving information will be shared in a future TACTics.

Conference Fees:

• Daily Rate: $25 includes lunch, coffee breaks and all materials.

• Full conference rate: $125 includes 4 lunches, all coffee breaks, all materials and Special Dinner/Entertainment Event on Sunday, May 18.

Registration:

To download a registration form or to see the most current conference agenda, visit www.tocforeducation.com. Or, you can also e-mail Kathy Suerken at suerken@cox.net.

EDITORS’ NOTES

(4) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

Readers have shared that they appreciate having Cheryl’s annotated bibliographies to help students apply the thinking tools. We published her annotated bibliography for the Cloud tool in the March 21, 2003 edition of TACTics. You may access a copy of that list at our website at www.tocforeducation.com. Look for the annotated booklist for the Ambitious Target tool in a future edition of TACTics.

If you would like to share books or other publications that you have used to teach the tools, feel free to share them 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.