For Organizers Books

This novel brings you to the late 1700's and offers the drama of a modern romance with all the trials of war while in another era and country.
Twists and turns along with an easy/quick history of early Poland will keep the pages turning. Quickly went to buy the sequel before starting a new book b/c I was up in arms to find out the happenings of these compelling characters.

This book is a page-turner right from the beginning. I loved reading in this time period when men spoke to women like this (from page 23):

"See the two meadow flowers, the yellow and the violet? One is as different from the other as day from night. Yet who will say that one is more beautiful? Oh, a fool might. But only a fool... But do you know what may determine the desirability of one over the other?... The fragrance!"

Be still my heart! If you love that kind of subtle romance, you will love this book.

Anna shows such strength despite the overwhelming tragedies (one after the other) she faces in her young life. And even though she is a Countess, she is very down-to-earth and sensitive to those "under her" although it was a no-no for those of such high society. Her tenderness and innocense makes her so very likable.

The book goes back and forth between family life and what's politically going on in Poland during the late 1700s with the underlying romance throughout. You're always wondering about what will finally happen with Jan Stelnicki. At no point was this book boring!!!

I loved it.

I loved this book. There are so few novels on the market about Poland and Polish history (I don't know of any others!). This is indeed a rare find. The characters are well developed, the descriptions of locations and activities are wonderfully detailed and passionately written. The setting and content about the significant historical moments are woven in expertly. It really is a history lesson embedded in a very fast-moving and dramatic story. Yes, sometimes it may be a bit overly dramatic, but I really enjoy that rich, gossipy style. So cool that it is based on REAL journal entries. These characters come alive and will stay with you well after you are done reading. Great ending, too.

Looking forward to reading Chrimson Sky.

I found this historical fiction text to be absolutely enthralling! It has not only provided me with hours of enjoyable, page-turning reading, but has also given me great insight into my Polish ancestry and heritage. The strength, spirit, and heart of the Polish people--MY people--is wonderfully portrayed within the pages of this book. I'm so looking forward to receiving Mr. Martin's sequel, Against a Crimson Sky. I'm sure I'll not be disappointed!

I found the book very engaging. I loved the characters and can't wait to find out what happens next.

Often times, the problem involving in getting organized is where
to start . . . you may be like me and have many projects going
at the same time, accompanied by even more pieces of paper.

So where do you begin? One approach is to get hold of Jeff
Davidson's book, THE 60 SECOND ORGANIZER . . . Davidson, an author and professional speaker,
presents many useful techniques--60 in all--that don't
take a lot of time to implement . . . but do pay powerful
dividends when utilized.

Many you've probably heard before . . . however, the problem
is that you may well never have put them into practice . . . the
author shows you how, for example, when he says:

* You can fight junk mail by saving all of it for weeks. Then
hire a high school student at minimum wage to send a
form letter to every party who has sent you mail more than
once. Explain carefully that you have no interest in their offer.

When it comes to seeking perfection in everything that you do,
I really liked this bit of advice:

* Studies show that the additional time you spend to take a
project from the 95 percent mark to the 100 percent mark
is, in most cases, not worth it. Striving for perfection, i.e.,
ensuring that the final 5 percent is correctly done, often
takes as much time as the initial 95 percent of effort
required! Gosh, no wonder it felt so difficult!

Lastly, when it comes to writing a book or completing some
other task that will take a good amount of time, Davidson
almost makes it easy when he advises how to do this:

* I have written 32 books, but I wouldn't have finished book #1
if I tried to "write an entire book." Rather, my goal in approaching
each book is to write one chapter at a time. Since most chapters
are made of two or three subsections, I simply aim to finish one
subsection, then another, then another until I finish a whole
chapter. The rest of the day seems like a vacation.

The next day, I go back and start another chapter, approaching
one subsection at a time. All the while, I acknowledge that I
have a contract to honor and that a publisher is breathlessly
waiting for my material. We pick a date in advance, and I agree
to turn in the manuscript no later than that day.

Now that I've finished THE 60 SECOND ORGANIZER, I'm all
set to read another book the author wrote: THE 60 SECOND
PROCRASTINATOR . . . all I have to do is stop procrastinating,
then I'll be ready to begin it.

Jeff Davidson is an achiever who writes from an authoritative stance. Anybody who has published more than 3,300 articles, been featured in 68 of the top 75 newspapers in the country, had his speeches published six times in "Vital Speeches of the Day", and has been a professional speaker to numerous well-known corporate clients definitely has something worth listening to.

This book is refreshing reading in that it brings you back to the basics of maintaining focus. In arguing that it's worth the effort to stay organized, Davidson notes, "If you think getting organized is time consuming, try disorganization."

By nature my tendency has been to be a saver, i.e., hold on to things because I may need them someday. Davidson and other writers are causing me to see it's time for a paradigm shift. In the information age, updates occur regularly and with the Internet such data can be acquired online. Collecting materials in this generation takes a new twist when the new realities are considered. Notice I'm cautious in the way I phrase this. I'm still a saver at heart, but I'm learning to eliminate clutter. I think the point is valid. It takes time to change.

This segues perfectly into his sixth point which discusses growing beyond what you've experienced in the past. Be open to possibilities you've never known before. Chapter seven examines the cliche "work smarter." He tells you how to do it. The discovery Vilfredo Pareto made in 1897 is the topic of point 8 in this book. I'm intentionally not revealing what it is to make you curious.

Through reminding us of the basics of getting organized, such as "divide and conquer" various tasks, we're encouraged that the goal is reachable. Overall this book is packed with solid insight that can be applied.

In the never-ending quest to be more personally productive and organized, I got the chance to read 60-second Organizer: Sixty Solid Techniques for Beating Chaos at Home and at Work by Jeff Davidson. For those who aren't ready to commit to a "system" of organization, this is a perfect place to start getting things done...

Contents:
Part 1 - Embracing Powerful Perspectives: Relax - Organizing Is Not So Bad; Learn Your ABCs; Capture Your Best Thoughts; Determine "Who Created That?"; Make Profound Choices; Live and Actually Learn; "Work Smarter" for Real; Heed Pareto and His Principle; Forget about the "Right Mood"; Reward Thyself
Part 2 - Enveloping Provocative Practices: Forsake Excuses for Not Becoming Organized; Defeat Perfectionism; Start Simply; Organize According to Your Milestones; Handle Tough Things First; Immerse Yourself for 60 Seconds; Ask Yourself "Will It Be Any Easier Later?"; Organize Based On Your Priorities; Stake Your Claim
Part 3 - Listing and Charting Your Way: Recognize Fallibilities; Mark Your Calendar; Separate Long-Term and Short-Term Tasks; Develop a Clarifying Checklist; Map It Out; Chart Your Path; Plot Your Way; Add Subtasks to Your Chart; Organize with Flow Charts; Track Your Progress
Part 4 - Reclaiming Your Places and Spaces: Start from Scratch; Conquer Your Desk; Make Your Shelves Work for You; Win the Paper Chase; Face Files with Smiles; Establish Rotating Tickler Files; Pile It High; Pare Down and Win; Reduce Junk Mail; Read with Aplomb
Part 5 - Organize Travel, Meetings, and Online Activities: Manage Your E-mail; Organize Online Research; Create More Organized Meeting, Really!; Maintain Effective Meetings, the Whole Way!; Meet to Achieve Results; Organize for the Road; Handle Commuting and Travel Contingencies; Be Productive on Public Transportation; Fly Friendlier Skies; Book Your Flight Right
Part 6 - Making Your Home Your Castle: Destroy Enemy Outposts; Pick a Regular Day and Time; Approach Spaces Strategically; Adopt a Replacement Policy; Improvise When Storage Space Is Limited; Organize Your Gift Shopping; Organize Your Purchases and Related Paperwork; File Taxes on Time and Without Grief; Hire an Organizing Professional; Divide, Literally, and Conquer
Summary; Bibliography; About the Author

It seems to be all the rage to follow an organizing system these days, a system that presents a complete package of how to get and stay organized. But realistically, it takes a lot of effort to overcome that inertia, and often the system ends up gathering dust on a shelf. Davidson's book is great in that it gives you a number of tips to get organized, and it's not an "all or nothing" thing. You can start in any area that is a problem in your life, such as your workspace or your storage/junk piles. The 10 tips in that particular area of the book are quick to read, easy to understand, and you can quickly try out the recommendation. For instance, if your filing system is broken (or nonexistent), Part 4 of the book gives you plenty of ideas on how to clean up the existing mess as well as keeping it cleaned up. Rotating tickler files, single location for file, and questions to ask before filing all help to keep the important stuff, throw out the trash, and keep the process going.

If you've read any books on organization before, you'll probably recognize some of the material presented here. But it never hurts to review great ideas, and what didn't strike you as important a year ago may be exactly what you need now. Well worth the time commitment to read and review...

This is one of two "60 Second" booklets written by Jeff Davidson that I recently read, the other being The 60 Second Procrastinator. With all due respect to how much can be accomplished in one minute, most (if not all) of those who need to get organized are procrastinators and most (if not all) procrastinators need to organized. In my opinion, few (if any) of them will read books such as these and then apply - and (key point) continue to apply -- what they have learned from them. (Davidson is also the author of more than a dozen other books, including seven Complete Idiot's Guides.) He may not share this opinion. However, here's another opinion with which he presumably agrees: On occasion, a single insight ("tip," "secret," "key," etc.) can help to elevate one's standard of living and/or improve one's quality of life.

In this volume as in the other 60 Second booklet, Davidson offers "sixty solid techniques" for "beating chaos at home and at work." They comprise a series of thought-provoking statements and direct questions that can help many readers to gain new perspectives on the micro and macro dimensions of their lives.

Obviously, there are many reasons why people have problems completing getting and then staying organized, and those reasons vary from one individual to the next. That said, self-improvement initiatives must be anchored in a strong faith in what can be accomplished. Henry Ford was right: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." It would be a fool's errand to attempt to act upon, immediately, all of Davidson's sound advice. He correctly suggests selecting a few especially troublesome areas and concentrate on them. In this context, my metaphor of preference is locating and then picking "low-hanging fruit."

Of course this booklet could conceivably be helpful to almost anyone but I think it can be especially valuable to those now enrolled in schools, colleges, and universities as well as to those who have only recently begun a career. Davidson thinks clearly, writes well, and is by nature a pragmatist rather than a theorist. How to rate it? I realize that there are dozens (hundreds?) of other sources that provide more fully developed ideas about how to avoid or overcome procrastination. However, for chronically disorganized people, any advice given is probably best presented as clearly and as simply as possible, and I do not damn Davidson's booklet with faint praise when saying that. His is not a definitive source nor does he make any such claim. If each reader finds only one suggestion that helps her or him to become - and then remain - better-organized, Davidson will have achieved his primary and indeed worthy objective.

I hate paper. And nowadays, the stuff that comes in the house can't just be sorted to be dealt with or thrown out, you have to SHRED a lot of the trash. Holy hell, what a pain THAT is. If you let any of it sit, you have a huge pile in no time. And online billpay is not really reducing any of this mess. In fact, I find that the mix of paper payments and online just makes a confused mess.

The author has sixty ideas to get organized. I've incorporated quite a few of them (pare down email is one: I now unsubscribe to anything I don't want to read regularly and another is pare down; 1 magazine subscription.) He suggests a calendar and how to organize your desk for action. All these things really work.

Excellent little book, no fluff.

If you improve your mental performance, you will improve your physical performance, This book will show you how to start with your mental outlook and go from there.

This is one of the best books I have read. It is a psychology book with a sports theme. Loved it!!!

Your Performing Edge is quite simply the best book i have ever read on the subject of improving mental performance. I am a keen amateur golfer with a 4 handicap and a great natural athelete. Like everyone, i was searching for that "miracle" to help me break through the next barrier - my mind. I have read and studied a number of other books and programs about improving mental performance. While many gave you the answers to "what" you need to do, none gave you the answers to "how" to improve. Dr. JoAnn Dalkoetters insights, lessons and tips are the most valuable resource ever produced on the subject. Combine this book with her Personal Coaching Program and you have, what i consider to be, the most powerful program available. I am now playing the golf i have always dreamed of. Your Performing Edge is a must read for anyone seriously considering improving their mental approach to atheletics, life, business or otherwise.

This Audio CD is a Companion to the the "YOUR PERFORMING EDGE book. It contains four guided visualization exercises that helped me to practice what I was learning in the book.
The exercises guided me with:

Energizing my mind and body
Building new confidence and motivation
Focusing and performing my best
Healing and recovering completely

I found this program really works for improving performance in all parts of my life - professionally and personally.
Dr. Dahlkoetter's training exercises on this CD helped me learn to focus on my goals and visualize the results I was looking for. Now that I can see a clear picture of what I want in my life, I am moving forward and making real progress in fitness, personal productivity, and peak performance.

I highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants excellence in all aspects of life.

As a competitive distance runner for the last 25 years, I've focused mainly on the physical aspects of training. Then I came across Dr. Dahlkoetter's book on the mental aspects of training and living. After reading it, I have nothing but praise for this book. It provided a whole new stimulus for my training and life. Helpful mental training exercises are provided along with straight forward information and interviews with champion athletes. I highly recommend this book for everyone, athlete or not.

I was waiting until the Essential Baby Organizer I gifted was in use to write this review. The new mom really uses it! Which we all know speaks volumes about its value. So well put together that it is informative and easy to navigate. Every new mom should have this product.

Everyone always tells you to write down all of the little moments or you will forget, but as a harried Mom, we rarely heed this advice. This book makes it easy. All the little details, memories, doctor visits and important contact information can be stored in one place, and this type of organization is essential when between the baby pooping and eating, all you want to do is sleep.

The Essential Baby Organizer takes organizers one step further than any other I've ever used... It is streamlined, stylish, and remembers all the details -- teething charts, gift lists, easy weekly journals. It also leaves space for 'real life' stuff -- sentimental moments, precious firsts. Essentially, it includes everything a sleep-deprived parent is bound to otherwise forget.

The organizer was especially important to me when I went back to work. I didn't want to miss anything, but would have been unsure what questions to ask our baby's caregivers at the end of the day. I'd have them use the charts and journals so that I could have a real picture of my baby's days -- sleeping and eating habits, memorable moments, likes and dislikes... The organizer also includes a Resources and Extras section that pared down the info in my 200+ page parenting books to exactly what I needed, or it told me where to find it (at a time in my life when I needed to keep it simple).

This organizer is obviously designed by experienced parents, with a talent for making other parents' lives easier...

As a first time dad, I can tell you this much: adjusting to parenthood is like entering a time warp. All the new experiences and responsibilities can leave you exhausted and overwhelmed.

That's when this organizer shines.

Its care charts provide much needed structure, shepherding you through those first weeks (months?) of no sleep and constant feedings and changings. It also gathers key information in one place--which comes in handy when you're at the pediatrician's office or when you're already late for dinner and the sitter's asking when the baby was last fed.

More than anything, though, it reminds you to reserve time each week to make notes and build a journal about your child. Without a reminder, months can pass without recording all the strange and wonderful events you witness as a parent. For that reason alone, I give it five stars.

I'm on my second kid and have seen a bunch of books like this. This one is definitely the most organized and helpful. Everything is all in one place by date, so poor tired Mommy doesn't have to go hunting each time she switches from feeding to diapering baby (and so on). There is a place for little notes on baby's mood and milestones for baby each week. There are quick-reference charts in back on things like breastfeeding and milestones to look for. This is something I will recommend to ALL my friends about to have babies. The pregnancy planner by these people is the BEST, too!

I am a parent and bought this book for use with my children. I would recommend it to all parents. You never know when it would come in handy.

This book is a great resource for any teacher, of any subject. I had it recommended to me in a grad class on reading recovery, but after purchasing it, it's quite apparent that these organizers can be used for any subject and grade level or skill level. The book has some fabulous graphic organizers, as well as suggestions for designing your own organizers, encouraging student-designed organizer use, and more. It also gives some good ideas on how to raise or lower (by grade or skill level) the organizers in the book. Well worth the money!

This was a handy little teacher's aide. I used several of the organizers and it was nice to use something premade rather than make them up myself.

As a reading teacher, I use graphic organizers a great deal with my K-6 students. Although I own several graphic organizer resource books, this is the one I use most often. The organizers are unique, fun, and very easy to use. If you are going to purchase just one graphic organizer resource, this is the one I most highly recommend.

I must say that this is one of the better graphic organizer books that I have purchased. I have many of them but this one seems to be one of my tried and true graphic organizer books. I have used it for different stories, different subject areas, and different grade levels. This is a book that will not have time to collect dust! I recommend this book!

I have one of these for each of my three children. I recorded the birth story for all three. For my first child, I filled in every single thing for the first two years complete with photos. Then I got into scrapbooking and stopped filling in everything and adding photos. I still use it for keeping record of all doctor's visits. I have not found any other book that is set up for that which is why I bought one for my next two children. I take the books along to every doctor's visit. The photos that I did at the beginning keep the children entertained while waiting, and I really like having every doctor visit right there in the same spot. I can record any MD comments and keep track of their height and weight changes. There is also a spot to keep a running list of babysitters.

All 3 of my children have one of these. I have engraved their names in gold on the covers of each. I LOVE this book for the detailed info it 'requests' and all the space to write "Special Memories". I have many of Tabori's books and am now looking for a memory book that goes past 5 years of age.

This is such a wonderful baby book. The best one out there.

This is a great book to keep all the information you recieve during and after pregnancy. This book keeps track of all appointments, prenatal care, delivery, and all of the newborns information. I bought one for my first child, and ordered another as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my second. This is a very helpful organizer.....even has pockets in the back for any ultrasound pictures or information that you want to save.

I received this book from a friend when I was pregnant with my first child, and I absolutely love it! There are many spaces for pictures & lots of room to record written information that I will always want to remember; like special moments from my pregnancy and the first five years of my son's life. I like it so much that I plan on buying another copy for my second child.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (3/07)

"The Senior Organizer" is a vault of information that will help in times of crisis. This book should be completed while "you are healthy and strong so you can get peace of mind, knowing that you're organized and equipped to handle all situations." None of us know what lies ahead. Accidents and illnesses come when least expected. Once filled out this book will contain essential information that will assist you or someone you love when need arises.

"This book should be filled out in pencil so that it can be updated as need."

There are two parts to "The Senior Organizer." Part one contains personal and medical information. There is a place to list prescription, pharmacy, and herbal medicines. There is a place to record doctor visits. How many times have you gone to the doctor and they want a medical history? There are specific pages to keep a record of this. There are pages to record insurance information. We each have a daily routine but does anyone else know our routine? There is a place to record you routine.

Part two contains legal and financial information. There are certain pages that should be kept confidential. Those pages should be removed from the book or copied before filling them out and copies kept in a secure location.

"This is an all-in-one-source of personal, medical, religious, legal and financial information that can save you time and money and maybe your life."

"The Senior Organizer" by Debby S. Bitticks, Lynn Benson, and Dorothy K. Breininger is a must for everyone, not just seniors. I think filling out this is the most important thing you can do for a loved one. I was impressed that the authors even included a section for the names, address and phone numbers of friends. I intend to use this book and to purchase at least three more - one for my husband and one for each of my parents. I highly recommend this book to everyone; you never know when the need for this information may arise.

As our population ages it has created a whole new market for items related to care of the elderly. The Senior Organizer was written for just this target audience- the elderly and the family members who care for them.

At first glance The Senior Organizer seems too basic for publication. It appears to be a book of fill in the blank forms. And, on closer examination, that is what the book really contains. But the beauty of the book, and what makes it a great investment, is its absolute comprehensiveness.. The authors have thought of every possible aspect of life that need tobe tracked, organized and maintained. The sections are personal,/medical and legal/financial. They include everything from forms to fill out on all medicines, eye glasses and doctors to where in a house the emergency shut off items are. It is impossible to think any information that is not covered. If a family takes the time to thouroughly fill out each form, they will be ready for any situation. Ideally, every family should have a copy of this book and its forms completed in case of an emergency. While it was created for the elderly it is a great organizational tool for every adult, regardless of age.

The Senior Organizer can be ordered as a bound paperback or as a set of 3 binders. but, by using the access code listed in the book, readers can download and reproduce as many copies of the forms as needed. That is definately a huge bonus for this publication. The download requires personal information but site assures it will not misuse the data given.

I am a legal aid attorney who spends alot of time helping seniors and am also the as owner of an online medical supply and equipment business. So many of the seniors I talk to struggle to locate important information and documents. This can often add confusion and stress to many of the difficult issues seniors already have to face. This book can help enormously and is an excellent, well designed organizational tool. It will save time and offer peace of mind to seniors and those who help care for them.

The Senior Organizer is an all encompassing A to Z guide of all the information anyone would ever need to collect regarding the ins and outs of any senior's life. Everything is covered. This guide will help you gather life-saving and personal info with regards to your senior. Bravo to the authors for providing us with all the essential questions to ask - I wouldn't have known where to start! I achieved great peace of mind knowing all there is to know about my Mother from her health care needs and her daily life, right the way through to her last wishes. My mother is also comforted by the fact that I know all there is to know about what is going on in her life. Every household needs this incredible book - we owe it to our loved ones.

This workbook provides forms to record any piece of vital information that you could possibly need to keep track of. Or you can write down where you keep an important document so that your family knows where it is in a medical emergency. After the whole Terry Shrivo thing we wanted to make sure we were prepared for anything!

As a first time mom, this book has been a great tool! With my lack of sleep I have found my memory is pretty poor. This book helps me record when my daughter has been fed, changed, napped, or if important events happened (dr. apppointments, special visits, milestones, etc). At my first visit with my pediatrician she was so impressed that I had recorded everything b/c it really helped to evaluate my daughter's progress and how her kidney's were working. If you're expecting, or know someone who is, this is something worth buying!

Our son is now 21 months old, but we are still amazed at useful this book was. We used it from the day he was born, and until he was 16 months old(4 total).

They have been such great keepsake books too. From getting the call that his birthmother was in labor, taking him home, his adoption day, his visitors, first smile and laugh, and favorite foods. Awesome journal.

As parents in our 40's we just could not remember when he was fed or had a dirty diaper on our own with so little sleep. We would just refer back to this book all day long. No problem. It was so easy to keep track of his vaccinations, medications, and medical visits.

This book made it so easy to keep track of any food allergies, and any health issues. When taking our son to the doctor, we would just bring the book with us, and were able to easily anwser any question the doctor asked us.

I highly recommend this book to any new parent.

I have used this book from the day I came home from the hospital with my baby(2 months now). At first I thought it was just handy but I quickly realized that this book is priceless! I can glance at it and tell my pediatrician with confidence that I know how often my baby eats and sleeps, but more importantly I know he is getting the regular care he needs. I even use it to keep track of my medicines and what I eat so I can take care of myself better, and watch baby's reactions to my medications and the foods I'm eating. I don't think of it as a keepsake though, as it claims to be. This book is a tool, and a very useful one at that. I highly recommend it to any parent!

After having my first child, I have found that I can't remember what time my baby woke up or went to sleep or ate etc. This book/log helps me keep track of important things, like especially when baby isn't feeling good, diahrea or when doses of tylenol were given. It was most helpful the first 4 months when I wasn't getting much sleep and not able to remember much of anything. Before the book, I found myself trying to keep track in a notebook, but it was to messy and confusing. With this book, others helping to take care of baby can look at it and instantly know what is going on.

Before I had a baby, I had always thought of myself as a capable person. Normally confident, I couldn't imagine how I would care for my newborn daughter. I found that Baby, It's All About You helped tremendously! As I became more comfortable with caregiving (feeding, diapering, bathing etc.) I found that I regained my self-confidence, and as a result, I was a lot less overwhelmed! This book is so simple to use, I highly recommend it for every new parent.

This product is a great reference for mom's. It is a must to leave when you are having someone babysit. All contact information and specific information for your childern is in one place. I also like that it has a place for the pets. It's great when someone is pet sitting for us. It gives me peace of mind that if someone needs me or something goes wrong the appropriate contact information is there.

The book is amazing. I can now locate all my important family papers. Everyone accross America and beyond should own this book.

My daughter purchased and completed the fill in the blank pages and folders for all the information for her children and pets. It was so wonderful for me to have while recently babysitting for the kids. I had all the important information right at hand and it was so well organized. The book is such a wonderful, needed organizer and I would recommend it to any family with children.

This is such a good resource for any parent. I am going to buy them for all my parent friends for every holiday!

If you are a new teacher or a veteran this book is a great resource to help with notes, graphic organizers and literature ideas. The templates are user friendly and explained very well. A must for the classroom!

Jim Burke created (and compiled) a lot of useful graphic organizers in this book. Each organizer comes with the author's explanation and examples. The book is my most useful toolbook in my collection. It helps my teacher and student learning. Highly recommended!

This is my FAVORITE teaching book. It has graphic organizers that are neither too simple nor too challenging for high school level students, and better yet, examples of how to use each. A must-have for all English teachers!

Tools for Thought: Graphic Organisers for Your Classroom
by Jim Burke

Books on graphic organisers & visual tools have generally fascinated me for more than two decades, probably in the light of my own personal interests in visual thinking. Also, my strategy consultancy work with adults & teens in helping them to navigate reading materials is a contributing factor. I have already amassed a large collection of them in my personal library.

Strategically & tactically, I am a avid practitioner of visual thinking. When I read, I always annotate in the margins. I also strenuously use the MindManager Pro & SmartDraw Pro to support all my reading - & thinking - pursuits. All the interesting ideas captured in my marginal annotations - & insights from my reflections & assimilations - are alway transformed into mind-maps &/or mind-scapes.

This book has recently entered my library. It has been written by a English Language teacher. Therefore, I noted that the book has an obvious slant towards applications in language arts.

There are twenty six tools listed in the table of contents & twenty four of them are illustrated graphically in the Toolbox: Visual Directory of the Tools. Each tool has its own description, notes & examples, assessment standards as well as application possiblities. From the teaching standpoint, the inclusion of thirty two reproducible tools for classroom use is certainly an added benefit for teachers.

The 'Annotations' on page 1 is definitely not a graphic organiser. The author admitted that "it looks a little different from the other tools, yet it is no less a tool." The author's idea of incorporating such things as crayons, high-lighters, pencils, coloured pens, sticky notes & symbol codes is a refreshing change to conventional annotations.

The author's introduction of 'Visual Explanations' on page 114 is another refreshing innovation. He has based it on the work of information scientist Edward Tuft. In some way, the many examples shown resemble the 'mindscapes' as formulated by Nancy Marguiles in 'Mapping InnerSpace'. Incidentally, mindmapping created by Tony Buzan is lumped together in this section.

The graphic format of 'Vocabulary Squares' on page 124 is very useful & practical, but I believe using it in combination with an index card would be much more effective. Sentence constructions can be written on the flip side.

I am intrigued by a number of 'discrepancies' I have found in this book:

1) On page xvii, under 'Making Effective & Efficient Notes', what follows is actually a full description of 'Cornell Notes'. I am surprised that the author did not mention this fact & also did not credit it to Professor Walter Pauk of Cornell University.

2) 'Cornell Notes' is mentioned in the 'Appendices' on page viii, but it is inserted before 'Q Notes' & after 'Pyramid Notes' on that page, thus upsetting the alphabetical order of all the other graphic organisers as listed. Likewise, a reproducible form showing 'Cornell Notes' on page 159 is inserted - against the alphabetical rhythm - before 'Q Notes' on page 160 & after 'Pyramid Notes' on page 158. What is the author's rationale?

3) 'Cornell Notes' is correctly depicted on page xvii, showing the various format components: orienting information (for name, topic, date), connections column (for questions), notes column (for essential information about the suject) & Summary column (for synthesising all the noted information), as originally envisaged by Professor Pauk. The summary column, however, does not appear in the reproducible form for 'Cornell Notes' on page 159. I am quite puzzled by this omission.

I still maintain that, because of the author's English teaching background, the graphic organisers in the book will find more appropriate use in the language arts. These are generally reflected in the many book examples.

Nevertheless, I reckon that, in contrast, Jim Burke's book still surpasses two other books with a similar slant in an educational setting, & they are:

- 'Drawing Your Own Conclusions', by Fran Claggert;
- 'Going Beyond Words', by Kathy Mason;

Readers who want to explore other graphic organisers & visual tools for multi-disciplinary applicatons should explore these books:

- 'Cooperative Think Tank', Volume I & II, by James Bellanca;

Those who prefer graphic organisers &/or visual tools with a critical thinking perspective, should explore:

- 'Organising Thinking', Book I & II, by Howard Black & Sandra Parks;

For navigating scientific materials, 'Concept Mapping' & 'Vee Diagrams' as postulated by Joseph Novak in his two seminal books on the subject are definitely worth exploring.

Those who want a more spontaneous free-form approach, I guess Nancy Marguiles' mind-scapes in her book, 'Mapping Inner Space', would fit the bill.

For a technology-based system in an educational setting, David Hyerle's 'ThinkMaps' as postulated in his two books, 'Visual Tools for Constructing Knowledge' & 'A Field Guide to Using Visual Tools', are recommended, even though they have some limitations.