Calkin, A.B. (2009). Performance enhancement training: Change your thoughts, feelings, and urges. Kansas City, KS: Behavior Research Company.
This interesting manual could be considered a "self-help" book, but it's more precise than the usual found down at the Barnes & Noble. It could be considered a tutorial on Precision Teaching, but it's warmer and more friendly to an average person than the usual text. Having read more than my fair share of both "self-help" books AND Precision Teaching manuals and texts, I believe that Abigail Calkin has written a rather unique book utilizing Precision Teaching to address those life changes that many want to tackle: How do I change my thoughts to be more positive? If I'm trying to change my habits of thinking, is what I'm doing really helping or do I just think so?
By teaching the reader how to identify, count and chart their "inner behaviors", aka "inners", Performance Enhancement Training really puts the reader in charge of making positive changes in, as stated, "thoughts, feelings and urges", and gives a concrete and visual means to seeing how progress is going through use of the Standard Celeration Chart (several are included in the manual). She also gives some very interesting and extensive lists of pinpoint categories and countable pinpoints from real life--As a small sample-- "outer behaviors to improve well being", "inner behaviors for writing", "urges to smoke (gratified)", "urges to smoke (ungratified)", etc.
On another front as an introduction to Precision Teaching and Standard Celeration Charting, I find the strength of the writing to be that it is succinct, approachable and clear without being oversimplified, and gets the reader right into pinpointing what is going to be counted, how to count it (including what tools can be used), and how to use the Standard Celeration Chart without intimidation (something that can't necessarily be said about some of the more academic texts available). I think a person could start very quickly on applying the strategies from the manual to good practical use without feeling the need to become an expert in Precision Teaching.
Great book. Thumbs up.
About the author:
Abigail B. Calkin, Ph.D.
Some of her works in Education and Writing.
Where to get Performance enhancement training: Change your thoughts, feelings, and urges.
Behavior Research Company
By teaching the reader how to identify, count and chart their "inner behaviors", aka "inners", Performance Enhancement Training really puts the reader in charge of making positive changes in, as stated, "thoughts, feelings and urges", and gives a concrete and visual means to seeing how progress is going through use of the Standard Celeration Chart (several are included in the manual). She also gives some very interesting and extensive lists of pinpoint categories and countable pinpoints from real life--As a small sample-- "outer behaviors to improve well being", "inner behaviors for writing", "urges to smoke (gratified)", "urges to smoke (ungratified)", etc.
On another front as an introduction to Precision Teaching and Standard Celeration Charting, I find the strength of the writing to be that it is succinct, approachable and clear without being oversimplified, and gets the reader right into pinpointing what is going to be counted, how to count it (including what tools can be used), and how to use the Standard Celeration Chart without intimidation (something that can't necessarily be said about some of the more academic texts available). I think a person could start very quickly on applying the strategies from the manual to good practical use without feeling the need to become an expert in Precision Teaching.
Great book. Thumbs up.
About the author:
Abigail B. Calkin, Ph.D.
Some of her works in Education and Writing.
Where to get Performance enhancement training: Change your thoughts, feelings, and urges.
Behavior Research Company
Happy reading.
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The posts are just thoughts about books that I have enjoyed, but tastes are individual and
I can't vouch that any of these will be your cup of tea. Please accept my apologies in advance for any disappointments, and my pleasure if you also enjoy the described book. Cheers.
I can't vouch that any of these will be your cup of tea. Please accept my apologies in advance for any disappointments, and my pleasure if you also enjoy the described book. Cheers.
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