About Us

THE COMPANY

As a thinking effectiveness company, Cognitive Alternatives is dedicated to boast thought processes to appropriate age levels.

THE AUTHOR

The author, Mary Jo Armstrong was educated at Baylor University, University of North Texas and Texas Womens University. With a major in religion at Baylor University, Mary Jo served as a director of youth activities and education in Texas churches and taught English in a Chinese University as a Missionary Journeyman in Taiwan.

With a Guidance and Counseling emphsis of a Masters in Education from the University of North Texas, Mary Jo worked as a caseworker in a residential state school for hard-core delinquent girls. She was a county probation officer for juveniles and adults. Later, to write instructions from the latest research in corrections, she refreshed her education with doctoral level courses in counseling at the University of North Texas and in special education at the Texas Womens University.

Mary Jo Armstrong designed exercises and activities that required students to use thinking processes of prosocial behavior.

Behavior is a Choice (BIAC), a casework guide for probation officers, was the first publication by Mary Jo Armstrong. After purchases, she trained officers in more than 200 probation departments.

Success is a Thinking Skill (SIATS) adapts the concept of effective thinking skills for classrooms. Purchases for 3,000 sites ranged from intermediate schools through adult basic education. The schools include elementary, intermediate, middle schools, junior highs, high schools, and alternative schools. Adult sites are in vocational training in centers and universities, and remedial classes in junior colleges. Others employ SIATS for Job Corps, community services, MHMR, Title IV schools, Safe and Drug Free assignments, and drop-out prevention programs. Corrections used SIATS in prisons, detention centers, and probation departments. SIATS has three volumes, an Exercise Manual, Activity Handouts Manual, and Leadership Manual.

Thinking Skills for Anger Control (TSAC) supplements SIATS. TSAC has one volume with two units, exercises and activities.

Thinking Skills for Testing Success (TSTS) provides test-wiseness. TSTS has three volumes, an Exercise Manual, Teacher Manual, and Activities Manual.