Dr. Funster's Think-a-Minutes?

[Negin]

Anyone tried these? I can't find sample pages anywhere.

 

[atozmom]

Haven't tried them, but here are 2 places you can view samples.

Critical Thinking Co. & CBD. Hope that helps some. :)

[Negin]

Haven't tried them, but here are 2 places you can view samples.

Critical Thinking Co. & CBD. Hope that helps some. :)

 

Thank you, Ann-Marie.

[OregonNative]

Those books look really neat!

[Lori D.]

We liked them better than the Red Herring or Mindbenders because they are a variety of puzzles rather than just the same thing over and over.

 

Others we liked at about that same age range (gr. 4-6):

 

logic books:

- Dandylion Logic series:

1. Logic Countdown = gr. 3-4

2. Logic Liftoff = gr. 4-5

3. Orbiting with Logic = gr. 5-7

- Logic Safari series (book 2 = gr. 3-4; book 3 = gr. 5-6)

- Connections series (by grade level)

 

workbooks:

- Mindbenders

- Perplexors (like Mendbenders)

- Puzzlemania series (gr. 1-5)

- Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers (gr. 3-6)

- Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 4-6) -- by Seymour

[Negin]

We liked them better than the Red Herring or Mindbenders because they are a variety of puzzles rather than just the same thing over and over.

Others we liked at about that same age range (gr. 4-6):

logic books:

- Dandylion Logic series:

1. Logic Countdown = gr. 3-4

2. Logic Liftoff = gr. 4-5

3. Orbiting with Logic = gr. 5-7

- Logic Safari series (book 2 = gr. 3-4; book 3 = gr. 5-6)

- Connections series (by grade level)

workbooks:

- Mindbenders

- Perplexors (like Mendbenders)

- Puzzlemania series (gr. 1-5)

- Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers (gr. 3-6)

- Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 4-6) -- by Seymour

Lori, it's actually because of one of your posts that I'm looking into these. :D I agree w/you about Mind Benders. They only teach one type of puzzle solving. And some of them are really annoying. My dd is beginning to not like them at all. I'm looking into all of the ones that you have suggested. If you have the time, and I know you're probably busy as we all are, I'd love it if you could list your favorites or order them from most to least favorite or whatever. Or, do you think we should just get them all? We travel to the U.S. once a year or so, and stock up on everything then. Thank you. :grouphug:

[Lori D.]

I'd love it if you could list your favorites or order them from most to least favorite...

 

 

1. Dandylion Logic: Logic Countdown; Logic Liftoff; Orbiting with Logic

2. Puzzlemania series

3. Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers

4. Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic

[Negin]

1. Dandylion Logic: Logic Countdown; Logic Liftoff; Orbiting with Logic

2. Puzzlemania series

3. Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers

4. Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic

 

Lori, thank you so much. :grouphug:

Stupid question ... you don't need to reply. I guess I'm not fully awake yet ...;)

I am assuming that these are in order from most to least favorite, correct? Although I know that you like them all. We will most likely eventually get them all anyway. :D

Thanks again.

[Lori D.]

Here's the best I could come up with for some cyber coffee: :cheers2: (lol! don't know if THAT is going to help you first thing in the morning!!)

 

I am assuming that these are in order from most to least favorite, correct?

 

 

Yes. :)

And whatever you go with, enjoy the ride! Warmest regards, Lori

[Negin]

Here's the best I could come up with for some cyber coffee: :cheers2: (lol! don't know if THAT is going to help you first thing in the morning!!)

Lori, love the cyber coffee. :lol: :grouphug:

[Negin]

1. Dandylion Logic: Logic Countdown; Logic Liftoff; Orbiting with Logic

2. Puzzlemania series

3. Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers

4. Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic

Lori, am placing some orders and, once again, want to mention how much I appreciate your list. :)

Is the Puzzlemania series this one?

 

I realized that we've already done #4 on your list. :)

[Negin]

Bumping ...

[Lori D.]

Hmmm... I've not seen these; they look like they are only mazes. No, the ones we had were more like the ones in this ebay photo ; each book was a collection of a wide variety of puzzle types.

[Negin]

Hmmm... I've not seen these; they look like they are only mazes. No, the ones we had were more like the ones in this ebay photo ; each book was a collection of a wide variety of puzzle types.

Lori, thanks a million. :grouphug: Just ordered them. :)

[robsiew]

We just started using Logic Countdown and we really like it. My ds is still working through Mindbenders, but we were bored with the same thing over and over too. I have all three in this series and they look great! Lots of variety! I've been seeing the Dr. Funsters... I have to look at those samples.

[Karen M]

looks good

[Negin]

1. Dandylion Logic: Logic Countdown; Logic Liftoff; Orbiting with Logic

2. Puzzlemania series

3. Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers

4. Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic

Lori, just wanted to thank you once again. :)

We've started and love #1 and #3.

I have to be honest that #2 was so-so for us. Maybe a bit too distracting and easy? I don't know ...

Haven't yet tried or purchased #3. Maybe later.

#4 - we've already done, if my memory serves me correctly.

Thank you, once again. :grouphug:

[Lori D.]

Lori, just wanted to thank you once again. :)

We've started and love #1 and #3.

I have to be honest that #2 was so-so for us. Maybe a bit too distracting and easy? I don't know ...

Haven't yet tried or purchased #3. Maybe later.

#4 - we've already done, if my memory serves me correctly.

Thank you, once again. :grouphug:

 

 

Glad to have been of help! Yes, the Puzzlemania books are really geared for grades 1-5... I just noticed your DC are 12yo an 11yo, so they would be beyond Puzzlemania. Instead, they might be up for "10-Minute Critical-Thinking Activities for English" (gr. 5-12) -- by Eaton; Walch Pub. At about that age, our DSs really got into the phrase picture puzzles (example: "mil1lion" = "one in a million"). Here are some collections of those they enjoyed:

- Think-A-Grams series (Mindware)

- Word Winks; More Word Winks

- Plexors, More Plexers (Seymour)

 

And next year, they'll enjoy:

- Fallacy Detective; Thinking Toolbox (Bluedorn)

- Art of Argument (Larson/Hodge)

 

Cheers! -- Lori D.

[Negin]

Instead, they might be up for "10-Minute Critical-Thinking Activities for English" (gr. 5-12) -- by Eaton; Walch Pub.

Here are some collections of those they enjoyed:

- Think-A-Grams series (Mindware)

- Word Winks; More Word Winks

- Plexors, More Plexers (Seymour)

 

And next year, they'll enjoy:

- Fallacy Detective; Thinking Toolbox (Bluedorn)

- Art of Argument (Larson/Hodge)

 

 

Lori, thanks again. :grouphug:

Are Fallacy Detective and Art of Argument Christian or secular?

Sorry to keep asking you questions.

[Lori D.]

Are Fallacy Detective and Art of Argument Christian or secular?

 

 

Both are by Christian authors. Secular homeschoolers often do not care for Fallacy Detective. I have not looked at Art of Argument to know how "Christian" in point-of-view it is; it is definitely from a classical education point of view. Here is a past thread that may help: Can Art of Argument be used secularly?

 

In this thread and in this thread are suggestions for completely secular "pre-Logic" courses.

 

One other thought: I understand Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective are similar, so you may only need/want one or the other. Both have additional books and resources at their websites. To compare, see these past threads:

Is there too much overlap between Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective?

Fallacy Detective vs Art of Argument

Art of Argument vs Fallacy Detective

 

Or, check the table of contents and sample pages at http://www.christianbook.com:

Fallacy Detective

Art of Argument (Teacher Edition only)

 

BEST of luck, whatever you go with! Warmest regards, Lori D.

Edited December 4, 2010 by Lori D.
added links

[Negin]

Lori, you're a wealth of info. Thank you. :grouphug: