fitna Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 hi guys, what are you guys using for critical thinking? any workbooks you like or totally dislike? or do you even feel it's necessary? my daughter is working on the 2nd grade level. thanks. :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 grade K-3 workbooks: - Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 1-3) -- by Seymour - Logic Safari (book 1 = gr. 2-3; book 2 = gr. 3-4) - Lollipop Logic (gr. K-2) - Primarily Logic (gr. 2-4) - Connections series (by grade level) puzzle books: - Gifted and Talented series (K-4 gr.) -- by Amerikander, or others - Puzzlemania series (gr. 1-5) -- best of Highlights magazine variety of puzzles - Hidden Picture Puzzle books -- collection of hidden picture puzzles from Highlights software: - Logic Journey of the Zoombinis (by grade level) - Revenge of the Logic Spiders (by grade level) - Crazy Machines series (gr. 3+) - The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions (gr. 3+) - Operation: Neptune (gr. 3-6) - Mission: T.H.I.N.K. (gr. 2-6) games: - Set - Duo - Secret Door - Blokus - Scan (old Parker Brothers game, usually available on ebay) - Clue solo logic activities: - Logix - Scramble Squares - Tangrams - Rush Hour Junior simple puzzle pages: - mazes - word searches - Where's Waldo - search and find type of books gr. 4-6 (prep for logic) 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 Think-A-Minutes (gr. 3-6) - Dr. Funster's Creative Thinking Puzzlers (gr. 3-6) - Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 4-6) -- by Seymour software: - Logic Journey of the Zoombinis (by grade level) - Revenge of the Logic Spiders (by grade level) - Crazy Contraptions series (gr. 3+) - Operation: Neptune (gr. 3-6) - Mission: T.H.I.N.K. (gr. 2-6) games: - Mastermind - Amazing Labrynth - 221 B. Baker Street - Checkers - Chess - Boggle - Scrabble - Quarto puzzle pages: - mazes - crosswords, word jumbles, anagrams - codes, cryptograms - sudoku puzzles books (solving "whodunnits"): - Encyclopedia Brown series (Sobol) - Roman Mysteries series (Lawrence) - 17th century Japanese boy and samurai mysteries by Dorothy Hoobler - Nancy Drew series (Keene) - Hardy Boys series (Dixon) - minute mystery books by Conrad, Sobol, Weber, and others gr. 7-8 (intro to logic) critical thinking books: - Mindbenders - Perplexors (like Mindbenders) - Word Winks; More Word Winks (like Think-A-Grams) -- pub. by Mindware - Plexors, More Plexers (like Think-A-Grams) -- by Seymour - Critical Thinking Activities in Pattern, Image, Logic (gr. 7-12) -- by Seymour - 10-Minute Critical-Thinking Activities for Englishy (gr. 5-12) -- by Eaton; Walch Pub. - 10-Minute Critical-Thinking Activities for Algebra (gr. 9-12) -- by Martin; Walch Pub. logic books: - Art of Argument (Larson/Hodge) - Fallacy Detective; Thinking Toolbox (Bluedorn) games: - Checkers - Chess - Boggle - Scrabble - Quarto - Tetrus - Risk - other strategy computer/board games puzzle pages: - crosswords, word jumbles, anagrams - codes, cryptograms - sudoku puzzles solving "whodunnits" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 I always thought "critical thinking" was a skill acquired all across the board rather than a specifically taught one; when I first encountered it, the concept was rather strange to me. If your child is properly educated, if you make sure s/he gets the fundamentals of analytical thought through the study of languages, mathematics and formal logic, if you make sure you discuss things with them (not only school-related, but life-related in general, media, etc.) with increasing complexity as they're becoming older and more mature, if once in a while they play chess or some more complex card game or scrabble out of boredom or solve a sudoku-style exercise... you don't need a set of workbooks to teach them to reason, then. It's going to be explicitly taught, as well as exercised throughout the years anyway. Make sure you train analytical thought in the regular activities, such as text comprehension, formal sciences, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 I always thought "critical thinking" was a skill acquired all across the board rather than a specifically taught one... We never used the book resources I listed above to "teach" critical thinking -- rather used them as "fun puzzle pages" -- which, by the way, just happened to help hone those critical thinking skills through use! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 We learn critical thinking by discussing issues of science, history, politics, society, by solving math problems, by talking about books and movies. I think it is a skill that has to be learned in context and not doing isolated puzzles and exercises - so we are not using any specific resources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In2why Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 And sometimes you have a child that is so literal that it is good to have something to help them learn to think outside of the box. My 4th out of 5 children is exactly like that. Sometimes I shake my head, and for a while I worried he might be a bit slow. But nope, he is very bright. The critical thinking skills, particularly the Brain Teaser worksheets found here http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/critical_thinking/brain/ helped tremendously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitna Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 thanks lori for the resources! and all of you guys for your input. i was wondering if i really need a book or anything of that sort. but playing thinking games sounds more fun! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitna Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 lori i'm really going to look into the games you provided. sounds good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 Thanks so much Lori for your very detailed and helpful post! We use a lot of what you've mentioned for our 5 year old, and now we have a list of suggestions as she grows older! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 We got Dan Barker's Maybe Yes, Maybe No, for our 7yo, and have found it quite good. However, it is aptly subtitled "a guide for young skeptics", and so would probably only suit secular or liberally religious families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 So glad something was of help! :) Warmest regards, Lori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 Great answer; that one's going in my file. And thanks to the OP for the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalphs Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 We learn critical thinking by discussing issues of science, history, politics, society, by solving math problems, by talking about books and movies.I think it is a skill that has to be learned in context and not doing isolated puzzles and exercises - so we are not using any specific resources. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 We learn critical thinking by discussing issues of science, history, politics, society, by solving math problems, by talking about books and movies. We have done this all along with our DSs. I think it is a skill that has to be learned in context and not doing isolated puzzles and exercises - so we are not using any specific resources. I agree. The puzzles and exercises are just yet another tool in our education toolbox for practice of out of the thinking, and for exposure to types of problems and problem-solving we don't get through the other school topics and through discussion/analyzing of literature and film. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaHappy Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 I'm using the Building Thinking Skills Level 1 book for my 2nd grader this year. He really likes it and it does make him think! :) I thought it was a little spendy, so we do only 1 page a day to make it last two years. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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