I got my Critical Thinking catalogue today...

[Irishmommy]

And I want too much! What are the must haves for next year? I have only used mind benders before. Next year I will have a sixth grader, second grader and a very young kinder (he actually 4). Let me hear it!

[Irishmommy]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[Lori D.]

While we have used some of their resources, I tend to think a number of their materials are expensive "one trick ponies" -- i.e., the whole booklet is the same type of puzzle. We did use and enjoy some of their materials -- but also lots of other resources, too. Overall, for the Critical Thinking Press materials, we most enjoyed the books with more variety of puzzle-type.

 

 

Over the years we have used:

- Reading Detective -- pretty good; DSs enjoyed the mini-mystery aspect

- Editor in Chief series -- not bad; we also used other proof-reading practice materials that were just as good and cost less

- Red Herrings -- not bad; but meant for a classroom, so a little difficult to adapt; also, we felt some of our "out-of-the-box" solutions were better than the answers in the back of the book

- Mindbenders-- we did a whole book, but all the puzzles are of the same type

- Visual Mind Benders -- we did a whole book, but all the puzzles are of the same type

- Building Thinking Skills -- we borrowed this from a friend and tried it, but gave it back

- Developing Critical Thinking through Science -- interesting; we used a few things in this; probably works best as a supplement you use every once in awhile

- Sciencewise -- interesting; we used a few things in this; probably works best as a supplement you use every once in awhile

 

 

The booklets we enjoyed the most:

- Dr. Funster's Think-A-Minutes (gr. 3-6)

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

- Think-A-Grams (gr. 7-12) -- favorite of DSs

 

 

Just our experience: especially when we could find these a little cheaper used, they were worth it. But that was us. We also enjoyed lots of other critical thinking resources, in addition to Critical Thinking Press materials. BEST of luck as you make out your shopping list! :) Warmest regards, Lori D.