LOGIC / THINKING (see also our (Not) Just For Fun Section!) THINKING SKILLS PROGRAMS of the exercises show geometric shapes that look Building Thinking Skills Book 1 (2-3) like attribute blocks. It would be easier and more Use after completion of Primary book or as soon BUILDING THINKING SKILLS (PK-12) fun for the student to have these available during as children can read (or you can read directions This is a very complete thinking skills program, the lesson, and if you go on to Building Thinking to them). Strictly pencil and paper activities here covering all of the figural and verbal skills your Skills Primary, you will need them anyway. sc, with practice in such things as identifying figural children are likely to see on a standardized 218 pgs. and verbal similarities and differences, sequenc- test. The publisher, Critical Thinking Press, 014217 . 32 .99 ing, classifying, developing analogies, following states that Building Thinking Skills is “designed directions and logical connectives (AND, OR). to significantly improve verbal and figural skills Building Thinking Skills Primary (K-1) Answers included. 363 pgs. in four important areas: similarities and differ- Revised in 2008. Activities begin using concrete An optional Teacher CD is also available. It ences, sequences, classifications, and analogies. materials, so you will need to use attribute blocks contains the full text of the Teacher’s Edition Proficiency in these skills is the cornerstone of and interlocking cubes (mathlink or multilink); in PDF format. Although answers are already success in all academic areas, on standardized please see our Math section if you need infor- included in the worktext, the Teacher CD also tests, and on college entrance exams.” They mation on these. About half the book uses these features objectives, focus questions and addition- have scads of testimonials documenting the cor- manipulatives to help the child understand the al background information for the teacher. relation between use of this series and increased concepts of same and different, classifying, sort- The software version features the same activities test scores. We have no doubt that all the prac- ing and grouping. Once the child has mastered in an interactive format. There are 10 levels of tice you get in using this series would, indeed, skills with these tangible objects, pages prog- activities, and players can choose from “mission” improve test scores. More importantly, many ress to pictorial representations real-life people mode where they complete activities in order or of the specific skills practiced here also have and things – family members, foods, animals, “practice” mode for review. Approximately 40 application in different professions. Other skills occupations, vehicles, and buildings. These are activities are included in the software, with over would seem to generally improve your ability to shown by full-color photographs. Also at this 800 questions in all. Instructions are both spoken “see things” in different ways or train your mind point, printing (ball and stick method) becomes a and written. System requirements: Windows to stretch in different directions. part of the course; as you can do these exercises 98/NT/Me/2000/XP/Vista or Mac OS X (10.3+), The broader goals of this series are translated orally, it is optional whether or not the student PowerPC. 128 MB RAM for either. into specific skills and exercises within these prints the answers. The final chapter covers anal- 003347 Worktext and Key . 29 .99 areas. Learning is spiral within skills, within ogies, the acid test as to whether the child under- 049796 Teacher CD . 19 .99 books, and between levels. That is, exercises stands the classifying and grouping of previous progress in sophistication and scope within each chapters. Activities are designed for one-on-one book, and from level to level. This translates into instruction, and answers will likely be apparent several hefty worktexts full of practice exercises to the instructor. that children actually enjoy doing! Except for The teacher CD-ROM offers enhancement for the Primary level, students can work pretty much lessons and guidance for the teacher. The guide on their own, proceeding as quickly through the gives explanation of the content, suggests dif- series as they’re able. If you’re starting an older ferent types of instructional methods, and offers child in the series, however, use the suggested ideas for follow-up activities. A guide for using grade levels for proper placement. Teacher’s the lesson plans explains the components of each manuals contain lesson plans and solutions. If lesson. Lessons are scripted and list materials you want to be able to correct exercises quickly, needed, page correlation to the student book, or feel some exercises need explanation, you’ll objectives, and answers. CD is Windows/Mac want these. compatible. Generally at this level the teacher’s Building Thinking Skills Book 2 (4-6) manual on CD is not necessary, but it certainly May be used earlier if student has completed Can You Find Me? (PK-K) will make teaching the program easier and more Book 1. All skills learned in Book 1 are reviewed Think of this as Building Thinking Skills Lite. organized. pb. and exercises become increasingly complex with Intended to develop readiness skills in reading, 014194 Student . 32 .99 more specific skills. Examples of skills practiced math, science and social studies, students learn 014215 Teacher CD-ROM . 24 .99 are classification, following directions, deductive to identify same and different, make and follow 007935 Attribute Blocks . 9.25 7 .95 reasoning, parts of a whole, Word Benders, Venn a pattern, classify objects, and make and identify 018741 Multilink Cubes . 16.60 15 .95 and branching diagrams, pattern folding, rotation, analogies. reflection, overlapping classes and mental manip- 024180 PK Book . 14 .99 Manipulatives for Primary: (Choose 1 below) ulation of two-dimensional objects. Answers 024179 K Book . 14 .99 018743 Set of 100 plastic . 9.99 7 .95 included, 408 pgs. Revised in 2006. 018744 Set of 250 plastic . 20.95. 17 .95 An optional Teacher CD is also available. It con- Building Thinking Skills Beginning (PK) 015445 Set of 250 wood . 22.95 17 .95 tains the full text of the Teacher’s Edition in PDF A brand new starting point for the Building 015343 Wood (250) Bagged . 20.95 17 .95 format. Although answers are already included in Thinking Skills series, the Beginning course is the worktext, the Teacher CD also features objec- intended for children ages 3 and 4. Pages are tives, focus questions and additional background brightly colored and uncluttered, with exercis- information for the teacher. es that look fun for kids this age to do. Basic The software version of the program features the skills covered include colors, similarities and same activities as the worktexts, but in an interac- differences, geometric shapes, inference, mea- tive format. There are 10 levels of activities which surement, problem solving, and analogies. At a can be played in either “mission” or “practice” deeper level, two pages at the beginning show mode. Approximately 40 activities are included which exercises relate to physiological develop- in the software, with over 800 questions in all. ment and cognitive skills such as visual tracking, Instructions are both spoken and written. System auditory processing, and fine motor skills devel- requirements: Windows 98/NT/Me/2000/XP/Vista opment, among others. If you were to find an or Mac OS X (10.3+), PowerPC. 128 MB RAM area that needs attention, you could focus on the for either. exercises on these page numbers. No manipula- 000114 Worktext and Key . 29 .99 tives are required with this book; however, some 049797 Teacher CD . 19 .99 562 Logic See page vi for key to Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act warning labels. Building Thinking Skills Books 3 (7-12) having used the first book or for younger children Incorporating all its excellent conceptual devel- May be used earlier with students completing who have completed Book 1. opment and expanding beyond mathematical into previous level. Activities are reviewed and 000395 Book 1 (PK-2) . 19 .99 science and social study applications, this series have “branched” into additional skills and more 005656 Book 2 (2-4) . 19 .99 takes students beyond state and Common Core sophistication, so much so that verbal and figural standards. Designed to be a discussion-based skills are now separated into different books. A Hands-On Thinking Skills (K-1) curriculum, teacher-student interaction is vital- very brief sampling of included skills: deductive Young children will appreciate this hands-on ly important and, in fact, the publishers warn reasoning, denotation and connotations, fol- approach to developing analytic thinking skills against trying to do the program by handing your lowing and writing directions, time, degree of via an exploration of shapes, colors, and patterns. student a workbook page. Program goals include meaning, cause-and-effect words, flowcharting The activities require three types of manipula- clarifying and practicing various thinking skills and scheduling, Venn and branching diagrams, tives: attribute blocks, pattern blocks, and inter- (describe, compare/contrast, sequencing, classi- congruence, area, volume, and rotation and locking (or multilink) cubes. Like the Building fication), developing the academic vocabulary reflection of two and three dimensional objects. Thinking Skills program, activities cover four key needed to describe key concepts in mathematics, Student books now include an answer key (but areas: Similarities and Differences, Sequences, science, and social studies, and to promote clear no teaching helps). An optional PDF version Classifications, and Analogies. Simple activity conceptualization of key concepts even in the of the Teacher Guide is also available, which instructions appear at the top of each page as a primary grades knowing these will become more contains the answer key plus a teaching guide basic guideline for the teacher.