Critical Thinking bks 1 & 2 = Fallacy Det. & Thinking Toolbox??

[profmom]

I see FD & TT mentioned here, but I haven't noticed discussions on the Critical Thinking books that TWTM recommends for 6th grade. Do the two sets of books cover the same materials? If so, which do you recommend? I'm also still deciding whether to add these for 6th. Would it be better to wait until 7th grade?

[Beth in Central TX]

I looked at the Critical Thinking books at the Homeschool Book Fair last year. They didn't really impress me though. In addition, I remember reading posts by Tina in Ouray on the high school board saying that pre-logic work was not really necessary. Therefore, I didn't buy them.

I did feel a need to do logic though, so I went with the Bluedorn books for my 5th & 6th graders this year. We were reading the books one day a week and discussing the problems. This was okay, but it felt like busywork to me, and the lessons seemed disjointed because of the time lapse between each one. I dropped both books after the first of the year. I like the books, so I think we will read through them this summer, but we will do a lesson a day to keep the flow of the book going. Stretching the book out over a school year is not the best approach, in my opinion.

So, where does that leave us with logic? I've been mulling this question over lately. Next year is going to be full with Homer B, R&S 7, Wheelock's Latin, & NT Greek for Beginners. So I think I'm going to push back TLI and TLII to 9th grade. I can plan each book for one semester; TLII might flow into the summer. Then I can plan for Material Logic in 10th grade. This will also allow me to include 2 years of Logic on their high school transcript. I have Art of Argument which is informal logic program. I may do this program in 8th grade, or I may just include it to offset TL which is a formal logic program. I'm hoping to work through TL and AoA to see which route I want to take.

I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know, but I think I now agree with Tina that pre-logic work is not necessary, at least for our homeschool. HTH!

[Karenciavo]

No, I don't think they are equal. FD covers fallacies in greater depth and CT books cover other areas of logic broader and deeper. The Bluedorn books are much more engaging than the CT books.

[ThelmaLou]

My recommendation is that you don't buy Critical Thinking books 1 and 2. They're both big yawners, IMO. I'm getting ready to sell mine at our annual used book fair. I'm going through Fallacy Detective with my 2 oldest right now. I know they're two completely different programs, and they don't claim to cover the same things. I just couldn't bring myself to complete the CT books.

[Basketmaker Amy]

I agree. We tried the CT books and didn't like them. My 7th grade son LOVES Fallacy Detective and Thinking Toolbox. He often reads ahead.

[profmom]

I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know...!

Nope, the more details the better! :D

Thanks, Beth, Karen, ThelmaLou, and Amy! I appreciate the help.