Books published by publisher CRITICAL THINKING PRESS

This 64-page book of mind-building algebraic thinking puzzles makes understanding equations and solving word problems easy and fun! Introducing algebra through balanced scales is a natural and exciting way to conceptually master fundamental algebraic ideas. The book's visually-simple approach engages students intuitively in step-by-step thinking. The puzzle-like problems ensure students are cognitively involved while they hone their techniques of simplifying, substituting, and writing proofs to solve simultaneous equations. Balance Math™ Teaches Algebra! is designed to move from simple to complex, with lessons scaffolding on earlier learning. Teaching suggestions and solutions are included.The following concepts are taught: • Equations • Word Problems • Commutative Property • Distributive Property • Associative Property • Substitution Property of Equality and Inequality • Addition Property of Equality and Inequality • Subtraction Property of Equality and Inequality • Multiplication Property of Equality and Inequality • Division Property of Equality and Inequality

Forget boring math lessons and dreaded drill sheets. This fun, colorful 384-page book that is geared for 4th graders uses engaging lessons with easy-to-follow explanations, examples, and charts to make fourth grade mathematical concepts easy to understand. It can be used as a textbook or a comprehensive workbook with your textbook to teach the math skills and concepts that students are expected to know in fourth grade--and several concepts normally taught in fifth grade. This book emphasizes problem-solving and computation to build for success in higher-level math and math assessments.Every lesson is followed with a variety of fun, colorful activities to ensure concept mastery. The lessons and activities spiral slowly, allowing students to become comfortable with concepts, but also challenging them to continue building their problem-solving skills. This book teaches more than mathematical concepts; it teaches mathematical reasoning, so students learn to devise different strategies to solve a wide variety of math problems. It is written to the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. CONTENTS: Addends, Addition, Age, Analyze Data, Angles, Area, Bar Graph, Calendar, Capacity, Characteristics, Circle Graphs, Coins, Congruence, Coordinates, Count, Data Analysis, Data Collection, Decimals, Division, Equations, Equivalence, Estimate, Fractions, Graphs, Inequalities, Language, Length, Match, Mean, Median / Mode, Money, Multiplication, Negative Numbers, Number Lines, Odd/Even, Order, Parallel, Patterns, Perimeter, Perpendicular, Place Value, Prediction, Prime/composite, Probability, Properties, Real World Problems, Reflection/Translation/Rotation, Regrouping, Rounding, Rulers, Shapes, Subtraction, Survey, Symmetry, Tables, Temperatu

"This colorful 384-page book engages students in the study of critical thinking. It lays a strong foundation in the important cognitive skills necessary for critical thinking, such as comprehension, analysis, evaluation, construction, creativity, and communication. Through fun and concrete activities–including Thought Experiments, Student Polls, Practice Sessions, Games and Puzzles, Predictions, and Important Takeaways–students explore topics essential to critical thinking, gaining tools that will help them apply critical thinking directly to their own lives. Additional individual and group activities are included to reinforce student learning as they explore topics such as: The Basics of Critical Thinking Obstacles to Critical Thinking Evaluating Evidence Creative Problem-Solving Ambiguity, Vagueness, and Doublespeak Arguments Informal Fallacies Advertising Eyewitness Testimony, Direct & Circumstantial Evidence This student book should be used with the detailed, 304-page, Teacher's Manual which is purchased separately."

(Grade 1)Mathematical Reasoning helps students devise strategies to solve a wide variety of math problems. This book emphasizes problem-solving and computation to build the math reasoning skills necessary for success in higher-level math and math assessments. This book is written to the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The Level B book is a complete curriculum for the first grade level.These highly effective activities take students far beyond drill-and-practice by using step-by-step, discussion-based problem-solving to develop a conceptual bridge between computation and the reasoning required for upper-level math. Activities and units spiral slowly, allowing students to become comfortable with concepts but also challenging them to continue building their math skills.Answers are included in the back of the book.

Analogies occur in life and frequently in high-stakes tests. Understanding analogies and the ability to reason analogically (reasoning used to identify, evaluate, and solve an analogy) are important problem-solving skills which are an essential part of mathematical development. The immediate benefit is to recognize and solve simple analogies. The long-term benefits are improved reasoning skills that enable students to break problems into their component parts, recognize analogies embedded in arguments, and evaluate them.The 152 analogies in this 48-page book teach students to break problems down into their component parts, making it easier to recognize familiar formats that enable students to produce solutions. These analogies are designed around the grade-appropriate standards identified by the National Council of Teaching Mathematics.

This fun, colorful 352-page book can be used as a textbook or a comprehensive workbook with your textbook to teach reading, writing, grammar, and punctuation skills and concepts that students are expected to know in first grade. They also develop critical thinking, vocabulary, and several other skills and concepts normally taught in second grade. The engaging lessons include easy-to-follow explanations, examples, and charts for visual learners–and there is no lesson preparation! Each lesson is followed by a variety of fun, colorful, mind-building activities that use different genres.

This is the fun way to learn new vocabulary! These popular, easy-to-use detective cases are suitable for Grades 5 - 12+. The vocabulary in these mysteries were gathered from a multitude of sources including SAT and ACT word lists and the author's reading selections. Merriam Webster's online dictionary provided many of the details about the words including usage, look-up history, synonyms and antonyms. Students must identify the meaning of new vocabulary as they try to uncover the subtle clues hidden in the statements from witnesses and suspects. Each mystery requires careful reading, critical thinking, and synthesizing information to identify the innocent and guilty. The cases also develop observation skills, reading comprehension, deductive and inductive thinking skills. Learning to identify and evaluate evidence is the very heart of critical thinking.

Move over Sudoku, here come Balance Benders! You can use these books as quick, fun logic problems or as stepping stones to success in algebra. Children develop deductive thinking and pre-algebra skills as they solve balance puzzles that are more fun and addictive than Sudoku puzzles! Children must analyze each balance to identify the clues, and then synthesize the information to solve the puzzle. Try one -- and then try to stop!

This 208-page book increases vocabulary, stimulates imagination, and boosts standards-based language arts skills. Each of the lessons teaches PSAT and/or SAT vocabulary words, which are made up of dynamic, real-life words students may encounter while reading or use in their writing.Each lesson contains definitions, pronunciation keys, parts of speech, and alternate choices for each word made up of synonyms, idioms, and/or phrases. There are several activities, including a story involving students in a classroom setting.Students complete a variety of exercises requiring critical reading and writing skills to contextualize the words. The exercises deliberately use other forms of the words as different parts of speech, so that students learn to recognize these forms as variations of the original words- further expanding their vocabulary and enabling them to use the words in more contexts. The correct spelling of vocabulary words are emphasized with the jumble activity that asks students to unscramble the word before writing the correct spelling.Whether used in the traditional classroom, as a homeschooling resource, or for independent study, Vocabulary Virtuoso is a highly effective and fun vocabulary resource!PSAT-SAT Book 1 - 180 Vocabulary Words and These Concepts:Literary - characterization, idioms, euphemisms, puns, aphorisms, jargon, allusions, irony, themeRhetorical - The Art of Persuasion in Speech and Writing, Using the Extended Simile to Write a PoemHistory - The Renaissance, Renaissance artists

"This fun, colorful 400-page book can be used as a textbook or a comprehensive workbook with your textbook to teach reading, writing, grammar, and punctuation skills and concepts that students are expected to know in fourth grade. They also develop critical thinking, vocabulary, and several other skills and concepts normally taught in fifth grade. The engaging lessons include easy-to-follow explanations, examples, and charts for visual learners–and there is no lesson preparation! Each lesson is followed by a variety of fun, colorful, mind-building activities that use different genres."

Students LOVE these entertaining mysteries that develop students' inferential and deductive thinking skills for more effective reading, listening, and logical thinking. The activities also sharpen analyses, synthesis, and investigative skills as well as encourage creative brainstorming and flexible thinking. Each of the ""mysteries"" is part of a longer untold story which is ""behind the scenes."" It is up to the students to deduce the rest of the story from clues derived from answers to their Yes/No questions. For example, the story behind the sentence, ""If Leo had kept his hand down he might be a free man today,"" can eventually be revealed if enough questions are asked and the answers are used to form a mental image of the event. It may take many Yes/No questions over several days to finally reveal that Leo is a not too-bright bank robber who incriminates himself at his trial by raising his hand when the prosecutor asks a witness, ""Is the person who robbed the bank present in the courtroom today?"" Red Herring Level 1 includes: solution tips, suggestions, answers, a sample questioning session, and thinking map (organizer) to keep track of student thinking.

Develops logical thinking for superior reading comprehension and test success! Critical Thinking teaches students to think logically, present well-developed arguments, and see through unsupported arguments. Book One helps students develop the fundamentals of logic, argumentation, and critical reading.Easy-to-understand explanations of concepts are followed by examples and real-life, often humorous, discussion problems. Students learn to identify valid and invalid claims and arguments, sufficient and insufficient evidence, fact and opinion, generalizations, emotional arguments, inferences, deductions, and more. Grades 7-12.