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Prepare Students for Standardized National and State Assessment Tests, Gifted and Advanced Placement Exams, IQ and Cognitive Abilities Exams.

Give children the
gift of reasoning!

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, homeschool family, classroom teacher, tutor, therapist, or other educator, our products can help engage your child or student in deeper thinking and more effective learning while having fun!

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The Critical Thinking Company

Keep your children performing
at the top of their abilities!

We offer all books, software, and DVDs published by The Critical Thinking Company. These products help children learn while having fun. Our award-winning Critical Thinking educational products are fun, thought provoking, and highly interactive. Our Critical Thinking products develop creative thinking and cognitive skills - they build your child's brain.

These Critical Thinking products develop critical thinking and reasoning skills and improve standards-based learning for children in grades PreK-12. We offer higher level thinking and brain building products in Reading, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Math, Critical Thinking, Reasoning, and Logic.

We help students of all abilities achieve better grades and higher test scores with highly effective lessons and activities that sharpen the mind as they teach your child to think and reason.

Simply click on the product name or image to learn more...

Algebra Word Problems (Grades 7th-12th+)

Develops a solid foundation of algebraic thinking.
Grades: 7th - 12th+
Algebra Word Problems uses process skills and the gradual introduction of more challenging concepts to give students the confidence and ability to master algebra word problems.

Algebra Word Problems Book 1 (Grades 7th-12th+) by Anita Harnadek
Algebra Word Problems Book 2 (Grades 7th-12th+) by Anita Harnadek
Algebra Word Problems 2-Book Set (Grades 7th-12th+) by Anita Harnadek

Alphabet Letter and Number Puzzles with Lesson Guide (Ages 2 and Up)

with Lesson Guide
Ages: 2 years and up
Teaches children letter names, shape recognition, and letter sounds. This durable puzzle set consitsts of three wooden puzzle boards (lower case letters, uppercase letters, and numbers 0-9) as well as lesson guide. Perfect for any toddler or preschool child!

$34.99

Balance Benders Series (Grades 2nd-12th+)

Grades: 2nd-12th+
Logic and Algebraic Reasoning Puzzles
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!

Balance Benders Beginning Level (Grades 2nd-6th) by Robert Femiano
Balance Benders Level 1 (Grades 4th-12th+) by Robert Femiano
Balance Benders Level 2 (Grades 6th-12th+) by Robert Femiano
Balance Benders Level 3 (Grades 8th-12th+) by Robert Femiano

Balance Math & More! (Grades: 2nd-12th+)

Grades: 2nd- 12th+
Try one of these intriguing puzzles - and then try to stop!
The Balance Math™ & More! activities sharpen your students' critical thinking skills, computational skills, and develop algebraic reasoning. The first book in the series (Level 1) focuses on addition and subtraction of whole numbers. The second book (Level 2) focuses on multiplication and division of whole numbers, but has a few problems involving fractions. The third book (Level 3) involves addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication, as well as fractions and decimals. With Balance Math™ Teaches Algebra, understanding algebraic equations and solving algebra word problems has never been easier or more fun! This visual approach uses balance scales to teach algebra.

Balance Math™ & More! Level 1 (Grades 2nd-5th) by Robert Femiano
Balance Math™ & More! Level 2 (Grades 4th-12th+) by Robert Femiano
Balance Math™ & More! Level 3 (Grades 6th-12th+) by Robert Femiano
Balance Math™ Teaches Algebra (Grades 4th-12th+) by Robert Femiano

Can You Find Me? Riddles Series (Grades PreK-1st) -> ON SALE NOW

Building Thinking Skills with Riddles - Associative Reasoning
Grades: PreK - 1st
Develops skills in reading readiness, science, math, and social studies using five basic thinking skills: similarities and differences, sequences, classifications, analogies, and logic. Content is based on state standards. 112 full-color pages per book.

Can You Find Me? PreK -> ON SALE NOW
Can You Find Me? K-1 -> ON SALE NOW

Complete the Picture Math

Answer the math word problems and complete and color the pictures!
Grades: 1st - 3rd
Develops a wide variety of math, reading, visual, and spatial reasoning skills. Children solve an engaging word problem that focuses on reading comprehension and mathematical reasoning before completing and coloring an animal picture.
Ideal to motivate your child to improve math skills. These quick, boredom-busting activities can be used in the classroom, after school, at home, and on trips to stimulate developing minds.

Complete the Picture Math Book 1
Complete the Picture Math Book 2
Complete the Picture Math Book 3

Critical Thinking Series -> ON SALE NOW

Problem Solving, Reasoning, Logic, and Arguments
Grades: 7th - 12th
Teaches students to think logically. Students learn to identify valid and invalid claimsand aguments, sufficient and insufficient efidence, fact and opinion, generalizations, emotional arguments, inferences, deductions, and more. Instruction/Answer guides sold separately.
Recommended by The Well Trained Mind

Critical Thinking Book One -> ON SALE
Critical Thinking Book One Instruction/Answer Guide -> ON SALE
Critical Thinking Book Two -> ON SALE
Critical Thinking Book Two Instruction/Answer Guide -> ON SALE
Critical Thinking 4-Book Set -> ON SALE

Critical Thinking in United States History

Grades: 6th - 12th+
Makes history fresh, relevant, and real! These books-on-cd use fascinating original source documents and discussion-based critical thinking methods to help children evaluate conflicting perspectives of historical events. Each Instruction/Answer Guide includes a course-end test and suggested solutions.
Printed Books and Books-on-CD available. Printable PDF includes Instruction/Answer Guides and Student Text.
Recommended by The Well-Trained Mind.

Colonies to Constitution Books-on-CD
New Republic to Civil War Books-on-CD
Reconstruction to Progressivism Books-on-CD
Spanish-American War to Vietnam War Books-on-CD
New Republic to Civil War Student Book
New Republic to Civil War - Instruction/Answer Guide
Reconstruction to Progressivism Student Book
Reconstruction to Progressivism - Instruction/Answer Guide
Spanish-American War to Vietnam War Student Book
Spanish-American War to Vietnam War - Instruction/Answer Guide
Critical Thinking in United States History 4-Books-on-CD Set

Developing Critical Thinking through Science Series

Hands-On Physical Science Activities
Grades: 1st - 8th
Standards-based, hands-on activities help students learn physical science principles and the scientific method of investigation. Zero-budget activities use supplies found in the classroom or home.

Developing Critical Thinking through Science Book 1
Developing Critical Thinking through Science Book 2 (Grades 4th-8th)

Dr. DooRiddles Series (Associative Reasoning) -> ON SALE NOW

A fun way to strengthen students' spelling, vocabulary, and reading!
Grades PreK - 12th
Develops students' fluency and understanding of word meanings and associations as it improves their spelling vocabulary, reading, and problem-solving skills. Students carefully read through clues in each riddle, analyzing connections within and between clues to figure out what is being described. Solving the riddles requires students to evaluate homonyms, synonyms, homophones, prefixes, roots, and suffixes in order to deduce and spell whole and partial word answers.

Dr. DooRiddles A1 -> NOW ON SALE
Dr. DooRiddles A2 -> NOW ON SALE
Dr. DooRiddles A3 -> NOW ON SALE
Spelling DooRiddles A1 -> NOW ON SALE
Dr. DooRiddles B1 -> NOW ON SALE
Dr. DooRiddles B2 -> NOW ON SALE
Spelling DooRiddles B1 -> NOW ON SALE
Dr. DooRiddles C1 -> NOW ON SALE
Dr. DooRiddles 5-Book Set
Dr. DooRiddles 6-Book Set
Dr. DooRiddles 8-Book Set

Dr. Funster's Critical Thinking Books and Software

Quick, Fun Thinking Activities
Grades: 2nd - 8th
A collection of our most popular quick, fun thinking puzzles and games develop a variety of critical and creative thinking skills. Activities include language development, math, writing, visual, spatial, and perceptual skills.

Get Me Out of Here Software Series

Helps Students Organize Thinking and Writing
Grades: 4th - 12th
Get Me Out of Here! improves reading comprehension, writing, mental organization, planning ahead, attention to detail, mapping, and visual-spatial sense.
California Instructional Technology Award

Get Me Out of Here A1 Software
Get Me Out of Here B1 Software
Get Me Out of Here Software 2-CD Set

Language Smarts (Core Curriculum)

Escape from boring language arts drill!
(Core Curriculum)
Grades: 1st - 3rd
These fun, mind-building books teach standards-based language arts and develop critical thinking skills. Empower your child's mind as vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, reading and writing skills improve.

Language Smarts Level B (Grade 1) - Color
Language Smarts Level B (Grade 1) - Black & White (Reproducible)
Language Smarts Level C (Grade 2) - Color
Language Smarts Level C (Grade 2) - Black & White (Reproducible)
Language Smarts Book D (Grade 3) - Color

Learning on Purpose

Teaches students to overcome study challenges and become successful learners.
Grades: 7 - 12+
A self-management approach to study skills, this book develops methods of effective organization, time management, comprehension and memory skills, and test-taking strategies.
"Recommended!" - The Well Trained Mind

Learning on Purpose

Math Analogies Books -> ON SALE NOW

Grades: K - 5
Understanding analogies and the ability to reason analogically (reasoning used to identify, evaluate, and solve an analogy) are important problem-solving skills. Problem-solving is an essential part of mathematical development. Analogies teach children to break problems down into their component parts, making it easier to recognize familiar formats that enable students to produce solutions.

Math Analogies Beginning Book (Gr K-1) -> ON SALE NOW
Math Analogies Book 1 (Gr 2-3) -> ON SALE NOW
Math Analogies Book 2 (Gr 4-5) -> ON SALE NOW

Math Detective Series

Higher Order Thinking Standards-Based Math
Grades: 3rd - 8th
Engaging story problems use topic and skills drawn from national math standards. Prepare students for more advanced math courses and assessments that measure reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing in math.
Available in Books and Software.

Math Detective Beginning
Math Detective Beginning Software
Math Detective A1
Math Detective A1 Software
Math Detective B1
Math Detective B1 Software
Math Detective 3-Book Set
Math Detective Software 3-CD Set

Mathematical Reasoning Through Verbal Analysis (Grades PreK-9th)

Grades: PreK - 9th
Bridges the gap between computation and mathematical reasoning for higher grades and top test scores. Highly effective activities take students far beyond drill-and-practice by using step-by-step, discussion-based problem solving.

Math Word Problems -> NOW ON SALE

Turns your child into a super math word problem solver!
Whole Numbers & Fractions • Decimals & Percents • Mixed Concepts: Whole Numbers–Percents
Grades: 4 - 10
Helps your child conquer the “dreaded” math word problem by teaching them how and when to apply the math operations they know to real-life situations. Developmentally sequenced and arranged. Each problem requires its own thinking/problem solving approach rather than applying the same solution process to entire groups of problems.

Math Word Problems Book 1 (Level A) -> NOW ON SALE
Math Word Problems Book 2 (Level B) -> NOW ON SALE
Math Word Problems Level C -> NOW ON SALE
Math Word Problems 3-Book Set -> NOW ON SALE

Memory Challenge

Improve visual perception and memory skills
Grades: K - 12th+
Enhance visual perception and memory for reading and math! This is an easy-to-use but very powerful program for developing and testing visual memory skills.

Memory Challenge Software

Mind Benders Series - Deductive Thinking Skills Puzzles

Deductive Thinking Skills Logic Puzzles - Books & Software
Grades: PreK - 12th+
Our best-selling deductive thinking puzzles develop logic, reading comprehension, and mental organization skills vital to achieving higher grades and top test scores in all subjects. They are also great for improving real-life problem-solving skills.
Multiple award winner, including the Practical Homeschooling Logic Award and the Cathy Duffy Top 100.

Mind Benders Book 1 (Grades PreK-K) - was Mind Benders Beginning Book 1
Mind Benders Beginning 1 Software (Grades PreK-Kindergarten)
Mind Benders Book 2 (Grades 1-2) - was Mind Benders Beginning Book 2
Mind Benders Beginning 2 Software (Grades 1-2)
Mind Benders Verbal (Grades K-2) - was Mind Benders Warm Up
Mind Benders 4-CD Software Set
Mind Benders Book 3 (Grades 3-6+) - Combined Mind Benders A1 & A2
Mind Benders A1-A2 Software
Mind Benders Book 4 (Grades 3-6+) - Combined Mind Benders A3 & A4
Mind Benders A3-A4 Software
Mind Benders Book 5 (Grades 7-12+) - Combined Mind Benders B1 & B2
Mind Benders B1-B2 Software
Mind Benders Book 6 (Grades 7-12+) - Combined Mind Benders B3 & B4
Mind Benders B3-B4 Software
Mind Benders Book 7 (Grades 7-12+) - Includes activities from the old Mind Benders C1 & C2
Mind Benders Book 8 (Grades 7-12+) - Includes activities from the old Mind Benders C2 & C3
Mind Benders A1 (Gr 3-6+) - NOW combined with Mind Benders A2 in the NEW Mind Benders Book 3
Mind Benders A2 (Gr 3-6+) - NOW combined with Mind Benders A1 in the NEW Mind Benders Book 3
Mind Benders A3 (Gr 3-6+) - NOW combined with Mind Benders A4 in the NEW Mind Benders Book 4
Mind Benders A4 (Gr 3-6+) -> ON SALE NOW
Mind Benders B1 (Gr 7-12+) - NOW combined with Mind Benders B2 in the NEW Mind Benders Book 5
Mind Benders B2 (Gr 7-12+) -> ON SALE NOW
Mind Benders B3 (Gr 7-12+) -> ON SALE NOW
Mind Benders B4 (Gr 7-12+) -> ON SALE NOW
Mind Benders C1 (Gr 7-12+) -> ON SALE NOW
Mind Benders C2 (Gr 7-12+) -> ON SALE NOW
Mind Benders C3 (Gr 7-12+) -> ON SALE NOW

Organizing Thinking Series

Improves content learning as it develops critical thinking and effective learning strategies!
Grades: 2nd - 8th
Writing, Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science
Lessons integrate content instruction, critical thinking, and graphic organizers to help students:

Simplify, understand, and remember information

Develop deeper learning connections

Organize and manage their own thinking and learning

Organizing Thinking Book 1
Organizing Thinking Book 2
Organizing Thinking Book 1 Graphic Organizers on CD
Organizing Thinking Book 2 Graphic Organizers on CD

Reading Detective Series (Grades 3-12+) -> ON SALE NOW

Higher-Order Thinking to Improve Reading Comprehension
Grades: 3rd - 12th
Uses Standards-based higher-order thinking activities to develop the analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary skills required for exceptional reading comprehension.
Avaliable in books or software!

Reading Detective Beginning -> ON SALE NOW
Reading Detective A1 -> ON SALE NOW
Reading Detective B1 -> ON SALE NOW
Reading Detective Rx -> ON SALE NOW
Reading Detective 3-Book Set
Reading Detective Beginning Software CD -> ON SALE NOW
Reading Detective A1 Software CD -> ON SALE NOW
Reading Detective B1 Software CD
Reading Detective Software 3-CD Set

Red Herring Mysteries (previously A Case of Red Herrings)

Solving Mysteries Through Critical Questioning
Grades: 4th - 12th
Children learn to think beyond the literal meaning! Funny mysteries develop inferential and deductive reasoning for more effective reading, listening, and logical thinking. Encourages creative brainstorming and flexible thinking.

Red Herring Mysteries Level 1 (A Case of Red Herrings A1 & A2 combined)
Red Herring Mysteries Level 2 (A Case of Red Herrings B1 & B2 combined)

Revenge of the Spiders Software

Grades: K - 12th+
Revenge of the Logic Spiders helps students apply deeper levels of comprehension and logic to their schoolwork and to standardized and aptitude tests. The game is fun, challenging, and an effective independent learning program.
Revenge of the Math Spiders helps students develop mental flexibility with basic operations. Improves their logic, reasoning, and confidence as they build strong math and problem-solving skills.
Revenge of the Riddle Spiders software uses rhyming riddles and a fun chase game to improve students' language skills in spelling, vocabulary, word use, and understanding of multiple word meanings. It uses all of the riddles found in the Dr. DooRiddles books plus dozens more!

Revenge of the Logic Spiders
Revenge of the Math Spiders A1 Software
Revenge of the Math Spiders B1 Software
Revenge of the Riddle Spiders A1 Software
Revenge of the Riddle Spiders B1 Software
Revenge of the Riddle Spiders C1 Software

Science Detective Series

Teaches standards-based science as it develops reading, writing, and critical thinking skills!
Grades: 3rd - 6th
Uses topics and skills drawn from national science standards to prepare children for more advanced science courses and new assessments that measure reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing in science.
Students read lessons that include a charts, tables, and graphs, then they answer critical thinking questions to improve understanding of science concepts and develop reading comprehension, and inferential and deductive thinking skills.

Science Detective Beginning
Science Detective Beginning Software
Science Detective A1
Science Detective A1 Software

Sciencewise Series

Discover Scientific Process through Problem Solving
Grades: 7th - 12th+
Sciencewise uses experiments with surprising outcomes and hands-on activities that require critical thinking to teach scientific analysis and problem solving. Demonstrations capture students' interest by revealing surprising outcomes. Each experiment is followed by easy-to-use questions that reinforce scientific thinking. Creative Challenges presents students with scientific problems to solve, allowing them to practice and apply the science process skills learned.

Sciencewise Book 3

Scratch Your Brain Math

Clever Math Ticklers
Grades: 2nd-12th
Meeting math standards and developing problem solving skills has never been such fun! These fun activities boost students' math competence and prepare them for standardized tests and assessments.

Scratch Your Brain A1
Scratch Your Brain B1
Scratch Your Brain C1
Scratch Your Brain Algebra
Scratch Your Brain Geometry
Scratch Your Brain® 3-Book Set

Think-A-Grams - Verbal Picture Puzzles

Verbal Picture Puzzles develop visual-verbal thinking.
Grades: 4 - 12+
Popular picture puzzles bring together students' logical/objective (left-brain) and random/subjective (right-brain) thinking to sharpen their language usage and visual skills. Students analyze the way words are written (e.g., size, position, direction) to solve each puzzle using common idioms and words.

Think-A-Grams A1
Think-A-Grams A2
Think-A-Grams B1
Think-A-Grams C1
Think-A-Grams C2
Think-A-Grams 4-Book Set

Think Analogies Books & Think Analogy Puzzles Software -> ON SALE NOW

Builds vocabulary and reading comprehension skills! Test Preparation.
Grades: 3rd - 12th
Engaging activities help students develop razor-sharp analogy, vocabulary, and analysis skills to improve reading comprehension, academic performance and test results. Clearly, easily, and effectively teaches students how to analyze and classify analogies by relationship, category, and structure. Test Preparation: Prepares students for higher-level vocabulary and reading challenges and for state and other standardized educational assessments.

Think Analogies A1 -> NOW ON SALE
Think Analogies B1 -> NOW ON SALE
Think Analogy Puzzles Software A1
Think Analogy Puzzles Software B1
Think Analogy Puzzles Software C1
Think Analogy Puzzles Software 3-CD Set

Thinker Doodles Series

Develops creative and critical thinking and attention to detail.
Grades: PreK - 4th
Activities develop a wide variety of thinking skills as they engage your child in drawing and coloring. More fun than mindless coloring books, Thinker Doodles develop organized analysis and motor skills needed for success in reading, writing, and math. These quick, fun activities can be used in the classroom, after school, at home, and on trips to stimulate developing minds.

Thinker Doodles Clues and Choose Beginning
Thinker Doodles Clues and Choose A1
Thinker Doodles Half 'n Half Animals A1
Thinker Doodles Half 'n Half Animals B1
Thinker Doodles 4-Book Set

Thinking Connections - Concept Maps for Life Science

Effectively teaches and assesses students' understanding of life science contents and vocabulary!
Books-on-CD
Grades: 4th - 12th+
Engaging concept maps teach life science and help easily evaluate students' knowledge of key life science connections. Concept Files provide the necessary information to complete the lessons. Students carefully analyze and synthesize information, then fill in the relationships on the concept maps.

Thinking Connections A1 (Book-on-CD)
Thinking Connections B1 (Book-on-CD)

Visual Perceptual Skill Building Series (Gr PreK-4th) -> ON SALE

Builds Visual, Motor, and Critical Thinking Skills
Grades: PreK - 4th
Quick activities develop students' recognition of lettes, words, numbers, and similar/dissimilar objects. Improves sequencing and visual memory skills. Includes eight progressively sequenced skill sections with pretests and post tests to evaluate students' beginning and ending skill levels. Available in books or books-on-CD!

Visual Perceptual Skill Building Book 1 -> ON SALE
Visual Perceptual Skill Building Book 2 -> ON SALE
Visual Perceptual Skill Building 1 Book-on-CD -> ON SALE
Visual Perceptual Skill Building 2 Book-on-CD -> ON SALE

What Would You Do? - Moral Delimmas Series

Critical Thinking applied to real-life moral dilemmas
Grades: 2nd - 12th+
Gives students the opportunity to apply their moral values to real-life moral dilemmas. These problems are wonderful for family or class discussion problems that develop critical thinking skills and explore character-building issues.
Concepts/Skills: Self-Reflection, Reading Comprehension, Organized Analysis, Compare and Contrast, Identification of Assumptions, Respect, Empathy, Responsibility, Perserverance, Courage, Integrity, Self-Discipline

What Would You Do? Book 1
What Would You Do? Book 2

Word Roots

Empowers students with unlimited vocabulary, prepares for testing and higher education!
Grades: 2nd - 12th+
Effective activities teach Latin and Greek prefixes, roots, and suffixes - the building blocks of English. Improves spelling, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
Available in books or software!

Word Roots Beginning
Word Roots A1
Word Roots A2
Word Roots B1
Word Roots B2
Word Roots 4-Book Set
Word Roots 5-Book Set
Word Roots A1 Software
Word Roots A2 Software
Word Roots B1 Software
Word Roots 3-CD Software Set

You Decide!

Grades: 6th - 12th
With You Decide! court is in session. The honorable “judges,” your students, will be asked to rule on 75 actual U.S. Supreme Court cases based on the first eight amendments to the Constitution. Students will sharpen their critical thinking skills and their legal and historical knowledge as they analyze the amendments, discover their origins, and rule on actual cases presented before the U.S. Supreme Court.

You Decide! Student Text
You Decide! Instruction Answer Guide
You Decide! Sample 1
You Decide! Sample 2

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