How to Use The Thinking Toolbox in a Classroom

Since we wrote The Thinking Toolbox in 2005, we have received many letters from teachers who use our book in their classroom. We’ve created this page to give you suggestions about how to use our book with a group of students.

Which comes first?

Should you start your class with The Fallacy Detective or The Thinking Toolbox? We write these books thinking that students could start with either The Fallacy Detective or The Thinking Toolbox. But we think The Fallacy Detective is a little bit easier than The Thinking Toolbox and so might come first. Fallacies are very easy for kids to to understand and apply.

How do I assign homework?

The Thinking Toolbox has 35 lessons with exercises. The answers to the exercises are found in the back. This presents a problem, “How do I assign homework when the answers are in the back?” But this is nothing a little creativity can’t solve.

  1. Rip out the answers! . . . a good idea, but rather undignified.
  2. Trust them not to peek . . . Yeah, right.
  3. We are hearing from teachers who are doing each lesson during class time. The teacher reads a lesson aloud, the class discusses the concepts and examples, and then the teacher has the class answer the exercises one by one. The teacher can correct wrong answers right in class. Mystery lessons like "Stir Plot until Thickened" work well in a classroom where the students can debate their theories about who stole the painting.

Is there a test?

Nathaniel and I wrote a test for The Fallacy Detective. We have not finished a test yet for The Thinking Toolbox. If you are interested in a test like this, let us know.

If you would like to make more test material for your class, you can use The Fallacy Detective News archives for material. You might also try solving The Mystery of the Large Letter Library (located at the back of our book) in the class.

Do you have input?

Are you a logic teacher who has used The Thinking Toolbox in your class? We would like to hear your input.

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Site Comments

1 • Janice Harley • May 05, 2008 • 11:31 AM

Yes, I am interested in a test on The Thinking Toolbox!  I am also interested in other quizzes you might be able to come up with throughout the use of both books!  Thank you so much!

2 • Rodney Schuler • June 28, 2008 • 3:19 PM

I have not seen a copy of your books other than what is on your web page. I know that they are written more for teens than college age students. But they seem to be comprehensive enough as well. Has anyone used them at that level? I am thinking of useing Paul Richard and Linda Elder’s Miniature guide books as textbooks to read and yours as guides in the class with your test. Then have them do a project where they have to find real life examples of different forms of fallacies and critique them. I will be teaching this fall so again I appreciate whatever help your can give.

3 • nbluedorn • July 04, 2008 • 6:50 PM

Homeschools, middle and high schools, and colleges have used our texts. They are mostly used in high schools. We tried to write them with 13-year-olds in mind, but make them relevant to adults too.

4 • Melodee • February 23, 2009 • 7:15 PM

I am using the The Thinking Toolbox this fall with a COOP consisting of 13+ year olds.  I would like to create an interesting curriculum using the book, special projects (2) and games.  I also would like to use quarterly tests to keep the kids motivated and reinforce the learning.  I was hoping to get more information on your web site. Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

5 • Nancy Thibodeaux • June 04, 2009 • 1:33 PM

I am interested in test for The Thinking Toolbox. Both of your books are being used at the school where I teach. I will be teaching logic this year.

6 • Stephanie • July 13, 2009 • 3:43 PM

I am interested in the test for Fallacy Detective and Thinking Toolbox whenever they are ready

7 • Mamadala • August 22, 2009 • 10:08 AM

I have used The Fallacy Detective in a co-op class for homeschoolers, and will be using The Thinking Toolbox in a class this fall. I would be interested in any quizzes or tests that you have available.

8 • Caren Ross • September 11, 2009 • 7:53 PM

I am also very interested in a test for The Thinking Toolbox. I am using both The Fallacy Detective and The Thinking Toolbox in our home school this year. My daughter says Critical Thinking is one of her favorite subjects this year. =)

9 • Sara Holtz • September 21, 2009 • 4:43 AM

I just started with Tools for Thinking in my homeschool. I would like to incorporate tests and/or quizzes into the instruction. If you have any prepared yet, I would like to know how to get a copy.

Sara

10 • Misha Stewart • January 14, 2010 • 11:23 PM

I am using The Thinking Toolbox for a co-op class for homeschoolers age 13 and up. I am very interested in projects and games to help reinforce what is learned from this book.  If you have any suggestions please contact me.

11 • Lynda Bright • February 20, 2011 • 4:36 PM

I will be using Fallacy Detective and Thinking Toolbox as the texts for an Intro. to Logic class in a co-op setting.  I too am interested in quizzing/testing material.  Have you developed these materials yet or are you planning to offer them in the near future?  Thanks

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