Customer Reviews

A Case of Red Herrings: Solving Mysteries through Critical Questioning, Book A1 (Grades 4-6)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A ridiculous over-priced piece of fluff. This "book" is less than 40 pages. On each page, a single "mystery" is printed. (Most of us would call it a "riddle" based on a double meaning of a word or phrase). Answers are provided in the back of the book. Example: "Although she was not an unusually large woman, people were always surprised at Livia weighed. What was it?"
Answer: "Anchors" (i.e. Livia worked in a harbor and weighed anchors).

The author tries to dress up the book by providing a process of "critical questioning" for "solving the mystery".

Save your money, especially you homeschoolers and teachers. Instead, go to your local library and check out a book of riddles and jokes. You'll get the same benefit by reading that with your children. After all, the point of riddles is getting you to consider something carefully and look at it in a different way, or what this book would call "critical thinking skills".

I teach Adult Basic Education to people with 4th & 5th grade academic skills who are studying to take their GED tests. They said that the Red Herrings have really improved their reading skills! One student even said he'd have dropped out of math if we hadn't been doing the Red Herrings because after all these years he just learned how to note key words and concepts in reading, and also just learned how to think about what he's reading in a careful, critical, "What does this REALLY say" sort of way.

We are a homeschooled family and my kids love this book. They beg for it. It is great because all of the age groups can do it together. The older ones can keep asking questions to help the younger ones figure it out. The problems help the kids to use their brain in a way that is not taught in the school system.

I wish I hadn't bought this -- it is a waste of time as far as teaching any kind of critical thinking -- not nearly as useful as the Mindbenders series -- or any monthly $4.95 issue of PennyPress Logic Problems.

What a fun and family friendly way of making your brain grow. As a homeschooled family we're not always home so we keep this book in the car and everyone participates. The helpful guide at the beginning explains how to get the children to think in a deductive way rather than just guessing the answer, The answers at the back will surprise you. When the older children think they have the answers they then can ask leading questions until the younger ones get it as well. While it is probably meant for an overhead projector, the quality of the questions are well worth it. Time in the car melts away as the kids learn and laugh.

I bought this for my 11 year old-son the year we home-schooled. We found most of these to be way over his head (and mine). It's hard to solve the puzzles based on the information given - but then I've never been a candidate for MENSA either.