Thinking Through Analogies [Paperback]

Bonnie Risby (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159363143X | ISBN-13: 978-1593631437 | Publication Date: June 1, 2005

An analogy is a comparison between two things. It points out the similarities between two things that might be different in all other respects. Analogies cause us to think analytically about forms, uses, structures, and relationships.

This all-time favorite resource not only gives students a chance to practice solving analogies, but also invites them to open their minds to a completely new way to analyze the elements of the analogies. Each page introduces several categories of analogies. Each category expands students' way of viewing the world and contrasting and comparing elements. Thinking Through Analogies also instills the tools whereby students can create relationships to enhance their creative and formal writing as well as to heighten their critical thinking in test taking.

Other books teaching analogies are Attribute Block Analogies, Analogies for Beginners, Analogies for the 21st Century, and Analogy Roundup.

Grades 3–6

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bonnie Lou Risby grew up in the Illinois woodlands atop the limestone bluffs across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. These woods were her playground where she and her siblings camped out, played detective, and enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors in every season. After attending college at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, she taught school in Columbia, IL, for 13 years. She has taught elementary school, middle school, and high school, concentrating on the subjects of French, English, and gifted education. When Bonnie helped write the grant to establish Columbiaís Gifted Program in the early 1970s, there were few materials readily available that fit well with a one-period per week pullout program.

After the birth of her son, Bonnie retired from teaching and joined a family and marriage counseling practice for 12 years, continuing to write and create logic books in her spare moments. Retired from her therapy practice, Bonnie now works in a family business with her husband and son. Her office is in her home in Ballwin, MO, where Bonnie and her faithful pug dog, Francy, can be found most days. Bonnie has continued to write classroom books, chapter books, magazine articles, and books for young adults.

Besides writing, Bonnie loves taking float trips down Ozark streams, biking, long walks with Francy, gardening, family history, and travel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Prufrock Press (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159363143X
• ISBN-13: 978-1593631437
• Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #343,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Decision Making & Problem Solving

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Defining and Categorizing Analogies but..., November 8, 2008

By 

P. STEIMEL "psteimel" (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Thinking Through Analogies (Paperback)

The book has a 2005 Copyright but is dated: My 8 year-old did not know typewriters had ribbons, and truckers mainly communicated by CB radios.

Also, the printing looks like a cheap photocopies. You get much better quality from an average computer printer. The book is folded and stapled 11 x 17 sheets with a glossy cover and only about 40 pages.

Overall though it is worth buying if you are trying to teach a child analogies.

Update 11/20/08:
A couple more things now that I am done with the book:

It is labeled "Grades 3-6": However, my 3rd grader had trouble with words like: philatelist, numismatist, caduceus, dulcimer, appaloosa and palomino.

There are also some typos like on page 21, the "Lesson" states that "roof:house :: man:hat" also raccoon is misspelled on the same page. In addition, the exact same analogy occurs on two pages in a row. A more minor point is that each page has an illustration, but at times the illustration does not have any relevance to any of the words on the page.

It appears that the book did not have thorough proof reading. If I spend $10 on a book, I expect someone would have sat down for a couple of hours and corrected the obvious mistakes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the title says it is..., December 21, 2008

By 

Angela "Living Books Advocate" (FL) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Thinking Through Analogies (Paperback)

I purchased Thinking Through Analogies for our 5th grade son. (The cover says 3-6, but my 3rd grader's eyes would glaze over!) It is a straight-forward approach to making connections in thought and word. Although there are a few words that *I've* never heard of, they are the exception to the rule. For example: quarry (not related to mining) as a synonym to prey. However, I don't mind them as it forces my son to utilize his dictionary and therefore build his vocabulary.

It is a reasonably priced addition to our family's home education as I plan to use it with his two younger brothers, making copies as needed.

It generally takes about 15 minutes and we do an exercise once a week. Keep that grey matter healthy and exercise it with this!

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, January 5, 2012

By 

HappyKids - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Thinking Through Analogies (Paperback)

It is a very good book and my kid likes it very much. It arrived on time and in excellent condition.