Critical Thinking Co.–Inference Jones: Beginning

• Critical Thinking Co.
• Inference Jones: Beginning
• $11.99
• Grades: 3-4 (5 + remedial)

Inference Jones helps students to develop critical reading and higher order thinking.  It develops the ability to draw inferences from written text. Research has shown that being able to draw inferences is a prerequisite for superior reading comprehension. When reading the written word a reader must construct the meaning through interpretation. All readers draw on personal knowledge to make inferences base on their experiences, social values, and cultural conventions.

Inference Jones is designed to help readers in the 3rd and 4th grade but can also be used with higher grade levels if remedial help is needed.

ClarkClan Thoughts

Both Ben (10) and Rebekah (8) were able to use Inference Jones.  Each lesson only took about 10 minutes to complete. It starts with a short reading passage then asks between 8 and 10 questions. Each sentence in the passage is numbered to help with answering the questions.

A mix of question types is used: True/False questions,  short answer, and multiple choice.  Kids are also asked to explain their answers, using personal experience, on some of the questions. The book is simply designed with a small picture at the top, a short paragraph, with wide spaces between lines, then the questions. The instructions for the questions are placed inside a gray box.  Each lesson is only two pages in length.

This has been a great resource for Ben and Rebekah to use. Both of them enjoyed the short lessons.Ben had a little trouble with about 3 lessons, then he caught on and flew through each lesson. Rebekah was a little slower to get started, but once she caught on she just flew through this book.  I would go over the answers with them and have them talk out and correct any wrong answers. 

I would highly recommend this book. I liked that my kids would have to talk out why they thought their answers were correct. Ben has always been a good reader, but he benefitted from using Inference Jones as much as Rebekah. I also noticed a definite improvement in Rebekah’s reading skills using this book. I was delighted when Rebekah sat one day, on her own, and did about 8 lessons all in one sitting. This is unheard of for Rebekah who generally does not like “book work”.

Critical Thinking Co. provided a variety of products for the Crew to review. Visit the Crew blog to read what my Crew mates thought of the products they received.

Disclaimer:  As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received  Inference Jones (special PDF download for review purposes) for free from Critical Thinking Co. in exchange for my honest review of their product. All opinions given are mine and/or my children’s.