I would purchase extra curriculum at the beginning of the school year that I could not wait to use. There were days I felt accomplished just to get our core subjects completed. However, we did manage to fit a few other subjects into our schedule. One of those happened to be logic: the art of thinking and reasoning justly. We didn’t implement logic every year or all the time, but it was important enough to make room for and I am glad we did.

Why is logic beneficial? It teaches children to think for themselves. When we think with our emotions, we are not allowing ourselves to think rationally. We cannot disregard things coming at us that are not well founded. Logic helps us present our side of the argument clearly and communicate effectively. Because we have so many technological tools today, sometimes we do not step back and examine ideas in a different light. For example, we have GPS maps we follow rather than our own instinct. Some will automatically question concepts or ideas while others naturally assume ideas are true because it was said or written. Regardless of where your children fit on this spectrum, it is beneficial to ask “why” to help them think through things logically. Let your children solve problems on their own. By practicing logic, our kids form sound beliefs and use deduction and critical thinking skills to determine if something is true.

What tools are available to teach logic? You can use current events, news stories, or even advertisements to start a conversation. Also, a plethora of games, activity books, and curriculum exist to help us implement logic skills. Games and activity books are an enjoyable way to introduce logic without making it seem like just another subject to get done. These can even be fun activities or things you bring along on a long car ride. In Rush Hour by Thinkfun, players try to move their vehicle from the congested street to get their car free. This often involves multiple steps and movement of many vehicles in the multi-challenge cards. Mind Benders by Critical Thinking Company are popular deductive reasoning puzzle books. Students of all ages unravel clues and organize data to reach logical conclusions. Perplexors by MindWare is another deductive reasoning puzzle book series for grades 3-12.

If you are looking for a logic curriculum, Building Thinking Skills by Critical Thinking Company is a complete program for all ages covering all of the figural and verbal skills your child is likely to need on a standardized test. It is an excellent series to improve your ability to “see things” in different ways or stretch your mind in different directions.

For older students, several logic options are also available. Traditional Logic I by Memoria Press is an introductory and systematic Christian course in formal logic that presents concepts and methodology in a clear, concise, and organized way. Introductory Logic by Canon Press is another Christian junior/senior high course building from basic to more complex, giving students the tools they need to spot fallacies, argue logically, and defend their positions.

There are many options available to bring logic into your homeschool classroom for your students of any age. Learning to ask questions properly to get to the truth is an invaluable asset to protect them as well as set them up for success. As Francis Bacon once said, “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.” ~ Gina