Designed to teach kids the basic principles of associative reasoning, Spelling DooRiddles is a fun way to reinforce logic and spelling skills without getting bogged down in terminology and complex arguments. Each book begins with an explanation of associative reasoning (the ability to detect relationships between words, ideas, etc.), answers,and a model lesson for presenting eachriddle.

Every riddle is four lines long and includes a clue that directly references the spelling of the answer word. The riddles increase in difficulty from book to book as well as within each volume, both in terms of obscurity of clues and spelling of answers. While each text is designed to be a consumable worktext, the purchaser does have permission to photocopy for school or home; it would also be easy to simply read riddles out loud to children and have them write answers on a separate sheet of paper.

The critical thinking aspect is the real core of this course. There isn't a particular pattern to the spelling words, and though the riddles are specifically oriented to helping kids spell, this is not sufficient as a spelling curriculum. At the same time,most kids will enjoy the fun of solving riddles, and there is enough spelling-oriented material that this works as a good supplement.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.