Think Thank Thunk

In this episode of the podcast, Kyle and Dean are joined by Lana Steiner (@LanaSteiner4), a math teacher, coach, and administrator from Saskatchewan. Lana shares her insights on how she employs rich tasks and mixes in other teaching methods with Thinking Classrooms to make math more meaningful for students. She also talks about the importance of growth mindset and math mindset in learning math, and how to address learning gaps. Lana shares expertise on documenting observations and conversations, and how she uses student-led conferences and connections to familiar literacy terms to make sense of math learning for parents. They also chat about setting up students for success beyond math class, and the incredible community of math teachers in Saskatchewan. Resources mentioned in this episode: Table of Rich Tasks: http://bit.ly/SKmathtasks Baby Beats - 3 Act Math Task (tapintoteenminds.com) The Detention Buy-Out - 3 Act Math Task (tapintoteenminds.com) MathUP Tap into Teen Minds - Real World Maths Lessons, 3 Act Math Tasks and Resources Berkeley Everett – Visualize the math you teach. Steve Wyborney's Blog: I'm on a Learning Mission. Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers' Society - (smts.ca)

Join Kyle, Dean, and Maegan as they candidly discuss the early days of the school year in Building Thinking Classrooms. They share their experiences and provide insights for educators at any stage of their journey into this innovative teaching approach. In this episode, our hosts also reveal their aspirations for the upcoming year, largely focused on meaningful notes and improving assessment practices. Their enthusiasm for transformative math education is sure to ignite your own passion for bringing Building Thinking Classrooms principles into your teaching practice. Plus, they offer practical advice for fostering a growth mindset in math, building a supportive classroom culture, and engaging all students in math class. Tune in and get ready to revamp your math classroom for a year of growth and inspiration!

Join Kyle as he sits down with Maegan for an enlightening discussion on mathematics education through the lens of decolonization. In this episode, Maegan unveils her 4R's of Decolonizing Mathematics Education: Respect, Responsibility, Relevance, and Reciprocity. Dive into an exploration of a powerful framework designed for personal reflection, aimed at dismantling colonial constructs within math classrooms. While drawing direct inspiration from the principles of Thinking Classrooms, Maegan takes it a step further by introducing ideas that challenges teachers to transcend the boundaries of traditional pedagogies. Discover how this innovative framework not only complements the 14 practices of a Thinking Classroom but propels educators to embark on a journey of reshaping their teaching methods. Maegan blends theory with practice by offering invaluable tips and ideas that empower teachers to embrace a new perspective and embark on the path of decolonizing their educational spaces. If you're an educator, a student, or anyone passionate about fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments, this episode will undoubtedly spark your curiosity and drive to make a difference. Tune in to gain fresh insights, be inspired to push the boundaries, and join the movement to create a brighter, more inclusive future through decolonized mathematics education. Contact Maegan on Twitter/X (@MaeganGiroux) or by email: m.giroux@rcsd.ca View the framework here: https://thinkthankthunk.kylewebb.ca/ep-7/ References shared here: https://bit.ly/4Rs-references

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 15 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They address the big question surrounding how teacher can realistically implement all of the Thinking Classroom practices without overwhelming themselves and their students. They get into the four toolkits laid out in the book and share some tips and ideas on how to best implement each toolkit. Additionally, they briefly address the challenges presented when we see students being really successful in groups, but struggling on individual assessments and discuss the alternate pseudosequence provided for teachers who are already comfortable teaching in a Thinking Classroom. Image of the 4 Toolkits: https://bit.ly/BTC-framework Image of the 2 Toolkits for already experienced Thinking Classroom teachers: https://bit.ly/reBTC-framework This episode is the final in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 14 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the big question most teachers have about Thinking Classrooms: how do we grade our students? By utilizing the navigation instruments as grading tools, they share how teachers can shift from a points-gathering paradigm towards a data-gathering paradigm and better reflect the achievement of learners in a Thinking Classroom. A large portion of this episode discusses questions addressed in the FAQ and builds on Maegan and Kyle's classroom experience. The Myth of Objectivity in Mathematics Assessment by Lew Romagnano (PDF) Image of the 3 different parachute packers: https://bit.ly/BTCparachutepackers Image of a navigation instrument used to determine a grade: https://bit.ly/BTCnavgrade This episode is the fifteenth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 13 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss how all assessment should be formative assessment, and some of it will end up being summative. We dive into how to use the navigation instruments suggested in the book and explore how they can better support students in better understanding where they are in their learning journey. In the second half of the episode, you'll hear them dive into the FAQ's and share some of their experiences implementing these in the classroom. Tune in to hear how these simple navigation instruments can become a game-changer in your Thinking Classroom for you and your students. Image of a navigation instrument for Repeating Patterns: https://bit.ly/RPnavinstrument Maegan's Marching Band example: https://bit.ly/MGmarchingband This episode is the fourteenth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 12 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the idea of evaluating what we value in our Thinking Classroom. If we value perserverence, risk-taking, and collaboration we need to evaluate these in order to develop these competencies in our students. Listen in for a simple, but effective, way of remixing traditional rubrics into something that connects better with how our students learn. This chapter is essential for fostering effective thinkers in our classrooms. An example of one of these rubrics. This episode is the thirteenth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 11 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the idea of shifting note taking to note making for students by having students write notes to their future-forgetful-selves. Listen in for some simple shifts to make in how you approach notes that will result in making notes a thinking activity, rather than a mindless activity. 5 Steps into Notes: https://bit.ly/BTCnotes Facebook Webinar Recording: https://youtu.be/fWFzLrRWsys?t=480 Ep 5 with Peter Liljedahl, where he discusses the quadrant notemaking method. This episode is the twelfth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 10 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the importance of consolidation in a Thinking Classroom and share some of the different ways teachers can consolidate. Listen in for some tips and tricks that they've learned through trial-and-error to help you refine your consolidation practices. This episode is the eleventh in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

It's summer break for us and in this episode, we take a different direction by revisiting and resharing a recording from our previous podcast. Listen in as we talk directly to students in Thinking Classrooms from a few of our schools. You'll hear from students in a wide range of grades as they share how math has been different this year, what they've liked and disliked, and what they hope for the future of math class. Enjoy! Make sure to subscribe in your favorite podcast app and share with a teaching friend if you find our episodes helpful. Follow us on Twitter: @ThinkThankPod

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 9 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the concept of flow and why we need to be so aware of the states our students are in during Thinking Classroom tasks. They also discuss thin-slicing, the banner method and Maegan shares a fun way she incorporates a joker card into her deck for random groups. This episode is all about how we can get through the content we need to teach while remaining true to the Thinking Classroom practices. Graph illustrating Flow This episode is the tenth in the ⁠⁠series⁠ ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 8 from ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss ways we can build student autonomy by allowing students to think for themselves and manage their own learning. They also share some teacher moves to help build student autonomy and get into some of the benefits of leaning into this practice. This episode is the ninth in the ⁠series ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.

In this episode, Dean, Maegan and Kyle interview Peter Liljedahl (@pgliljedahl), author of Building Thinking Classrooms and lead researcher behind the transformational teaching practices. We discuss the popularity of the book and how it has become a game-changer for educators worldwide. Explore new and innovative methods for consolidation and notemaking that empower students to become active thinkers and problem solvers in the classroom. Uncover the power of making subtle yet impactful tweaks to teaching practices, resulting in significant improvements in student engagement and achievement. We delve into the fascinating concept of recognizing and supporting productive struggle among student groups. Peter also sheds light on the issue of students being burdened by an excess of algorithmic knowledge that inhibits their creativity. We also discuss the emergence of AI like ChatGPT, how it impacts Thinking Classrooms, and how educators can harness this technology to support student thinking. Peter shares his thoughts on why behavior rubrics may not be having their desired impact and shares a personal source of inspiration in the field of math education. Finally, we explore what lies ahead in the realm of Thinking Classrooms including where the research is heading and a few new books to look forward to. Book: Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 7 from ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the challenges of homework, the disconnect between teachers and students regarding its purpose, and how Thinking Classrooms can implement Check-Your-Understanding questions as a reframing of homework that promotes thinking in learners. This episode is the eighth in the ⁠⁠series⁠ ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.

In this episode, Kyle and Dean are joined by Lisa Eberharter (⁠@lisaebe⁠), a Curriculum Consultant with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education. They discuss the intersection of Building Thinking Classrooms and multiple representations in math class. The conversation highlights the importance of the concrete-pictorial-symbolic continuum (sometimes called concrete-representational-abstract) and ways to integrate more manipulatives and concrete representations into math class to enhance student understanding. Find the Numeracy Resources mentioned by Lisa here: Numeracy Project Check out Polypad today: Polypad – Virtual Manipulatives – Mathigon Find us on Twitter: @ThinkThankPod

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 6 from ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss how important our delivery or rich tasks is. Listen in for ideas on how to shift towards delivering tasks early, on our feet, and in ways that will engage our learners. This episode is the seventh in the ⁠⁠series⁠ ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 5 from ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the types of questions we face as teachers and some of problems they present. Listen in for ideas on how to shift our focus from answering every question towards using questions as a way to promote thinking. Here is a link to Laura Wheeler's (@wheeler_laura) #ThinkingClassroom Question Prompts Graphic. This episode is the sixth in the ⁠⁠series⁠ ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.

Dean and Kyle are joined by Geoff Krall (⁠@geoffkrall⁠), who wears multiple hats as an author, PhD student, math leader, and professional developer. Geoff unveils the enlightening insights he has gathered in his book Necessary Conditions⁠. Together, we delve into the fascinating realm of academic safety, effective facilitation, and quality tasks, all while forging meaningful connections to the transformative practices of Building Thinking Classrooms. Listen in as Geoff generously imparts a treasure trove of innovative ideas about the way we approach teaching mathematics, ensuring a truly enriching learning experience for all our students. Notable links mentioned in this episode: https://emergentmath.com/ Necessary Conditions Book Necessary Conditions Cards Sets https://wodb.ca Strength in Numbers Book by Ilana Horn Up for Debate! Book by Chris Luzniak Find us on Twitter: @ThinkThankPod

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 4 from ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss why how we arrange our classroom matters and what defronting our classroom is all about. They also provide some ideas on how you might tackle this practice in your classroom.  This episode is the fifth in the ⁠⁠series⁠ ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.

Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 3 from ⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠ by Peter Liljedahl. They discuss why where we have students work matters, how implementing vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS) can promote student engagement, thinking, collaboration, and reduce anonymity. Throughout the conversation, they provide valuable insights and practical tips for maximizing the benefits of VNPS in the classroom setting. This episode is the fourth in the ⁠⁠series⁠ ⁠where we go through each chapter of ⁠⁠Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠ by Peter Liljedahl.