Think Thank Thunk

In this episode, Kyle, Maegan, and Dean pick up where they left off. Maegan shares her experience teaching EMTH 300, where working with soon-to-be teachers brought math trauma and misconceptions to the surface. Dean reflects on how reframing estimation as prediction has shifted his students' willingness to take risks in the classroom, while Kyle shares where his thinking on assessment and navi...

In this episode,  Dean returns to the host’s chair to welcome back Maegan and Kyle for the second half of their "Behind the Books" conversation, shifting the focus from the writing process to the messy reality of the classroom. Together, they contrast their unique creative styles from Kyle’s "procrastination-to-panic" sprint to Maegan’s marathon of task testing and open up abou...

In this episode, Dean takes the host's chair to interview Maegan and Kyle, who have both recently co-authored books in the Building Thinking Classrooms series with Peter Liljedahl. They discuss the release of the new Building Thinking Classrooms Tasks in Mathematics, Grades 6-12 book and how it complements Maegan’s previously released Building Thinking Classrooms Tasks in Mathematics, Grades K...

In this episode, Kyle welcomes Jason To , Math Coordinator for the Toronto District School Board. Together, they address the ongoing debate between inquiry-based learning and explicit instruction. Jason shares his journey into the world of cognitive science, exploring how concepts like cognitive load theory and collective working memory may actually help explain why the Building Thinking Classroom...

In this episode, Kyle and Dean welcome Chase Orton , author of The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher . Together, they dive into the core themes from Chase's book, exploring the power of vulnerability and what it means to be an "imperfect and unfinished" teacher. They discuss the importance of interrogating our own math story and breaking free from the traditional "script&quo...

In this episode, Maegan, Dean, and Kyle get real about their day-to-day journeys with Building Thinking Classrooms. Together, they pull back the curtain to share the "messy reality": the highs, the lows, and the everyday challenges that don't always make the highlight reel. They discuss the universal struggle of getting students to stand, managing complex classroom dynamics with lear...

In this episode, Kyle, Maegan, and Dean welcome Vanessa Vakharia, aka The Math Guru and author of Math Therapy . Together, they unpack the deep-seated issue of math trauma and how the Building Thinking Classrooms approach helps us deal with it. The group explores how to create a classroom culture built on empathy and safety by prioritizing questions over answers, while also discussing the importan...

After a longer-than-planned break, Kyle, Maegan, and Dean are back! In this candid episode, the trio addresses their podcast hiatus and shares their excitement to reconnect with the community. Dean and Maegan dive into powerful stories from their first day back in the classroom, while Kyle reflects on his role in professional development and his passion for getting back into classrooms to learn fr...

In this episode, Kyle and Maegan welcome Tammy McMorrow ( @TammyMcMorrow / @tammymcmorrow.bsky.social ) to discuss her experiences with Building Thinking Classrooms. Tammy shares her journey from discovering the transformative BTC approach in 2021 to implementing it with her first-grade students in Idaho. She talks about the impact of creating a Thinking Classroom including the surprising gains he...

In this episode, Kyle, Maegan, and Dean welcome back Dr. Peter Liljedahl to discuss his ongoing work and insights in Building Thinking Classrooms. Together, they delve into a range of topics like the recent BTC conference, various strategies for using banners and partitioning student workspaces, and the evolving nature of the Thinking Classrooms practices. Tune in to also hear about the importance...

After a bit of a break from the podcast, we're back with a new episode (and more to come)! In this episode, Dean, Maegan, and Kyle reintroduce themselves and share updates on their current roles and endeavors. They delve into their experiences with the Thinking Classroom model across various grade levels, discussing both the successes and challenges they've encountered. Maegan highlights her work...

In this episode, Kyle and Dean have a conversation with three of Dean's students about their experiences in his Thinking Classroom. Recorded just before the end of the last school year, the students share how this approach to learning math has transformed their perspectives and engagement. They discuss the social and collaborative benefits of Thinking Classrooms, how it has helped them overcom...

In this episode, Maegan and Kyle are delighted to welcome Alicia Burdess ( @BurdessAlicia ), a coach and numeracy lead from Grand Prairie Catholic School District. Alicia shares her inspiring journey from aspiring sports doctor to a passionate math educator and leader. She discusses her deep love of Building Thinking Classrooms and how it transformed her teaching approach. Alicia passionately talk...

Enter to win a free set of Wipebook Flipcharts for your Thinking Classroom:  ⁠www.wipebook.com/TTT⁠ Join Kyle and Dean as they engage in a lively conversation with Peter Liljedahl and Maegan Giroux about the newest addition to the world of Building Thinking Classrooms: Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades K-5 . This book is specially crafted for K-5 educators and goes beyond being...

Enter to win a free set of Wipebook Flipcharts for your Thinking Classroom:  ⁠ www.wipebook.com/TTT⁠ In this episode, Kyle and Dean chat with Jerrold Wiebe ( @Jerroldwiebe ), a Numeracy & Mathematics Consultant and a part of the Building Thinking Classrooms Canadian team. A "legacy" teacher with over 35 years of experience in education, ranging from classroom teaching to district mat...

Enter to win a free set of Wipebook Flipcharts for your Thinking Classroom: ⁠www.wipebook.com/TTT⁠ In this episode, Kyle has a conversation with Judy Larson ( @JudytaLarsen ), Associate Professor at University of Fraser Valley and longtime Building Thinking Classrooms teacher. Deeply entrenched in math education and an unwavering advocate for innovative teaching, Judy shares her captivating journe...

Trauma-Informed Practices and the Power of Thinking Classrooms Enter to win a free set of Wipebook Flipcharts for your Thinking Classroom: www.wipebook.com/TTT In this episode, we take you back to a pivotal conversation from 2022 between Kyle, Dean, and the Sophie Bresciani ( @soph_bresciani ), a champion of trauma-informed teaching and Thinking Classrooms. Sophie offers deep insights into creatin...

This episode has a portion where Tim & Melisa screenshared the tool mentioned, you can watch the video recording here . Join hosts Dean and Kyle as they chat with Tim Brzezinski ( @TimBrzezinski ) and Melisa McCain ( @mccainm ), advocates for Building Thinking Classrooms and improving assessment practices. Their conversation is focused on a grading tool, crafted by Tim, Melisa, and their colle...

In this episode, hosts Kyle and Dean have a conversation with Brian Jackson. With over three decades of teaching experience, Brian offers unique insights into the transformative power of the Thinking Classrooms methodology. Listeners are given a front-row seat to Brian's journey into Thinking Classrooms, starting with his initial reluctance to explore something new, to his deliberate explorati...

In this episode Jared Sliger ( @jared_sliger ) is back to chat with Kyle and Dean. Their discussion revolves around practical tips for engaging parents and involving them in the process of the Thinking Classroom. Jared shares his experience with a successful 'family night' held at his school intended to give parents a first-hand experience with Thinking Classrooms. He stresses the importan...

In this episode, join Kyle, Dean, and Maegan as they share the latest insights gleaned from Peter Liljedahl on the new ideas taking hold in Thinking Classrooms. They take a deep dive into the art of crafting a Thinking Classroom lesson, dissecting the distinct phases of launch, body, and close. Explore how the nature of your task, be it divergent or convergent, shapes the optimal approach to concl...

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,...

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 pract...

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 ma...

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...