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 from other teachers. They discuss how they get students into a state of flow, the importance of small wins, and their goals for the year, including improving assessment and fostering numerical flexibility. Tune in to hear about their on-the-ground experiences and get a preview of what’s to come this season.

Links:

• The Thinking Desk: https://thethinkingdesk.com/
• BTC K-5 Task Book: Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades K-5 by Peter Liljedahl and Maegan Giroux
• BTC 6-12 Task Book (Coming Oct 2025): Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades 6-12 by Peter Liljedahl and Kyle Webb

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 her students have made as mathematicians. The conversation addresses the challenges of managing young learners, adapting BTC practices for primary grades, and the importance of embracing the messy and magical aspects of teaching. Tammy also shares her insights on the thin-slicing technique, the importance of trust in students, and how BTC has changed her approach to student engagement. Listeners will also hear about Tammy's podcast, Little Minds Big Thinkers, where she shares stories from her classroom and interviews with fellow educators.

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 of student self-efficacy, identity in math, and the effects of math trauma. Peter highlights ongoing research, shares effective teacher practices, and offers valuable recommendations for further reading and professional development.

This episode was recorded in early October, 2024.