Think Thank Thunk

Latest Episodes:

Ep 11 - Jared is Back Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

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 importance of open communication with parents, dispelling fears of 'new math', and encouraging fellow teachers not to shy away from trying something new with their students.

Jared's Family Night Invitation Video: https://youtu.be/gGpSaTOgqb8?si=1DqoBNKU--P6Z0xY Jared's Consulting Commercial: https://youtu.be/TypVFW4ymCc?si=IFPE5I8sIEesLJS3

Ep 10 - The Art of the Close Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

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 concluding your lesson. Discover three new methods for wrapping up sessions: delve into the power of notice and name consolidation, embrace the collaborative notes strategy, and spice up your check for understanding with the mild-medium-spicy approach. Tune in for practical tips on seamlessly incorporating these freshly-developed closing techniques into your own Thinking Classroom. Elevate your teaching game with this enriching episode!

To see images of each of these closing methods, visit: https://thinkthankthunk.kylewebb.ca/ep-10/

At the end, Dean mentions Tim Brzesinski's (⁠@TimBrzezinski⁠) BTC rubric which you can find here: ⁠http://tinyurl.com/BTCrubric

Ep 9 - Lana Steiner Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

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:

Ep 8 - Back to School Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

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!

Ep 7 - 4R's of Decolonizing Math Ed Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

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

Ch 15 - Pulling the 14 Practices Together Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ch 14 - How We Grade Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ch 13 - How We Use Formative Assessment Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ch 12 - What We Choose to Evaluate Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

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.

Ch 11 - How Students Take Notes Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

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.

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