Learning Opportunities

Problem solving is an effective way for students to learn to think mathematically and to acquire deep knowledge and understanding of the mathematics they are learning.  Simply problematizing the mathematics curriculum, however, does not help constitute the practice that teachers want or students need.  Equally, infusion of problem-based learning into the mathematics curriculum does not help with the transformations we want to see in our classrooms.  What we need are a set of tools that, along with good problems, can build thinking classrooms.

In this day of professional learning, we look at a series of such tools, emerging from research, that can help to build an environment conducive to problem-based learning. We will unpack the research behind Thinking Classrooms which demonstrates that a problem-based learning environment and culture can quickly be established, even in classrooms where students resist change.

Introduction/Intermediate

The introduction/Intermediate workshop is appropriate for all teachers whether you are new to Thinking Classrooms or have already started to implement it. Teachers will experience a Thinking Classroom from the perspective of a student, dig into the teacher moves that help facilitate an effective Thinking Classroom, and become familiar with the research behind Building Thinking Classrooms. 

Topics may include: Tasks & how we deliver them, Collaborative Groups, Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces, Defronting, Addressing questions, Hints & extensions, Homework & Notes, Student Autonomy, Consolidation, and Notes.

*Topics of each workshop are tailored to meet specific needs and may be revised.