Interviews

Ep 12 – Brian Jackson

Ep 12 - Brian Jackson episode artwork

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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 exploration, and finally his resounding endorsement based on his students’ experiences. During the conversation, Brian shares valuable anecdotes and practical examples from his classroom, shedding light on how student choice and tiered challenges can drastically enhance the learning experience. His experiences make a compelling case for the impact of the Thinking Classrooms approach on both students and teachers.

Whether you are a novice in the world of Thinking Classrooms or an experienced advocate, this episode promises rich learning perspectives and welcomes you to join the conversation about reimagining education.

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Interviews

Ep 31 – New BTC Framework

In this episode, Kyle, Maegan, and Dean dig into the updated Building Thinking Classrooms framework recently shared by Peter Liljedahl.

Interviews

Ep 30 – Still Here

In this episode, Kyle, Maegan, and Dean pick up where they left off. Maegan shares her experience teaching EMTH 300 through the Gabriel Dumont Institute’s SUNTEP program, 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 navigation instruments has been heading. Together, the three dig into the vulnerability required to genuinely change your practice, the messy reality that it’s going to hurt before it feels good, and why the relationship a teacher has with math might matter just as much as what they know about it. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, risk-taking, and what it really means to be a math teacher.

Interviews

Ep 29 – Behind the Books (Part 2)

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 about the vulnerability required to publish a static resource in an ever-evolving educational landscape. They discuss the feedback they have received and explore how teaching with intention can help alleviate math trauma. The conversation also dives into the power of storytelling to keep students engaged during dry curricular units, ensuring math acts as both a mirror and a window for learners, before concluding with reflections on how student solutions often surprised both and why the ultimate goal is teaching students that life, unlike a textbook answer key, is often “messy and gray.”

Interviews

Ep 28 – Behind the Books (Part 1)

In this episode, part one of two, 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-5. Together, the group explores the process of selecting tasks, the importance of thin-slicing, and why the pedagogical research found in the rest of the book is just as critical as the tasks themselves. They also open up about the vulnerability required to write these resources, including the realization that even experienced teachers often need to relearn math concepts to teach them effectively. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at creating these resources and how they can support your journey in the classroom.

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