Building Thinking Classrooms is powerful, but it is also inherently messy. When teachers are actively facilitating a BTC lesson, it is impossible to simultaneously observe the full range of student thinking, teacher moves, and flow of the task. Peer observation provides the perspective needed to refine practice, reveal blind spots, and elevate the quality of student thinking across classrooms.Participants in this session will:Experience BTC from multiple perspectives: as students, teachers, and observersLearn and practice a clear, non-evaluative feedback protocol aligned with BTC practicesRecognize key teacher moves (questioning, autonomy, hints, extensions, consolidation) that are best developed through observationAnalyze a real classroom video to surface strengths and growth areas in BTC implementationPlan how to bring peer observation back to their site to strengthen collective practice
This session will explore how to integrate McGraw Hill's Reveal Math curriculum with Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) strategies for 6-12 learners. Participants will experience a modeled lesson and leave with a lesson plan template to help implement these approaches in their own classrooms, enhancing engagement and problem-solving for middle and high school students.
High School Math Teacher, Franklin Community School Corporation
I am a high school math teacher at Franklin Community High School and the creator of BTC in Motion. Since observing Peter Liljedahl teach in Hawaii in 2023, I have been implementing Building Thinking Classrooms strategies to create more collaborative, student-centered math experiences... Read More →
Participants will be empowered to use BTC practices for tier 1 instruction whether they are answering to a standardized test, have state standards they must adhere to, or an HQIM they are required to use. Participants will have an actionable next step in their BTC journey, whether they have not yet started or have already implemented several toolkits. Participants will have a sense of the experience as a student and teacher during BTC tasks.
Participants will leave this session with a clearer understanding of how student-facing rubrics and self-evaluation practices. Participants will leave this session with a clearer understanding of how student-facing rubrics and self-evaluation practices can be made meaningful and manageable. This presentation will share actionable strategies for these important, but underutilized elements of the BTC pedagogical approach. We’ll explore why this practice is so often left behind, the friction that prevents students from using rubrics effectively, and how to structure both the rubrics and the routines that support them. Participants will analyze examples of real rubrics from my geometry classroom: what worked, what didn’t, and how they evolved. They’ll consider the difference between rubrics for student self-evaluation and those used by teachers, and reflect on how to assess not just what we test, but what we truly value.We’ll also discuss strategies for helping students shift from passive receivers of feedback to active participants in their learning, with self-evaluation as a formative, forward-looking practice, not just a ritual before a test. Participants will leave with ideas, strategies, and the opportunity to revise or design their own rubric in collaboration with peers.
This session will explore how to integrate McGraw Hill's Reveal Math curriculum with Building Thinking Classrooms strategies for K-5 learners. Participants will experience a modeled lesson and leave with a lesson plan template to help implement these approaches in their own classrooms, enhancing engagement and problem-solving for young students.
Assistant Principal, Franklin Community School Corporation
I believe that presenting is the best way to confirm your own understanding and learn from others who are passionate about education. Driven by my motto, "Collaboration makes the world go round!", I am passionate about grading and redefining smart by moving away from compliance and... Read More →
This session connects SEL and BTC practices through practical routines, student-friendly rubrics, and immediately usable strategies that support academic, social, and emotional growth. Learn how to build classrooms where students think deeply, collaborate effectively, and persevere through challenges.
Math Teacher 6-8, Robert Louis Stevenson/Saint Helena Unified
With over 25 years in education, I believe that strong relationships are at the heart of meaningful learning. I am passionate about helping educators create classrooms where students feel connected, valued, and empowered to think deeply. While strengthening mathematical thinking is... Read More →
Tuesday June 30, 2026 10:30am - 11:25am EDT Shubert Theatre - Cabaret247 College St, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
What happens when you layer two highly effective but different learning modalities? In this workshop, participants will learn how one district paired the digital Amplify Desmos Math curriculum with the effective practices from Building Thinking Classrooms to promote high engagement, deep thinking, and independence in students. Next, participants will try an interactive online lesson for themselves and use their experience to discuss how technology can enhance or hinder the 14 Practices. Participants will learn about a two-question framework for deciding when and how to use interactive online platforms with BTC and apply the framework to decide how to facilitate sample lessons. Finally, the presenters will share some practical considerations they use when coaching teachers seeking to adapt Amplify Desmos Activities to the BTC practices.
