
Think Thank Thunk
Join hosts Dean, Maegan, and Kyle on the Think Thank Thunk podcast as they explore Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl. Through interviews with experts and teachers, they share practical tips and insights on implementing the 14 optimal practices outlined in the book. Perfect for math teachers of all levels, each episode features chapter summaries and ideas for transforming lessons into engaging and meaningful learning experiences. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to teaching math, subscribe to join the conversation and build a Thinking Classroom that inspires your students.
Latest episodes

Jul 14, 2023 • 21min
Ch 11 - How Students Take 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.

Jul 7, 2023 • 20min
Ch 10 - How We Consolidate
Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 10 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.
They discuss the importance of consolidation in a Thinking Classroom and share some of the different ways teachers can consolidate. Listen in for some tips and tricks that they've learned through trial-and-error to help you refine your consolidation practices.
This episode is the eleventh in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Jul 4, 2023 • 38min
Ep 6 - The Students Have Their Say
It's summer break for us and in this episode, we take a different direction by revisiting and resharing a recording from our previous podcast. Listen in as we talk directly to students in Thinking Classrooms from a few of our schools. You'll hear from students in a wide range of grades as they share how math has been different this year, what they've liked and disliked, and what they hope for the future of math class. Enjoy!
Make sure to subscribe in your favorite podcast app and share with a teaching friend if you find our episodes helpful.
Follow us on Twitter: @ThinkThankPod

Jun 28, 2023 • 27min
Ch 9 - How We Use Hints and Extensions
Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 9 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.
They discuss the concept of flow and why we need to be so aware of the states our students are in during Thinking Classroom tasks. They also discuss thin-slicing, the banner method and Maegan shares a fun way she incorporates a joker card into her deck for random groups. This episode is all about how we can get through the content we need to teach while remaining true to the Thinking Classroom practices.
Graph illustrating Flow
This episode is the tenth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Jun 21, 2023 • 20min
Ch 8 - How We Foster Student Autonomy
Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 8 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.
They discuss ways we can build student autonomy by allowing students to think for themselves and manage their own learning. They also share some teacher moves to help build student autonomy and get into some of the benefits of leaning into this practice.
This episode is the ninth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Jun 19, 2023 • 1h 1min
Ep 5 - Peter Liljedahl
In this episode, Dean, Maegan and Kyle interview Peter Liljedahl (@pgliljedahl), author of Building Thinking Classrooms and lead researcher behind the transformational teaching practices.
We discuss the popularity of the book and how it has become a game-changer for educators worldwide. Explore new and innovative methods for consolidation and notemaking that empower students to become active thinkers and problem solvers in the classroom. Uncover the power of making subtle yet impactful tweaks to teaching practices, resulting in significant improvements in student engagement and achievement.
We delve into the fascinating concept of recognizing and supporting productive struggle among student groups. Peter also sheds light on the issue of students being burdened by an excess of algorithmic knowledge that inhibits their creativity. We also discuss the emergence of AI like ChatGPT, how it impacts Thinking Classrooms, and how educators can harness this technology to support student thinking.
Peter shares his thoughts on why behavior rubrics may not be having their desired impact and shares a personal source of inspiration in the field of math education.
Finally, we explore what lies ahead in the realm of Thinking Classrooms including where the research is heading and a few new books to look forward to.
Book: Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom

Jun 14, 2023 • 20min
Ch 7 - What Homework Looks Like
Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 7 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.
They discuss the challenges of homework, the disconnect between teachers and students regarding its purpose, and how Thinking Classrooms can implement Check-Your-Understanding questions as a reframing of homework that promotes thinking in learners.
This episode is the eighth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

Jun 12, 2023 • 42min
Ep 4 - Lisa Eberharter
In this episode, Kyle and Dean are joined by Lisa Eberharter (@lisaebe), a Curriculum Consultant with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education. They discuss the intersection of Building Thinking Classrooms and multiple representations in math class. The conversation highlights the importance of the concrete-pictorial-symbolic continuum (sometimes called concrete-representational-abstract) and ways to integrate more manipulatives and concrete representations into math class to enhance student understanding.
Find the Numeracy Resources mentioned by Lisa here: Numeracy Project
Check out Polypad today: Polypad – Virtual Manipulatives – Mathigon
Find us on Twitter: @ThinkThankPod

Jun 7, 2023 • 23min
Ch 6 - When, Where, and How Tasks are Given
Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 6 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.
They discuss how important our delivery or rich tasks is. Listen in for ideas on how to shift towards delivering tasks early, on our feet, and in ways that will engage our learners.
This episode is the seventh in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.

May 31, 2023 • 19min
Ch 5 - How We Answer Questions
Join Kyle and Maegan as they dive into Chapter 5 from Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.
They discuss the types of questions we face as teachers and some of problems they present. Listen in for ideas on how to shift our focus from answering every question towards using questions as a way to promote thinking.
Here is a link to Laura Wheeler's (@wheeler_laura) #ThinkingClassroom Question Prompts Graphic.
This episode is the sixth in the series where we go through each chapter of Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl.