Dr. Craig Chatham Director of Technology and Assessment | Lincolnshire Prairie View School District 103
Dr. Craig Chatham Director of Technology and Assessment | Lincolnshire Prairie View School District 103
Second-grade students collaborated with school board members to address a math challenge using the Building Thinking Classrooms approach. Students from Allyson Ward and Lisa Popjoy’s classes worked alongside board members, showcasing how this method enhances engagement and meaning in mathematics.
“You get to work with partners to solve math problems,” one student said.
“It helps me solve problems and equations and gets me ready for when I’m older,” another remarked.
“When it’s hard, we work together and persevere,” added a third student.
Developed by researcher Peter Liljedahl, Building Thinking Classrooms focuses on creative problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking rather than rote memorization. Sprague Principal Ann Hofmeier endorsed the approach, stating, “This not only makes math more engaging but also nurtures critical thinking and student agency—skills that are essential both in and outside the classroom. ”
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