Season 3: Episode 12: Building Thinking Classrooms: Toolkit #1 – Whiteboards, Grouping, and Non-curricular Tasks

Join Jeff Harker and guests Stephanie Wicke, Meredith Kalbfleisch, and Mary Auger as they discuss Toolkit #1 of the Building Thinking Classrooms Framework.  If you’re asking where to start, this is the place!  You’ll gain insights about creating your own thinking classroom and get advice about how to create visibly random groups and use vertical non-permanent surfaces.

This is episode 1 of a 4 part series diving into Building Thinking Classrooms for Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl.  Join us here at Keep Indiana Learning for all 4 episodes leading up to our first Building Thinking Classrooms Conference, June 29-30, 2023, hosted by our partners at Franklin Community Schools, Franklin, IN.

Meredith Kalbfleisch is a middle school Mathematics teacher currently in her fourth year teaching 7th grade. She has a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems from Virginia Tech and is a native Virginian. She currently holds a math license for teaching middle school math (grades 5-9).  Her interests include motivating students, reading, hiking, movies, and having fun with her two sons.

Stephanie Wicke has been teaching high school mathematics for 9 years.  She is currently an instructional coach and math/engineering teacher at Whiteland Community High School.  Her passion is creating lessons that get students actively involved in their learning, and helping other teachers grow in their practice.

Mary Auger is a veteran math teacher for Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  She graduated from Ball State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Educations with a Gifted-Talented Endorsement and a Math license for teaching grades 7-9. She is the Math Department Chair at Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Jr. High where she teaches 7th and 8th grade math courses.  She is also the Indiana state MATH Bowl Coordinator and writer for IASP.  Mary’s greatest passions are teaching math, cheering on the Cubbies, and being a mom to two wonderful boys.