Building Thinking Classrooms 2025 Annual Conference

Peter Liljedahl; Lakeside Chat - 

How do we design math tasks that honor who students are and push them to think deeply? In this asession, we’ll explore what it means to create culturally relevant tasks that also promote high cognitive demand in a Thinking Classroom. Grounded in the ICUCARE® Equity Framework, this session will offer strategies for designing tasks that affirm identity, activate prior knowledge, and engage all students as capable mathematical thinkers. Come ready to rethink what rigor looks like—and who it’s for.

How can we design math classrooms where students don’t just participate—but lead, question, and thrive? This session invites educators to reflect on what it means to share authority and shift from teacher-led to student-driven learning. Rooted in the Release Control principle of the ICUCARE® Equity Framework, we’ll explore how creating space for student agency can dismantle inequitable norms and elevate marginalized learners as mathematical thinkers. Walk away with actionable strategies to build trust, cultivate student voice, and let brilliance be seen and celebrated.

Peter Liljedahl;  Lakeside Chat -  

What if assessment wasn’t about sorting students, but about helping them take the next step in their learning? In this session, we’ll reimagine assessment as a tool for growth, reflection, and empowerment—especially for marginalized math learners who have often been misjudged or underestimated. Grounded in the ICUCARE® and BTC Frameworks, we’ll explore strategies for assessment practices that honor student thinking, uncover strengths, and guide meaningful next steps. You’ll walk away with tools that shift the focus from labeling students to supporting their brilliance—one assessment moment at a time.
Pam Seda & Peter Liljedahl