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Thinking Classrooms Across the Curriculum
Thinking is not a Subject. It’s a Skill.
Friday, November 6
 

TBA

Testing Session
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
TBA
This is just a test. Please delete.
Speakers
avatar for Kyle Webb

Kyle Webb

Co-author, Consultant, Building Thinking Classrooms

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
TBA

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Beyond the Prompt: Leveraging BTC to Make Thinking Visible in the AI Classroom
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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When students use AI, does the thinking stop, or has it just begun? This session explores how the 14 Practices of Building Thinking Classrooms scaffolded a 7th-grade AI elective and a transdisciplinary 9th-grade project. Participants trace a curricular journey from how the brain learns to the mechanics and ethics of AI. VNPS and Visibly Random Groups shifted AI from a solitary screen experience...
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Speakers
EH
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  21st Century Learning & Technology

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Pre-Do not Re-Do: Using weekly check-ins with collaborative and independent self-assessment
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Student self-assessment within the BTC framework is essential. Using technology to do this provides great opportunity, but takes some planning. Come learn how to use several different platforms including Amplify Activity Builder and Padlet to have students check their own understanding, beyond just checking teacher provided solutions. Discuss how this can allow in-class time to be most effective...
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Speakers
CZ
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  21st Century Learning & Technology

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Building Thinking Classrooms in Additional Language Learning
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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What happens when Building Thinking Classrooms moves into an additional language classroom? This session explores how its principles can be applied to language learning. Using strategies such as vertical non-permanent surfaces, random grouping, and open-ended tasks, we will create spaces where students think together, use the target language more naturally, and make their learning visible. The...
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Speakers
PV
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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Building Thinking Physicists: Adapting Building Thinking Classrooms for Physics Classes and Labs
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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This session explores how Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) principles can be adapted for physics classrooms and laboratories to promote deeper conceptual understanding, scientific reasoning, and student engagement. Participants will examine examples from both theory-based lessons and experimental investigations, learn how BTC practices support the development of physics thinking, and discuss...
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Speakers
PG
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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Collaborative Thinking Task: From Marks to Meaning
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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This lesson is a collaborative thinking task rooted in co-creation, where students work in small, randomly formed groups at VNPS. Each student uses a different coloured marker so contributions remain visible. Each student begins with quick, individual marks to introduce ambiguity and reduce pressure. A curricular theme is then introduced as a guiding question, shifting the task toward purposeful...
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Speakers
CP
KS
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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Data Science in a Thinking Classroom: Tasks for engagement
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Participants will leave the session with practical strategies to integrate data science into Thinking Classrooms. They will understand how Building Thinking Classrooms practices and a data mindset work together to foster critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Attendees will gain other ways to incorporate Toolkit #1 and #2 in their classroom.
Speakers
AB
CH
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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From Compliance to Cognition: BTC Strategies for the ELA Classroom
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Are students doing the work—or doing the thinking? This session applies Building Thinking Classrooms practices to writing instruction, helping teachers shift from task-oriented writing to thinking-centered learning. Participants will explore how to reduce answer-getting behaviors, increase discourse, and design tasks that require reasoning, interpretation, and creativity. Using the BTC framework...
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Speakers
AH
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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From Math Class to Any Class: Building Thinking Classrooms in Humanities
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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(Here is my updated session description that could be used to explain my session in the schedule) - Whiteboards, random groups, and thinking tasks aren’t just for math. They belong in humanities classrooms too! As a junior high ELA, FLA, and Social teacher who has spent four years learning about BTC without ever teaching a math class, I’ve worked hard to adapt these strategies for my subjects....
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Speakers
JB
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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Picture books, Cross-Curricular Connections, and BTC: A Recipe for Engagement, Thinking, and Joy!
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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In this practical, hands-on session, a picture book will be used as a springboard for a student-centered learning experience that includes cross-curricular connections, student questioning and discussion strategies, and activities that are guided by BTC Toolkit #1. Come and see the power of connecting a picture book with science, math, language arts, and health.
Speakers
CS
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

TBA

Powerful Picture Books and Joyful Math Problems in a Thinking Classroom
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Picture books paired with joyful math problems spark curiosity, foster collaboration, and build a sense of belonging in a Thinking Classroom. Learn how these story-driven learning experiences support your students in developing a growth mindset, perseverance, and a positive math identity. Leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use lessons to help all students see themselves as mathematicians...
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Speakers
avatar for Alicia Burdess

Alicia Burdess

Numeracy Lead Teacher, Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools
Alicia Burdess has been a teacher, assistant principal, and math coach with Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools since 2005. She has served as the President of the Math Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association and the Chairperson of the National Council of Teachers of... Read More →
CS
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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Selling the ‘Last Best West’: Advertising, Omission, and Historical Propaganda
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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This session invites educators to step into the role of advertisers to explore how propaganda works by first selling the unsellable. Participants begin with a hands-on activity creating an appealing advertisement for a deliberately undesirable property, identifying techniques such as selective truth, emotional appeal, exaggeration, and omission. The session then connects this experience to the...
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Speakers
KW
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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The Engaged Reader: BTC Practices for Reading Analysis
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Move students from passively reading to active engagement in the text through the BTC framework. This session will explore the use of randomized groups at vertical non-permanent surfaces to foster critical thinking about a variety of text types. We will discuss the ways that teachers can thin-slice ELA tasks to scaffold literary and non-fiction text analysis. You will leave the session with a...
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Speakers
MI
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Across the Curriculum

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Beyond the Gradebook-Assessing in BTC
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Participants will explore how curricular Navigation Maps can transform assessment from a process focused on grades into one that communicates learning, growth, and next steps. Using a traditional unit test, we'll examine how conventional assessments often provide limited information about student understanding and then redesign the assessment using a Navigation Map to generate more meaningful...
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Speakers
AG
KG
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Assessment in a Thinking Classroom

TBA

BTC in a Rural Classroom
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Get a glimpse of a BTC classroom, in rural Alberta, in action. This session will focus on how one grade 8 math outcome has been taught over multiple classes. The first day consists of an opening sequence at the board, random groups made using cards, thin sliced questions using banners and a consolidation task of ranking questions. The second day consists of an opening sequence at the boards, a few...
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Speakers
KB
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Classroom Reflections & Stories

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Beyond the Game: Seeking Team Synergy Through Logic and Roles
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Building true team synergy remains one of the most practical challenges in any collaborative classroom. This session presents an RWS (Reader, Writer, Speaker) adapted workshop designed to bridge the gap between individual contribution and collective success. By using the logic game SET, participants must navigate the "fog of uncertainty" by relying on strictly defined roles. Drawing from 30 years...
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Speakers
AD
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Equity‚ Access‚ and Inclusion

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BTC: Supporting Students with IEPs in Elementary
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Special Education students in streamed classrooms can be provided with opportunities to engage in rich thinking opportunities, either in the small classroom environment or integrated with grade-level classmates. With supporting documents from Lambert, Karp, and NCTM/NCSM Position Papers, I engaged in pilot opportunities to expose grade-level material to students with IEPs. The use of random...
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Speakers
GL
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Equity‚ Access‚ and Inclusion

TBA

Examining Building Thinking Classrooms through a UDL Lens
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Universal Design for Learning looks at ways to increase access for all students. Come examine the principles of Building Thinking Classrooms through a UDL lens to explore how the practices support all learners. Participants will actively engage in a thinking task before examining how the planning for and facilitation of the task follow the principles of UDL.
Speakers
JD
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Equity‚ Access‚ and Inclusion

TBA

More Than Meets the Eye: Story, Land, and Perspective in the Thinking Classroom
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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This assignment brings Building Thinking Classrooms to life through image, story, and shared inquiry. Students interpret an image of an Indigenous rider overlooking the land, connected to She Holds Up the Stars by Sandra Laronde, a novel centered on identity, belonging, and voice. Framed by a personal narrative, students are invited to give voice to an untold story. In randomized groups, they...
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Speakers
DD
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Equity‚ Access‚ and Inclusion

TBA

Universal Design for Learning in a Thinking Classroom
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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This practical session will explore the natural alignment between BTC and UDL, with a focus on creating inclusive learning environments where all students can meaningfully participate in critical thinking. Participants will experience firsthand learning activities that incorporate BTC structures and UDL principles. The focus will be on two key areas: 1) Designing the physical classroom environment...
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Speakers
TA
HB
JS
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
TBA
  Equity‚ Access‚ and Inclusion

TBA

Building Teacher Confidence Through BTC Experiences
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Many teachers struggle with confidence in mathematics, which often leads them to rely on rote procedures rather than engaging with students' thinking. Furthermore, a lack of deep conceptual understanding can make it difficult to teach ideas flexibly or address student misconceptions effectively. This session tackles these challenges. By providing sustained, classroom-connected professional...
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Speakers
ES
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Leadership‚ Coaching‚ & Systemic Change

TBA

Building Thinking PD for Teaching Mathematics
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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This session is for those who provide PD and/or support teachers in their math teaching practice. In this session, the Math Collaborative Team from Riverside School Board (QC) will engage participants in tasks and reflective experiences focused on planning and facilitating professional learning grounded in the Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) approach. We will explore how the team at RSB has...
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Speakers
SD
MK
TM
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Leadership‚ Coaching‚ & Systemic Change

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From Hesitation to Momentum: Leading a Schoolwide BTC Transformation
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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The real-world implementation of BTC at Lucerne Valley Middle High School, a rural 7–12 site. Attendees will learn how the site introduced BTC in ways that honored teacher voice, reduced overwhelm, & created early wins. A key focus is coaching to sustain change by co-teaching, real-time feedback, & lesson design experimentation in a safe & supported environment. Leadership modeled vulnerability,...
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Speakers
JH
CP
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Leadership‚ Coaching‚ & Systemic Change

TBA

Planning the Journey: Literature to the launch
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Join us as we reflect on one school district’s journey implementing the 14 Practices and explore the steps they are currently taking to strengthen their educational system. Through shared experiences, participant engagement, and reflective dialogue, we will examine how systems-level change develops over time. The session will highlight conversations, insights, and reflections gathered...
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Speakers
AB
CH
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Leadership‚ Coaching‚ & Systemic Change

TBA

Consolidating Learning with Collaborative Note-Making
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Do your students struggle to take notes? Are you looking for new ways to help students process their learning? In this session we will explore how to support students in sense-making, cognitive engagement, and meaningful note-making that goes beyond “fill-in-the-blank” or “copy what I write” notes. Participate in the process of collaborative note-making, inspired by the research and ideas...
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Speakers
JD
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Pedagogy & Practice (The BTC Core)

TBA

Decoding the Unknown, Step by Step: A Thin-Slicing BTC Experience
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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Experience BTC from the inside! Originally tested in high school, this immersive session is open to all grades and subjects. We’ll dive into a non-curriculum task—it's a concept that puts everyone on equal footing as pure learners. Step into students' shoes! Working in collaborative groups on vertical surfaces, you’ll tackle progressive, "thin-sliced" tasks requiring zero prior knowledge....
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Speakers
JM
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
TBA
  Pedagogy & Practice (The BTC Core)

TBA

Mild, Medium, Spicy: Supporting Student Reflection & Consolidation
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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One of the biggest hurdles in implementing BTC for Mathematics is figuring out how to engage students in differentiated practice, without falling into mimicry or procedural sequences. The value of practice is to help students note where they are so that they can do something about it; additionally, it is essential to have formative assessments to adapt pacing or identify specific needs. Proposal:...
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Speakers
EB
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Pedagogy & Practice (The BTC Core)

TBA

The Power of Phenomenon in Thinking Classrooms
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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What happens when a compelling phenomenon meets a Thinking Classroom? In this interactive session, participants will experience a sea turtle phenomenon as learners while exploring how BTC practices support scientific thinking and sensemaking. Participants will work at VNPS to notice patterns, ask questions, analyze evidence, develop explanations, and revise their thinking. We will examine how the...
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Speakers
AC
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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  Pedagogy & Practice (The BTC Core)

TBA

Thin-Slicing Writing: BTC Through Author Craft
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
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In this interactive session, participants will experience a Building Thinking Classrooms approach to writing instruction. Beginning with Gary Provost's famous poem on sentence variation, educators will work in visibly random groups to uncover how authors use sentence length, word choice, and structure to engage readers. Using thin-slicing, participants will collaboratively build and revise a...
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Speakers
AR
Friday November 6, 2026 TBA
TBA
  Pedagogy & Practice (The BTC Core)

9:00am MST

Opening Keynote
LIMITED
Friday November 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Macleod Hall
Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers
avatar for Peter Liljedahl

Peter Liljedahl

Author, Building Thinking Classrooms
Peter Liljedahl is a former math teacher and current professor of Mathematics Education known for his significant contributions to the field of mathematics education, particularly in the development of "Building Thinking Classrooms." With a passion for fostering deep mathematical... Read More →
Friday November 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Macleod Hall
  Keynote
 

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Friday, November 6
Macleod Hall
TBA
  • 21st Century Learning & Technology
  • Across the Curriculum
  • Assessment in a Thinking Classroom
  • Classroom Reflections & Stories
  • Equity‚ Access‚ and Inclusion
  • Keynote
  • Leadership‚ Coaching‚ & Systemic Change
  • Pedagogy & Practice (The BTC Core)
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