Education experts Jim Heal and Bryan Goodwin explain that students should be able to think deeply about their learning, not just appear to be engaged. The authors differentiate between student thinking and engagement and offer educators practical strategies to deepen learning and ensure it sticks.

Helping students learn how to interpret themes in text can be, without a doubt, challenging. Students benefit from knowing different aspects/textual elements within stories to look for when constructing themes. In this teaching and learning guide, we share seven concrete ways to help students anchor their theme thinking. These seven elements can…

The interactions young children have with adults are of vital importance in developing mathematical reasoning. This paper describes the behaviours of teachers who work with young children in school yet manage to have individual and natural mathematical conversations with children. These mathematical interactions young children have with their…

Biological interactions and associations underlie life's processes at every level of organization. Here, we present a classroom activity that allows students to visualize and understand the connections within almost any biological system, from cell functions to ecological relationships. We recommend that instructors implement this activity to…

Computers and computer algorithms have contributed to important scientific advances by allowing scientists and engineers to create and use sophisticated models to explain and predict phenomena. Yet, of the eight "Next Generation Science Standards" ("NGSS") science and engineering practices, computational thinking may be the…

With the aim of engaging more students in meaningful thinking in mathematics, a cohort of Year 7 students were introduced to a 'Building Thinking Classrooms' framework for learning in mathematics. In this paper, the authors outline the key features of the implemented framework and share reflections on challenges and benefits.

Argumentation-based classroom interventions are a growing alternative for stimulating conceptual learning, thinking, and communicative skills. However, not all classroom argumentation is desired, nor does every argumentation design lead students to develop their abilities and understanding. In the educational literature, productive argumentation…

When the author stepped into the lead specials teacher role at a private elementary school in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was convinced that early childhood educational experiences could shape students' later cognition. He asked himself the question: What novel task might he set for the students that did not rely on rote learning, logic, or…

Preservice teachers commonly struggle with topics related to fractions, ratio, and proportion. The use of double number lines can facilitate the teaching in these areas and provide autonomy and flexibility in mathematical thinking. Moreover, double number lines support many topics in the curriculum, including unit rate, convenience scaling, and…

In this article, the authors share two examples of student engagement in visible, mathematical thinking through a Chalk Talk within the four walls of the classroom, as well as the connected spaces of online learning. Five steps for facilitating the Chalk Talk are outlined, with descriptions of teacher moves for each step. The silent thinking…

When the current generation of K-12 learners has the opportunity to improve global issues and quality of life, they are inspired to advocate for worthy and ethical causes. Thus, we consider moving beyond the perspective of STE(A)M education from a workforce and global economic focus towards empathy-oriented STE(A)M learning as a humanistic pursuit…

Developing and supporting understanding of the meaning of multiplication and multiplicative relationships in students with mathematics learning disabilities requires carefully designed instruction that emphasizes strategic representation use. This article discusses three ways in which teachers can incorporate multiple representations within…

Creative confidence is a necessary and valuable skill to prepare students for marketing careers. Marketers need to be trained to offer creative solutions to enhance marketing offerings. To help address this need, the aim of this paper is to provide logistical instructions for a class module that enhances students' creative confidence through…

This article discusses a design contest where students can submit new technology designs and be judged for their creativity and unique ideas. Design contests are a wonderful way to stimulate creativity and build student confidence. In this article the author explores some of the issues of importance involved in designing and launching such a…

Over three decades ago, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 1991) proposed that "for students to develop the ability to formulate problems, to explore, conjecture, and reason logically, to evaluate whether something makes sense, classroom discourse must be founded on mathematical evidence" (p. 34). As math interventionists…