Episode #414: How to Sequence Math Tasks: Thin Slicing in BTC (Building Thinking Classrooms) Explained by Peter Liljedahl and Kyle Webb
LISTEN NOW HERE…
WATCH NOW…
How do you move your students from confusion to confidence—one question at a time when Building Thinking Classrooms?
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to keep every student engaged without oversimplifying your math lessons or overwhelming your class with complexity, you’re not alone. Many math teachers face the challenge of designing lessons that meet all learners where they are—without sacrificing depth or progress. In this episode, Peter Liljedahl and Kyle Webb unpack thin slicing, a powerful strategy that helps you guide students through content with just the right level of challenge at every step. Whether you’re just starting with Building Thinking Classrooms or deep into the journey, this conversation clarifies what thin slicing really is—and what it’s definitely not.
Listen now to discover:
- Why thin slicing isn’t just another way to sequence tasks—it’s a mindset shift for responsive, dynamic instruction
- The practical do’s and don’ts that make or break thin slicing in your classroom
- How to start building your own thin-sliced lessons using tasks you already have
Press play to demystify Building Thinking Classrooms’ thin slicing and learn how to keep your students thinking, engaged, and moving forward—one purposeful task at a time.
Attention District Math Leaders:
Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/
Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com
Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units
Be Our Next Podcast Guest!
Join as an Interview Guest or on a Mentoring Moment Call
Apply to be a Featured Interview Guest
Book a Mentoring Moment Coaching Call
Are You an Official Math Moment Maker?
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Thanks For Listening
- Book a Math Mentoring Moment
- Apply to be a Featured Interview Guest
- Leave a note in the comment section below.
- Share this show on Twitter, or Facebook.
To help out the show:
- Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one.
- Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.
DOWNLOAD THE 3 ACT MATH TASK TIP SHEET SO THEY RUN WITHOUT A HITCH!
Download the 2-page printable 3 Act Math Tip Sheet to ensure that you have the best start to your journey using 3 Act math Tasks to spark curiosity and fuel sense making in your math classroom!
LESSONS TO MAKE MATH MOMENTS
Each lesson consists of:
Each Make Math Moments Problem Based Lesson consists of a Teacher Guide to lead you step-by-step through the planning process to ensure your lesson runs without a hitch!
Each Teacher Guide consists of:
- Intentionality of the lesson;
- A step-by-step walk through of each phase of the lesson;
- Visuals, animations, and videos unpacking big ideas, strategies, and models we intend to emerge during the lesson;
- Sample student approaches to assist in anticipating what your students might do;
- Resources and downloads including Keynote, Powerpoint, Media Files, and Teacher Guide printable PDF; and,
- Much more!
Each Make Math Moments Problem Based Lesson begins with a story, visual, video, or other method to Spark Curiosity through context.
Students will often Notice and Wonder before making an estimate to draw them in and invest in the problem.
After student voice has been heard and acknowledged, we will set students off on a Productive Struggle via a prompt related to the Spark context.
These prompts are given each lesson with the following conditions:
- No calculators are to be used; and,
- Students are to focus on how they can convince their math community that their solution is valid.
Students are left to engage in a productive struggle as the facilitator circulates to observe and engage in conversation as a means of assessing formatively.
The facilitator is instructed through the Teacher Guide on what specific strategies and models could be used to make connections and consolidate the learning from the lesson.
Often times, animations and walk through videos are provided in the Teacher Guide to assist with planning and delivering the consolidation.
A review image, video, or animation is provided as a conclusion to the task from the lesson.
While this might feel like a natural ending to the context students have been exploring, it is just the beginning as we look to leverage this context via extensions and additional lessons to dig deeper.
At the end of each lesson, consolidation prompts and/or extensions are crafted for students to purposefully practice and demonstrate their current understanding.
Facilitators are encouraged to collect these consolidation prompts as a means to engage in the assessment process and inform next moves for instruction.
In multi-day units of study, Math Talks are crafted to help build on the thinking from the previous day and build towards the next step in the developmental progression of the concept(s) we are exploring.
Each Math Talk is constructed as a string of related problems that build with intentionality to emerge specific big ideas, strategies, and mathematical models.
Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons and Day 1 Teacher Guides are openly available for you to leverage and use with your students without becoming a Make Math Moments Academy Member.
Use our OPEN ACCESS multi-day problem based units!
Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons and Day 1 Teacher Guides are openly available for you to leverage and use with your students without becoming a Make Math Moments Academy Member.
Partitive Division Resulting in a Fraction
Equivalence and Algebraic Substitution
Represent Categorical Data & Explore Mean
Downloadable resources including blackline masters, handouts, printable Tips Sheets, slide shows, and media files do require a Make Math Moments Academy Membership.
ONLINE WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
Pedagogically aligned for teachers of K through Grade 12 with content specific examples from Grades 3 through Grade 10.
In our self-paced, 12-week Online Workshop, you'll learn how to craft new and transform your current lessons to Spark Curiosity, Fuel Sense Making, and Ignite Your Teacher Moves to promote resilient problem solvers.
0 Comments