This course is designed to provide teachers and staff with an in-depth study of the Mathematical Teaching Practices (MTP) that guide effective instruction. It supports math educators in implementing and sustaining the MTP Framework to strengthen standards-based instruction, foster student growth, and enhance modeling and reasoning skills.
Through research-based practices, educators will learn how to create optimal conditions for learner-centered, student-owned, and deep mathematical thinking (Liljedahl, 2021). By applying these approaches, participants will be equipped to transform their mathematics classrooms into spaces that promote authentic problem-solving and critical thinking.
In this graduate credit course, participants will:
Explore 14 factors that influence classroom thinking and examine both macro- and micro-moves to maximize student engagement.
Reflect on strategies and engage in peer discussions to determine how they can be effectively applied in the classroom.
Trial selected strategies in their own teaching and receive constructive feedback from peers.
Build a collaborative community of educators dedicated to sharing ideas, experiences, and best practices for creating a thinking classroom.
Number of Units: 1.0 - 3.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours
Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for K-12 educators of mathematics.
Course Materials: Text, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics Grades K-12 by Peter Liljedahl available at Amazon.com or your local bookstore
Audience: Pacific South K–12 teachers, elementary teachers, middle school mathematics teachers, high school mathematics teachers, and administrators.
Instructor: Sara Mack
Refund Policy: All Credit Validation enrollments are refundable, less a $25 fee, if requested within 30 days of enrollment date. There will be no refunds for Credit Validation after the allotted 30 days.
Enrollment Open Through: September 30, 2025 (11:59pm PT)
Audience: DoDEA Europe East District, Teachers(K-12), Principals, ISSs, and Superintendents
Enrollment Open Through: September 2, 2025 – September 22, 2025 (11:59pm PT)
Learn about 14 specific teaching practices described in the book to enhance mathematics learning
Plan and implement teaching practices, reflect on their effectiveness on student engagement and learning of mathematics, and receive feedback from course members to improve instructional practices
Create a classroom environment conducive to the Building Thinking Classrooms structure to enhance student discourse, reasoning, and problem solving
Select tasks strategically that align with lesson goals and course outcomes
Apply learning to focused collaboration sessions to share successful strategies and activities
Implement curricular and non-curricular thinking tasks with students
Utilize strategies for forming random groups of students
Facilitate learning in small groups with students working collaboratively at vertical non-permanent surfaces
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The University of San Diego’s Division of Professional and Continuing Education offers graduate-level extension credit for work completed in trainings, workshops, conferences, induction, credentials, and other professional development programs not offered directly by USD. Complete one of the above and a member of our division will help you earn credit for your hard work and dedication to continuing your education.
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