We are always thinking in Kindergarten but this week I started to implement a new routine from the book Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl. I attended a professional development conference in October where I attended Peter’s session. The session introduced the ideas from the research behind his book.

I started with two of his “macro-move” practices:

• Using visibly random groups
• Using vertical surfaces and sharing the pen

I presented a task to the children along with a second challenge task, explained the procedure for working on the task and with their partner, they selected a random number and off to thinking they went.

Our initial activity went smoothly. The vertical surfaces allowed me to see at a glance how the partners were doing on the task. The randomly selected partners provided the children had a chance to think and interact with a new friend.

I’m looking forward to learning more about the practices he identifies in his book and implementing them in the new year.

Here are a few pictures of the children in action during this thinking in kindergarten process.

Here are a couple other examples of thinking in kindergarten.

Happy Teaching and Learning,

Lynda