Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades 6-12

A great resource to encourage the most important goal of all—students doing the mathematical thinking!

If you love Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics but want more examples of tasks you can use with your middle and high school students, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. It goes deeply into fifty tasks, how to launch them, the task sequence, how to consolidate them, what student notes might look like, check-your-understanding questions you can use, as well as notes from Peter Liljedahl and Kyle Webb. It’s a wonderful compliment to the main BTC book.

Peter Liljedahl’s work continues to be a game-changer in mathematics education. With co-author Kyle Webb, this expansion of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics to include manipulatives and technology isn’t just a welcome addition, it’s an equity move that empowers students to express their thinking and be recognized as capable, insightful problem-solvers.

This book doesn’t just help you choose better tasks—it helps you create better math experiences. For students with math trauma, that’s the first step towards rebuilding confidence, curiosity, and trust in the classroom!

Peter Liljedahl and Kyle Webb deliver what middle and high school math teachers are craving: tangible ways to make complex topics accessible, stimulate deep thinking and discussions, and supercharge learning for each student. These tried-and-true tasks, along with updated BTC practices for both die-hards and newcomers alike. They not only provide teachers with something awesome to try right away, but also valuable skills to design their own thinking tasks.

Always practical and rooted in real classrooms, this follow-up builds on the original book Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics with research updates and thinking tasks already tried with students. Each task is fully supported—from launch to consolidation to check-your-understanding questions. More than a resource, this is a transformative guide that centers access and equips you for the flow, challenge, and joy of getting students thinking.

This is a game changer for grades 6 to 12 teachers and students! Blending the latest research with fifty ready-to-use lessons, it supports engagement, thinking, and deep learning of curricular outcomes, and it shows you how to design your own. A must-read for anyone building thinking classrooms—practical tools, deep thinking, and joyful learning all in one book.

I cannot stress enough how incredibly useful this book is in supporting my work with students and teachers. The wide array of rich tasks gives me lots of options and allows me to focus my attention on planning and preparing the learning experiences rather than creating or searching for highly engaging thinking tasks. This is a must-have resource for all middle and high-school math teachers and providers of professional development.

Peter Liljedahl has once again given us a book that is as practical as it is transformative. With his trademark clarity and vision, he shows secondary math teachers how to create classrooms where all students can engage deeply and meaningfully in mathematics. A must-read for anyone committed to reimagining math teaching in ways that promote student thinking and engagement.

This masterpiece serves as an invaluable resource for grades 6–12 mathematics educators everywhere. Its updated research and rich tasks will empower both beginning and seasoned teachers with making a thinking classroom an immediate reality.