To help leaders and educators accelerate student learning and strengthen mathematical thinking across middle and high schools, Corwin, a SAGE Publishing company, announces the release of Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades 6–12. This is the newest title in the globally acclaimed Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) series by Dr. Peter Liljedahl. Co-authored with educator and consultant Kyle Webb, the book equips teachers with ready-to-use tasks that transform classroom culture and elevate student engagement. It turns the Building Thinking Classrooms framework into practical classroom experiences that support deep reasoning and confident problem solving.

Building upon the success of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K–12, this latest installment specifies what a start-to-finish lesson looks like in a thinking classroom, walking educators through the nuances of the launch, body, and closing of a lesson. The book includes 20 non-curricular and 30 curricular tasks that model how teachers can select, launch, facilitate, and consolidate math lessons that align with specific standards and student learning goals. Each task includes detailed scripts, examples of student solutions, hints for advancing thinking, and tiered “check-your-understanding” questions to guide differentiation.

“Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom is more than just a book of tasks,” said Peter Liljedahl, professor of mathematics education at Simon Fraser University. “It’s a bridge between research and practice—helping teachers not only understand why the Thinking Classroom works, but how to bring it to life every single day. Kyle and I wanted to offer educators concrete examples that show what deep mathematical thinking looks like in action.”

Whether new to the BTC framework or a seasoned practitioner, educators will find the book’s guidance invaluable for creating dynamic, thought-provoking learning environments. The companion website offers downloadable resources and a task creation template for building and adapting classroom tasks.

To help schools and districts implement the BTC framework with lasting impact, Liljedahl and his team of expert consultants offer a range of professional learning opportunities including in-person and virtual workshops, coaching, co-teaching, multi-day institutes, and online courses. These experiences help educators and leaders internalize the 14 BTC practices, strengthen instructional excellence, and build shared capacity across classrooms and grade levels. When combined with the books, these offerings provide a powerful bridge from theory to sustained classroom practice. 

“At Corwin, we’re committed to equipping educators with evidence-based, practical resources that elevate student learning,” said Chris Devling, managing director. “Dr. Peter Liljedahl and Kyle Webb have created an essential toolkit for any teacher who wants to foster genuine mathematical thinking and engagement across the secondary grades.”

A companion volume, Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades K–5, is also available, offering districts a comprehensive pathway to build thinking classrooms from elementary through high school.

To learn more about Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades 6–12, visit the website. 

Interested in bringing these strategies to life in your school or district? Explore in-person and virtual workshops, coaching, institutes, and more at buildingthinkingclassrooms.com/consulting.