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Gleeson Lake students demonstrate ‘building thinking classrooms’ approach in school spotlight
Summary
At the May 12 Wayzata Public Schools board meeting, Gleeson Lake Elementary staff and fourth-grade students demonstrated classroom strategies aimed at increasing student voice and collaboration, including visibly random groups and vertical nonpermanent surfaces.
Gleeson Lake Elementary teachers and fourth graders showcased a year of instructional change that emphasizes student-led problem solving and collaboration during the Wayzata Public Schools Board of Education meeting on May 12.
The school’s presentation described a model drawn from the book Building Thinking Classrooms that shifts classroom routines so students “try first” and work together to make their reasoning visible. Principal Mary Macassie said the school’s goals focus on increasing students who achieve “typical or aggressive growth” on FAST assessments and on improving students’ experience by expanding opportunities for classroom discussion.
Sarah Winans, district resource teacher for science and mathematics, said the model uses micro moves teachers can make so students “do rigorous thinking about complex math problems and work collaboratively to discuss and solve them.” Lakshmi, a fourth‑grade…
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