Classroom as the Third Teacher

We believe that the walls of the classroom should reflect our students and not publisher materials, and that strategy walls, explicit learning goals and co-constructed success criteria are all key components of a classroom that can act as third teacher.

LNS Monograph-The Third Teacher Designing the Learning Environment for Mathematics and Literacy, K to 8
http://www.edugains.ca/resourcesLNS/Monographs/CapacityBuildingSeries/CBS_ThirdTeacher.pdf

Math Strategy and Word Wall Examples


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Sample Learning Goals

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Co-Constructed Criteria

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Thinking Tools

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In this Kindergarten classroom the teacher intentionally selects thinking tools that would support students with measurement concepts. Materials are accessible to students and the teacher invites students during play to measure various objects using a variety of non-standard units. Books are also selected and displayed alongside the thinking tools.








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It is important that the manipulatives or 'Thinking Tools' are accessible to students so that they may access the tool that best represents their thinking.