Amy Chang, an expert in the "Building Thinking Classrooms" (BTC) approach, visited Farm Hill Elementary School to lead a professional development session for teachers across the Middletown Public Schools district. Held on December 10, 2024, the workshop provided invaluable insights on creating engaging, student-centered classrooms that foster deep thinking and problem-solving skills.
Amy Chang is a recognized leader in education, known for her work alongside Dr. Peter Liljedahl in pioneering the Building Thinking Classrooms methodology. This approach focuses on restructuring classroom environments to promote student engagement and develop critical thinking through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences. During their visit, Chang shared strategies designed to support teachers in transforming their classrooms, empowering students to take ownership of their learning while developing a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.
Teachers from various grade levels participated in the session, which included interactive workshops, group discussions, and practical demonstrations of BTC techniques. The session's focal points included using vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS), incorporating random groupings, and fostering a culture of productive struggle. By creating a classroom environment where students are encouraged to discuss their thought processes, ask questions, and solve problems collaboratively, teachers learned to shift the focus from teacher-led instruction to student-driven learning.
Throughout the workshop, Chang highlighted the importance of creating spaces where students are not just passively receiving information, but actively constructing their knowledge. They also provided tools for teachers to implement these strategies in their classrooms immediately, with a focus on integrating them seamlessly into both math and other subject areas.
As the day concluded, it was clear that the impact of Amy Chang’s visit would extend far beyond the workshop itself. The ideas and strategies introduced during the session will ripple through the classrooms of Middletown Public Schools, helping to build a generation of students who are not just learning, but thinking, questioning, and solving problems in innovative ways.
The collaboration between Amy Chang and the Middletown educators marked another step toward the district’s goal of nurturing an environment of inquiry, creativity, and student-centered learning. As the district continues to explore new methods for fostering critical thinking, this workshop has undoubtedly set the stage for further growth and transformation in the months to come. Chang will return to Middletown in April to provide further development for the teachers of Middletown Public Schools.