Building Thinking Classrooms

Just recently, I made my first attempt at building a thinking classroom in math. I had heard of non-permanent vertical surfaces before, and I experimented with using whiteboards on the wall in groups. What I didn't realize was that it's not just about working together on a non-permanent vertical space...so when I read more of Peter Liljedahl's work, I realized I needed to have random groupings, only one pen for each group and start them with problems that they can practice with. So, being brave and optimistic, I used period 8 (the last period of the day) to do my first attempt. The students arrived back from music, and I was waiting outside the door. I handed each person a playing card and told them to find the spot on the whiteboard with the same number. Then I verbally told them the problem - Using the three numbers on the dice that I roll, make as many different equations using order of operations that get a different answer. IT WAS AMAZING! They could only write down their partner's ideas and needed to swap pens every once in a while. I also yelled out swap periodically. Check out this website for great info, as well as Twitter and the hashtag #buildingthinkingclassrooms #vnps