Building Thinking Classrooms in Elementary Math with Tammy McMorrow

In this episode, I’m joined by Tammy McMorrow, a first-grade teacher from Kuna, Idaho with more than 30 years of experience in elementary education. Tammy is the creator and host of the podcast Little Minds Big Thinkers and the founder of the K–2 Building Thinking Classrooms Facebook group.Inspired by the work of Peter Liljedahl, Tammy shares practical strategies and real classroom experiences that help young learners think deeply, collaborate in math, and build confidence as problem solvers.We talk about how Building Thinking Classrooms in elementary math, especially in Kindergarten through Grade 2, can transform the way students engage with mathematics. Tammy offers simple, practical ways teachers can introduce thinking tasks, vertical non-permanent surfaces, collaborative problem solving, and student-centered math instruction in primary classrooms.Whether you’ve already started implementing Building Thinking Classrooms, or you’re wondering how to bring math thinking routines, inquiry-based learning, and problem-based math instruction into your classroom, this episode is full of actionable ideas and encouragement.