Delivering cognitively demanding work can be challenging, but this teacher here offers a rich example of how to push students’ thinking forward by modelling to them how to think backwards. He takes the class through a clear example step-by-step, speaking out his thinking in detail. He is very committed to ensuring students can see the link between the method they know, and approaching it in reverse.

This is an urban, public school. Watch out for how the teacher:
- Challenges students to approach a previous problem by thinking backwards

- Models an example problem

- Keeps pushing students to understand how methods work and connect

How do you cognitively engage students in your own classroom?