When to Start With Number Talks?

It is never too early to begin Number Talks in your classroom! 

Math is a skill that must be developed over time and early math deficits have devastating effects on later learning.

Begin at the beginning - Kindergarten!

The goal of Number Talks in kindergarten is to break down a number into a simple form.

Students need to understand what a number like “5” actually means.

There are many different ways to “do” Number Talks in kindergarten.

The best way to start is with dot cards. 

Number Talk in Kindergarten - How many do you see?

Number Talk in Kindergarten with Dot Cards

Number Talk in Grade 1 - How to use different operations to get to a target number.

Number Talk in Grade 2 - How to show patterns in different ways.

Starting off with simple dot talks, number talks allow students to develop accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility with computational strategies. In the primary grades, it allows students to practice simple counting, addition, and subtraction. It exposes them to a variety of strategies, some that will allow a much deeper understanding than others.

As students move into junior high and high school we expect students to perform at high levels of thinking and algebraic reasoning. If you want students to improve their numeracy skills, then we as teachers need to do some deep learning on how students develop skills which have its roots in the earliest of primary and elementary math experiences.

How To Prepare For Number Talks in Your Classroom

The Classroom Environment

Creating an environment in your classroom that will foster successful Number Talks takes time, patience and consistency. Students need to feel they are in a safe place to communicate their reasoning, make mistakes and take risks. Creating a safe, positive environment for your students will get your Number Talks off to a flying start!

The Discussions – some easy steps!

v Present a visual arrangement of objects or computation question to be solved

v Give your students time (VERY IMPORTANT) to solve mentally

v Have your students use the ‘Hand Signal’ protocol  when they share answers

v Teacher asks 3-4 students to share how they got a particular answer (the strategies used and names, if possible)

v The correct answer is given and discussed

Use signals to the chest

So others are not distracted during thinking time! 

                   

The Teacher Role

As teachers, we are all too familiar with telling and explaining. During Number Talks, our role must shift to being a facilitator; guide the discussions so everyone is learning, including you! I shift my questions from “What answer did you get?” to “How did you get that answer?”

The Role of Mental Math

Find a comfortable spot in your classroom and leave the paper and pencils in the desks! Solving problems mentally as a regular daily routine will allow students to become more efficient with numbers and strengthen their understanding of place value. 

Grade 6 Number Talk in September

Purposeful Questions

Planning the ‘just right’ questions is important! The skill you want to focus on will determine the operations you will use in your Number Talk.

There are many variations to how a Number Talk will look in a classroom; where students gather and even the hand signals for answering but the goal will always remain the same......get students talking about math! 

Introduction to a Class about a Number Talk

And another….

Some Comic Relief - What A Number Talks are not…Imagined by Kids

In The Beginning

I begin my school year with very important messages For my students about math. "Mistakes are important.", "There is no such thing as a ‘math person’.", "Everyone can do the math"., and "I care more about your mathematical thinking than about the ‘right answer’." I want my students to be confident about their math abilities. I strive every day to create opportunities for creativity, flexibility, and communication. I want to create an environment where my students explore their own path to solutions, question something that they are not sure about, and learn from each other!

Everyone Can Do Math!

Engaging Students During Number Talks!

Caution! Patience needed Ahead!

We have probably all been in those classrooms where you have just a select few who will participate in any discussions or ask any questions. Whether it is disengagement or lack of confidence; sometimes it is very difficult to pique the curiosity of all! Here are some tips.

v Be patient.

v During the early stages of your number talks, allow your students to turn and talk to their classmates about their thinking.

v Keep reminding students that mistakes are all a part of learning.

v Suggest a strategy to get them thinking.  

AND FINALLY - Never say no!

No matter how off-the-wall a student’s answer is, never make them feel as if their answer is wrong.  Question their thinking rather than correct their answers.  “Through our questions, we seek to understand students’ thinking.”  (Humphreys, Cathy, 2015). 

Ask questions such as:

·      Can you show me how you got that answer?

·      Can you explain why you think _________?

·      Did anyone come up with a different answer?

·      Thank you for sharing.  Would anyone else like to share their thoughts?

·      Look again. Could there be another possibility?

All the work at the beginning will be worth it in the end when your students ask, "Miss, can we do a nUmber talk today?"

Why Number Talks?

I have found the benefits of the 'Number Talk' daily routine to be endless! Here are just a few!

Students move away from memorization and toward mathematical reasoning

Students interact and learn from one another

Number Talks are great ways for students to work on their computational fluency and mental math skills. 

Without much planning, Number Talks are a great, short routine that helps students develop number sense through mental math and explaining their reasoning. 

Students feel they can be competent math thinkers 

Errors are treated as learning opportunities, 

which creates a safe environment for risk-taking

Students are exposed to multiple strategies to solve a problem

Each student has a chance to share their thought process and solve a problem

All students have time to reflect

Students are not distracted or intimidated by raised hands

Students accept or critique the reasoning of others

Students verbalize their reasoning to each other

Feedback is immediate, either from the teacher or other students

Why Number Talks (with Jo Boaler)

Doing Number Talks in your classroom as a daily routine will not only develop your student's conceptual understanding and procedural fluency, it will begin to change their mindset about math!

Talking About Numbers

Number Talks were created by Kathy Richardson and Ruth Parker in the early 1990s to engage students in meaningful mathematical discourse and sense-making as well as transform the culture of the classroom to one of inquiry and curiosity.

Number Talks are a brief (5 to 15 minutes), daily routines that focus on the development of number sense. It is an opportunity for your students to do the talking. How great is that! During a number talk, students are thinking, asking their peers questions, and explaining their own thinking. 

My classroom is a work in progress when it comes to Number Talks but I would not be as successful as I am if not for some fantastic resources! Check them out in my Resource and Website Links -  Just to get you started!

“The heart of number talks is classroom conversations focused on making sense of mathematics”