Number Talks

Developing Mental Strategies for Dealing with Numbers

Adapted from St. Vrain School District

About Number Talks

• Students participate daily• In addition to 1 hour math session• 10 - 15 minutes• Number talks replace

– timed tests– drilling facts– around the world games

• Students do not use pencil and paper

Facilitating Number Talks

• Record all processes so students can ask questions about strategies they find confusing

• Encourage students to try a “new” strategy regularly

• Question students to help them clarify their strategies

• Ask repeatedly, “Who thought of it differently?”

Elements of a Successful Number Talk

• All children are participating• Thumbs up when ready• Safe Environment:

– No criticism or praise

• Quiet thinking time• Collect all answers• Share Three Strategies

Successful Number TalksContinued

• Record the strategies• Use careful questioning to draw

explanations• Not too much help: Let them struggle!• Don’t leave incorrect explanations• Encourage children to try other

strategies• Name strategies

What Students Might Do

• Use landmark numbers58 + 27

58 - 8 = 5027 - 2 = 2550 + 25 = 758 + 2 = 1075 + 10 = 85

What Students Might Do

• Front end addition24 + 86

20 + 80 = 1004 + 6 = 10100 + 10 = 110

What Students Might Do

• Take apart numbers100 - 55 - 12

100 - 50 = 5050 - 5 = 45 45 - 10 = 35 35 - 2 = 33

What Students Might Do

• Change order in addition5 + 42 + 20 + 25

20 + 5 = 2525 + 25 = 5050 + 40 = 9090 + 2 = 92