TEACHING STRATEGIES

Number Talks: A Quick Guide to Getting Started

Number talks are teacher-facilitated discussions focused on patterns & mental math strategies. They only take 10-15 minutes, but deliver a big instructional punch. (Scroll down to see an example!)  

I first started using number talks in 2010 when I began using the Contexts for Learning Mathematics curriculum in my 4th grade classroom. (T-Shirt Factory is a legit work of genius.)

I immediately saw a difference in how my students engaged with math every time we had a number talk. Even my math-averse kiddos were alert in their seats, asking to share their thinking.  

My class was genuinely excited about the strategies they were using & the patterns they were discovering.  

I didn't conduct them every day or even every week, but each math talk furthered their skills & number sense and fostered a positive learning community.  

I'd facilitated math discussions before, but this was special: it was driven by student contributions. They were making connections between concepts & learning new strategies with less & less input from me.  

So, you are probably thinking, how do I use math talks in my classroom?

Here's the how-to:

1. After selecting a number talk that gets at the skills you want your students to build, present one problem at a time on the board. Example: 4X3 

2. Direct students to solve all problems mentally. No paper & pencil! 

3. Give processing time; it helps to have students put up a "silent thumb" on their desk when they have an answer ready. This limits distractions from hands waving in the air. 

4. Have 3-4 students share their different strategies for solving the given problem, even if their thinking is incorrect. Encourage them to draw a model on the board if they can. Here a few examples:

5. Repeat back & summarize student thinking to make sure it's clear for everyone. Sometimes I add my own strategy if it would be helpful. (For example, if it's more-efficient than all the other strategies offered.)

6. Continue through the given problems as time permits.

Bonus Points: Follow-up with a math game or activity that allows students to practice the strategies they've just learned.

Looking for lessons that contain both number talks and aligned games and activities? Click the link below to get 5 free mini-lessons.