After having the fortunate opportunity of being in dozens of teachers’ math classrooms over the years, one thing that stands out is that students lack numeracy. Numeracy is defined as the “ability to understand and work with numbers.” We can all think back to when we were young in the classroom and remember that fact fluency was so important. Simply memorize the facts and life will be easy. While I do believe fact memorization has an important role in being successful in math, having numeracy plays just as an important role.
What is a Number Talk?
Using a Number Talk is an excellent way to improve fluency in your students. Every operation can be addressed, and your students will be engaged as they are displaying a sense of ownership and justifying their reasoning. They should last 10 – 12 minutes and are perfect as the Hook in Math Workshop for ALL grade levels. Number Talks focus on ONE equation where students mentally solve from already constructed strategies and explain their strategy out loud. It allows students to make mathematical connections and the discussion allows the teacher to facilitate more efficient and/or elegant strategies with the class.
How to Conduct a Number Talk
One of the most important things to remember when conducting a Number Talk is that students are solving mentally. Encourage them to put a “thumbs up” when they are ready to share their answer. Call on several students and make sure to write down ALL answers…even the wrong ones. When it is time to select a student to explain their thinking, I tend to choose a student that has given a wrong answer. I find that as they are explaining their thinking out loud, they tend to “catch” their mistake. It is also important to ask the students to share their thinking if it is different than another student. Remember, Number Talks are an opportunity to display efficient and/or elegant strategies. The students can help you determine those after they’ve shared.
Why is this beneficial to teachers?
Number Talks serve as a great way to take an informal assessment of student learning. Teachers automatically can identify students who have a strong understanding of strategies and students with misconceptions. This will help them create strategy groups during small group time. Number Talks also help teachers move students away from memorization and towards understanding. This will help increase numeracy. Another benefit of Number Talks is that they are short and engaging. They are a perfect way to get students thinking about math before they start their lesson.
Why is this beneficial to students?
Number Talks are beneficial for students because it allows students to solve in a way that they can be most successful. It gives students a chance to practice using academic vocabulary as they justify and explain. Number Talks also boost self confidence in students. Since all answers are written down, a sense of community is shown. Students are also able to use conversational moves, such as Talk Moves, as they communicate their thinking with others. They can politely agree or disagree or add on to their classmate’s thinking.
Here is an example of a Number Talk during a 3rd Grade Intervention Time:
Let’s take a look at a Number Talk given to third graders. As you can see, three different strategies were shown…all displaying excellent thinking.
Now, let’s look at a Number Talk given to Kindergarteners using a Tens Frame. The first Tens Frame was given. Students represented how to make 6 three different ways by moving the blue circles.
It is important to remember that when you walk away from the math on the board, the problem should stand on its own. Make sure to display correct thinking.
If you haven’t had the opportunity, I highly recommend you read Number Talks: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies by Sherry Parrish. The book has wonderful examples for grades K-6, as well as a DVD with examples used in classrooms. If you are an Instructional Coach, using a Number Talk is a wonderful way to get into teachers’ classrooms!
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