Project & Syllabus

District Number Talk Project Tuesday, July 19 Summer 2016

Outcomes from the Number Talk Work 2016 When asking students their favorite thing about learning math last year we heard: “I liked number talks.” “I learned new strategies from listening to others during number talks.” “I am more confident about computing numbers in my head.” “I am more confident talking outloud in class and sharing my thinking.”

Feedback from Teachers… My students were engaged when I did number talks. My students are more confident and fluent working with a variety of numbers. My students use a wider variety of strategies. My students are less dependent on algorithms. My students made connections among numbers and were able to transfer their thinking to other number strings I never anticipated.

News Spread Teachers [outside of Core Math] were interested in “trying” number talks. Opportunities to observe others doing number talks and get feedback. Administrators were intrigued and impressed with student discourse and fluency development.

Challenges: For Teachers Where does this fit into my math program? How is it different from 10 minute math? What are the strategies students should be working on? Have had experiences with? Where do you find the number strings to support the development of an idea? For Coaches Purpose of Number Talk was not always clear. Inconsistently implemented Development of number strings can be challenging.

District Number Talk Project - Due July 26 Purpose: To develop a resource document for each district to provide Number Talk Strings for all teachers in order to support computational fluency development for students. Your Work: To develop a document containing number strings that could be used to strengthen students’ computational fluency for your grade level. You will be working in grade level teams.

4 Steps to Developing A District Plan Step 1: As a grade level team: Use & complete the District Number Talk Planning Sheet to identify the units of study and the computational needs for your grade level units. As a team prioritize the units/modules that you will build number strings to develop fluency. Step 2: Submit a grade level proposal to your district leader. The proposal should include: The number of units your team plans to address. The mathematical strategy that will be addressed by the Number Talk. The approximate amount of number strings your team plans to build. Step 3: Once approved, decide how to share the work and begin to develop number strings that would be used to support the mathematical idea you are targeting. Step 4: Develop a separate google document for each strategy you want to address using Number Talks. Link each of your google documents to the District Number Talk Planning Sheet.

Core Math Number Talk - District Guide

Project Completion: Due July 26 Completed Number Talks for your grade level. Google spreadsheet with appropriate links. Turn In: Individual Reflection 1-2 page reflection on how this work helped you solidify your understanding of Number Talks. Explain what your role will be in sharing and supporting Number Talks with grade level colleagues, administration and parents.

Core Mathematics Partnership Project Disclaimer Core Mathematics Partnership Project University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2013-2016   This material was developed for the Core Mathematics Partnership project through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research (CMSER). This material may be used by schools to support learning of teachers and staff provided appropriate attribution and acknowledgement of its source. Other use of this work without prior written permission is prohibited—including reproduction, modification, distribution, or re-publication and use by non-profit organizations and commercial vendors. This project was supported through a grant from the Wisconsin ESEA Title II, Part B, Mathematics and Science Partnerships.