2. Objectives Mathematics and Me What is a Number Talk?
Key features of a Number Talk.
Essential features of a Number Talk.
Benefits of Number Talk.
Calculation strategies (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).

3. Mathematics and Me Who enjoyed maths at school?
Who worried about getting the answers incorrect?
Who feels it’s ok to say “I’m not a maths person”?

4. Making Maths Count report 2016
'Scotland has a maths problem. Too many of us are happy to label ourselves as “no good with numbers.”
This attitude is deep-rooted and is holding our country back educationally and economically.'

5. Intelligence is fixed so... Intelligence can grow so…
Mindsets Continuum
Intelligence is fixed so...
“Effort is pointless!”
“Why persist if you can’t already do it?”
“You can’t change it so why bother with feedback?”
Intelligence can grow so…
“Challenges are learning opportunities”
“Effort helps you get better”
“Thinking about your own thinking helps you find ways to improve.”
We can have both fixed and growth mindsets about different aspects of our life and this can vary over time.
A pupil might have a fixed mindset about their ability in one subject and therefore be focused on performance yet this same pupil could have a growth mindset about their ability in another, focusing instead on the learning opportunities.
Mindsets about subjects might also change – for better or worse. A pupil could hold very fixed beliefs about their ability now but this might not always be the case. Unfortunately the reverse is also true – a pupil who might hold very growth mindset beliefs about their ability now, could change (e.g. transition to high school – small fish in a big pond, might question their ability more).
Optional discussion: thinking about pupils mindsets as a continuum, do their beliefs change as they go through school?
@WL_EPS Educational Psychology Service

6. Five CORE elements of mental agility
Estimation
Mental flexibility
Number discussion
Real Life Contexts
Modelled mental strategies

7. What do you see ?
Look at the dot image on the following slide. The image will be shown for four seconds to begin with.
Think about….
How many you see . . .
How did you see them . . .

10. What is a Number Talk?
A number talk is a strategy to build flexibility, accuracy and efficiency in mathematical thinking through the articulation of, and sharing of, mental maths strategies.

11. Key Features of a Number Talk
A classroom conversation solving a problem using mental agility.
Pupils share solutions and explain their chosen strategy.
It is a stand-alone activity.
Conducted in five to fifteen minutes.

12. Role of the Teacher Facilitator of problems
Plan for the day's number talks
Be sure number talks only lasts 5-15 minutes

13. Essential Features
Location - the setting should allow you to maintain close proximity to the pupils for informal observations and interactions.
Time – provide appropriate wait time for the majority of the students to access the problem.
Accept, respect and consider all answers.
Encourage student communication

14. Benefits of Number Talks
Developing number sense
Developing fluency with numbers (knowing how numbers are composed and decomposed)
Confidence (communication and number)
Learning a variety of strategies to suit all abilities
Helps teacher identify next steps in teaching

15. Addition Strategies

16. Subtraction Strategies

17. Multiplication and Division Strategies

18. What can you do? Make number a part of your daily routine
Ask your children to teach you new strategies
Play games to encourage mental agility (eg with dominoes, dice, cards, counters, coins)
Encourage your children to learn through making mistakes

19. Mistakes are… MISTAKES… Mean I Start To Aquire Knowledge Experience
Skills

20. Questions?