1. Getting Started with Susie Carmichael
Welcome to Getting Started with Number Talks
Susie Carmichael

2. This is the Number Talks book by Sherry Parrish that each school is being supplied with. It includes lesson ideas and a really good dvd where you can see number talks in action across all ages and stages.

3. Key Features of a Number Talk
A classroom conversation around a purposefully crafted computation problem that is solved mentally.
The problems in a number talk are designed to elicit specific strategies that focus on number relationships and number theory.
Pupils are provided with problems in either a whole class, or small group, setting and are expected to mentally solve them accurately, efficiently and flexibly.
Pupils share and defend their solutions and strategies, they have the opportunity to collectively reason about numbers while building connections to key conceptual ideas in maths.
It is a stand-alone activity.
Conducted in five to fifteen minutes.

4. The discussions around number talks is very important.

5. The Role of the Teacher Facilitator of problems
Write answers and strategies on the
board
Plan for the day's
Number Talk
Be sure Number Talks only lasts 5-15 minutes
How would you solve….?

6. Four Essential Features
1. 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.
3. Accept, respect and consider all answers.
4. Encourage student communication throughout the number talk.

7. Number Talks Hand Signals
Closed fist, held against chest, when thinking of a solution to a problem.
Thumb up, held against chest, when you have one solution.
Thumb and first finger up when you have more than one solution to the problem.

8. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
“I have not failed.
I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas A. Edison
Important to provide: A safe environment, Think first then check, Interaction, Self correction

9. Number Talks Progressions
Importance of Developing Number Sense
Importance of teaching mental maths strategies, for example subitising, doubling etc.
Useful learning resources for number sense and computation

10. Video Early through to Second
This is a video showing early level through to second level

11. Video Third Level
This is a clip of third level

12. Planning for Number Talks
Will your Number Talks be a stand alone unit or a series of lessons? Does your problem allow for mental maths?
Are your numbers friendly? Will children be able to retain them?
Are there multiple strategies that children can use?
Are you providing opportunities to build on previously used strategies?

13. Number Talk Problem 34 – 16 Series of Problems: Class: Primary 3
Focus: Most children could not accurately carry out (mentally) a subtraction calculation involving numbers bridging across 10
Number Talk Problem
34 – 16
Possible strategies:
Counting on =
= 18
Counting back
=18
Partition Bar Models
34 – 10 = 24
24 – 4 = 20
20 – 4 = 16
Round and Adjust
30 – 16 = – 20 = 14
= = 18
Question Prompts:
How did you solve this problem?
Did anyone use a different strategy?
Can someone else explain …….’s strategy in their own words?
Who would like to piggy back on to …….’s strategy?
Series of Problems:
35 – 17
34 – 18
32 – 16
36 – 19
Which strategy do you think is most efficient?
Can you explain why it is the most efficient?
Here is a Primary 3 example.

14. Assessing Number Talks
Post-it notes
Exit passes
Filming children in groups
Pictorial evidence
Flip chart paper
Mental strategy assessments

15. Mental agility assessment
Question:
Strategy 1:
Date:
Strategy 2:
Strategy 3:   
 Strategy 4:
Most effective strategy:
You might wish to use this idea if you were looking for a more formative assessment for each pupil

16. Getting Started…
Start with small numbers so the students can learn to focus on the strategies instead of getting lost in the numbers
Use a string of problems that are related to and scaffold each other
Keep Number Talks short - they are not intended to replace your ongoing maths lessons.
Encourage pupils to actively engage in number talks activities by practising and using the hand signals and discussion stems. Make thinking visible! Record and discuss strategies used.