1. Number Talks Why are they important? What do they look like?
How do I do implement them?

2. The Problem:
Sherry Parrish writes, “Our classrooms are filled with students and adults who think of mathematics as rules and procedures to memorize without understanding the numerical relationships that provide the foundation for these rules.” pg. 4

3. “With almost two-thirds of the nation’s adult population fearful of mathematics, they have simply said “No” to mathematics and closed the doors to careers that require higher math.” (Burns, 1998)

4. The Solution Efficient thinking strategies
Quicker and more accurate responses to mathematical problems
Demonstration of better retention of facts than those that have learned through drill and kill.
Ability to apply mental computation to larger numbers, even after breaks.

5. Solutions continued… Develop fluency in mathematical thinking
Most Importantly- “Students with efficient thinking strategies come to believe that they CAN make sense of mathematics.” Taken from Navigating Through Number and Operations

6. Key Components Classroom environment and community
Classroom discussions
The teacher’s role
The role of mental math
Purposeful computation problems

7. Benefits of Sharing and Discussing Computation Strategies
Students have the opportunity to:
Clarify their own thinking
Consider and test other strategies
Investigate and apply mathematical relationships
Build a knowledge base of strategies
Make decisions about choosing efficient
strategies for specific problems

8. Implementation Four Key Procedures and Expectations
Select a designated location where you can maintain close proximity to the kids
Provide appropriate wait time
Accept, Respect, and Consider ALL answers
Encourage student communication throughout
Clip: Classroom Link 3.5

9. Sample Discussion Prompts
I agree with ________ because…
I do not understand ________. Can you explain this again?
I disagree with _____ because…
How did you decide to _________?
Clip: Classroom Link 3.1

10. Making Students Accountable
Ask students to use finger signals
Keep records of problems posed and student responses
Hold small-group number talks
Create and post class strategy charts
Require students to solve an exit problem each day
Give weekly computation assessments

11. Four Goals for Primary Number Talks
Develop number sense
Develop fluency with small numbers
Subitizing
Making tens
Clip: Classroom Link K.1

12. Five Goals for Intermediate Number Talks
Number sense
Place value
Fluency
Properties
Connecting mathematical ideas
Clip: Classroom Link 3.3

13. Addition Strategies Landmark/Friendly Numbers
Breaking Numbers Apart into Place Value
Doubles/Near Doubles
Making Tens
Compensation
Adding Up in Chunks
Example

14. Subtraction Strategies
Adding Up
Removal or Counting Back
Place Value and Negative Numbers
Keeping a Constant Difference
Adjusting One Number to Create an Easier Problem
Use Example:

15. Multiplication Strategies
Repeated Addition or Skip Counting
Making Landmark/Friendly Numbers
Partial Products
Doubling and Halving
Breaking Factors into Smaller Factors

16. Division Strategies Repeated Subtraction or Sharing/Dealing Out
Multiplying Up
Partial Quotients
Proportional Reasoning

17. Today:
Please use one of the sample number talks in your classroom today. We will share what we did and how it worked when we meet again.