Number Talks
Developing Mental Strategies
for Dealing with Numbers
Adapted from St. Vrain School District
About Number Talks
•
•
•
•
Students participate daily
In addition to 1 hour math session
10 - 15 minutes
Number talks replace
– timed tests
– drilling facts
– around the world games
• Students do not use pencil and paper
Facilitating Number Talks
• Record all processes so students can
ask questions about strategies they find
confusing
• Encourage students to try a “new”
strategy regularly
• Question students to help them clarify
their strategies
• Ask repeatedly, “Who thought of it
differently?”
Elements of a Successful
Number Talk
• All children are participating
• Thumbs up when ready
• Safe Environment:
– No criticism or praise
• Quiet thinking time
• Collect all answers
• Share Three Strategies
Successful Number Talks
Continued
• Record the strategies
• Use careful questioning to draw
explanations
• Not too much help: Let them struggle!
• Don’t leave incorrect explanations
• Encourage children to try other
strategies
• Name strategies
What Students Might
Do
• Use landmark numbers
58 + 27
58 - 8 = 50
27 - 2 = 25
50 + 25 = 75
8 + 2 = 10
75 + 10 = 85
What Students Might
Do
• Front end addition
24 + 86
20 + 80 = 100
4 + 6 = 10
100 + 10 = 110
What Students Might
Do
• Take apart numbers
100 - 55 - 12
100 - 50 = 50
50 - 5 = 45
45 - 10 = 35
35 - 2 = 33
What Students Might
Do
• Change order in addition
5 + 42 + 20 + 25
20
25
50
90
+
+
+
+
5 = 25
25 = 50
40 = 90
2 = 92