Number Talks
Mental Math Strategies for K-8
Number Talks, Grades K-5: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies
Our First Step
Introducing number talks with our students began with using a video that would support a growth mindset. We used various videos, depending on the grade level we were addressing:
Sesame Street, The power of yet (you tube) (primary)
Challenges grow your Brain (you tube) (primary - junior)
Jo Boaler (Youcubed.org) WIM Day 1 (junior-intermediate) - join youcubed.org for FREE to gain access to this and other fabulous resources
Our Goal: To facilitate a number talk at least 3 times each week
K- Grade 2 - focus is on THREE thinking tools - dot cards, rekenreks and 5/10 frames
DOT CARDS - small groups
- began with Year 2 (SK) students in November
- introduced protocol of 'Thumbs Up' and 'Me, too"
- began with a small number of dots, e.g. 2 and progressed slowly
REKENREKS - small groups
- progressed through resource as suggested
5 & 10 FRAMES - small groups and whole class
- progressed through resource as suggested
Grades 3-8
First two weeks - use DOT CARDS - whole class
- introduce protocol of 'Thumbs Up' and 'Me, too"
- most, if not all, students could feel successful
- encourages multiple perspectives
- encourages multiple answers
- encourages listening to each other
- sets up a community of learners
Week 3 - begin to use addition with the strategy outlined for Gr 3 (Making 10's)
- progress through the strategies based on student understanding
- created small groups for further practice with various strategies (guided math!)
Feedback from Teachers and Students:
"I love how they build the confidence of students so they feel their is no wrong answer." ~T.Dockeray, Hilldale
When "... I say what I saw like 3 dots like this and then she will say so you saw it with the 3 dots like this, and mom she gets it right every time, she knows what we are saying and everyone listens to our answers" - Lily, Gr. 1
I love that I got to hear this from her because its the flip side of it, I'm hearing how kids view the lesson.