This document provides an overview of Number Talks, a strategy for teaching math that focuses on developing number sense and problem solving skills. It discusses how Number Talks allow students to invent strategies, generalize approaches, and build conceptual understanding. The document outlines Number Talks goals for different grade levels from Kindergarten to 5th grade. It also provides guidance on preparing for and facilitating Number Talks, such as selecting an appropriate location, allowing wait time, and encouraging student communication. Sample Number Talk problems and discussions are presented.

1. Number Talks
Loomis Union School District
INSTRUCTIONAL
STRATEGIES

2. LEARNING INTENTIONS
By the end of the day you will:
• Explore the research behind why
students’ thinking and talking
about math is vital
• Be familiar with the Number
Talks lesson format
• Plan and practice a number talks
for your classroom

3. WELCOME
Pick One thing you noticed from the
Number Talks preview
Pick One item you are wondering from
the Number Talks preview

5. BOOK RESOURCES
• Each book comes
with video resource
library
• Math Solutions
video resource
library
http://mathsolutions.wistia.com/projects/7191d658c1

6. Number
Talks
Focus

7. 1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
6. Attend to Precision
2. Reason abstractly
and quantitatively
3. Construct viable
argument and
critique the
reasoning of others
4. Model with
mathematics
5. Use appropriate
tools
strategically.
7. Look for and make use
of structure
8. Look for and express
regularity in repeated
reasoning

8. WHICH STUDENT WOULD YOU ARGUE HAS THE
MOST COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE
COMPUTATION 28 + 33 =

9. Provide a
collaborative forum
for students to:
 Invent Strategies
 Generalize individual
strategies into personal
algorithms
 Build a conceptual bridge
to the standard algorithm

10. HOW CAN YOU PREPARE FOR
NUMBER TALKS?
1. Select a designated location that
allows you to maintain close
proximity to your students
2. 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

11. Kinder -
2nd
1. Develop number
sense
2. Develop fluency
with small
numbers
3. Subitizing
4. Making tens

12. Number Talks Goals
for Grades 3-5
1. Number Sense
2. Place Value
3. Fluency
4. Properties
5. Connecting
mathematical ideas

13. LET’S NUMBER TALKS : ARRAY
DISCUSSION 8 X 25 THIRD GRADE
8
25

14. MAKING CONNECTIONS STRATEGIES
 Present the problem(i.e. dot cards, ten frame,
models, written)
 Record all students answers in upper right
 Use safe hand signals
 Ask to hear and record their thinking for every
answer
 Allow students to embrace their mistakes and
change their thinking with the help of others
 Once the class has agreed on the “correct”
answer, pose the next level of the problem set

15. Common Core Mathematics in the
Secondary Classroom
© 2012 Placer County Office of Education. All rights reserved.
So, how do we
engage students
intentionally and strategically?

16. 25+25+25+25+25+25+25+25
25+25=50
50 +50+50+50=200
•Adding 25 eight times
•Multiplying 4*25 and
doubling
•8*20 plus 8*5
4
4
25
100
100
(4*25) + (4*25)
I could ask if anyone knows
how much 1 quarter is worth
and then how much 4
quarters made and then
write 4*25=100
• Are you saying that 4*25 was a
friendly number sentence?
• Could we draw an area model for
your thinking?
• Would you like to rethink your
answer?

18. LET’S PRACTICE
1. Get in grade level groups
2. Count off in your groups 1-4
3. Gather in group number in a quiet
place, read the background page for
your group number lesson
4. Choose any one of the boxes for the
string you will share
5. As a group, fill out the four-square
planning sheet
6. Each group decide how you want to
present your lesson to the remaining
groups

19. CLOSING
Next Steps :
 Report experiences and show evidence of
student learning at February 6th Staff
Development Day
Contact Ellen Byron ebyron@placercoe.k12.ca.us
 Number Talks Resources
 Number Talks Session 1 (Teacher introducing to class)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X18cQkKMlhs&list=LLVT4i_
qCyEqalSQXPYjVWfw
 Teaching Channel: search number talks
 Locust Grove Elementary math coach wrote number talks
lessons for all subjects!!
http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/Page/38450
 http://www.insidemathematics.org/index.php/classroom-video-
visits/number-talks
 http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/Centricity/Domain/217/middle
_level_bank.pdf
•