Number Talks

Number talks should be built in to our daily math instruction, as they help to develop efficient computation skills, making sense of math and communicating mathematical reasoning. Number talks are intended to make students conceptually understand mathematics without using a memorized set of rules and procedures. This process also helps students gain a better understanding of numerical relationships. They should be completed mentally, and shared out verbally. The only wrong answers are the ones that cannot be justified. These can also be great warm up activities.

Benefits:

• build computational fluency

• mental computation practice

• actively engaged in learning

• builds number sense and communication skills

• builds efficient and effective computational skills

• understand relationships between numbers

• Helps to move from concrete to abstract thinking