Using Number Talks to Build Conceptual Understanding and Confidence 

WHAT are Number Talks?

They are for purposefully crafted computations. This means we can’t throw just anything on the board and make it the basis for a number talk. The problems we pick for our students must elicit specific strategies and thinking and, therefore, must be intentional and preplanned. 

Princess Anne High School's Algebra 1 PLC team is using Daily Number Talks at the Vertical Wipebooks with BTC strategies to meet students where they are, build conceptual understanding with everyday math skills, give them a foundation for learning new concepts, and reduce math anxiety by building confidence and communication skills when problem solving.  Teacher Trevor Troxel shares, "During PLC meetings, at the beginning of each unit we list all of the pre-skills and foundational skills students need or are lacking for them to be ready to learn the new Algebraic concepts. We talk about the best way to introduce each skill using a familiar strategy or an all access concept that everyone can connect to. For example, we chose to use vertical number lines with number talks for adding and subtracting integers to make the connections to real-life (slides 12-13). " Here are the PL slides Troxel shared at their January department meeting. 

Key benefits of using number talks:

• Develops mental math fluency:
  Students practice solving problems mentally, which strengthens their ability to manipulate numbers efficiently. 

• Promotes conceptual understanding:
  By sharing their strategies, students demonstrate how they are thinking about the problem, revealing their underlying mathematical concepts. 

• Enhances mathematical discourse:
  Number talks create a space for students to articulate their thinking, listen to others' perspectives, and refine their own strategies. 

• Builds flexibility in thinking:
  Students are exposed to various approaches to solve a problem, promoting adaptability and understanding of different calculation methods. 

• Supports equity in the classroom:
  Number talks provide a platform for all students to share their thinking, regardless of their prior knowledge or preferred strategy. 

• Improves communication skills:
  Students practice explaining their reasoning clearly and using mathematical language accurately.