Number Talks at Math Choices

One of our Math Choices is working in a small group with Ms Montilla to solve number problems. we start with the problem and then students solve on their own, making sure to document their thinking and highlight their solution. They make sense of the problem and represent their solutions in diagrams or drawings. We share our thoughts and have a discussion about our solutions.

Scribing our Solutions

At number talks, Ms Montilla scribes our strategies but it has happened that even after our talk, some students want to continue sharing. This photo shows students doing that and scribing their solutions to the equation.

Multiplication Stategies

We have been focusing on the times tables of 2, 3,4,5 and 10. Today we played a game called number square where we apply our knowledge of products. In groups of three, we took turns to answer a multiplication equation.

Once an answer is given, a classmate challenges and asks for an explanation. We also created a list of the strategies that we use when solving multiplication problems. To extend the exercise, through the use of the application, we created a table with factors that we chose and continued to apply our knowledge of products. Ms Montilla invited us to a number talk after this to see how our strategies may be transfered. We eneded up looking at many ways of solving 38 x 6 and emphasizing once more that mistakes prove you're trying and help you know your next steps.

Strategy focus

Number Talk is a routine in our classroom. Today we spotted the strategies that students used to solve the problem. One of the most common strategies is decomposing and recomposing numbers. It can be seen in the many solutions that students share.

59 +13

Today we recorded strategies that  we shared at number talks. The last one was shared by the person who used to think the sum was 152, and now thinks it's 72 because of seeing someone else's strategy.

Number Talks

Number Talks are fun and interesting because it gives us a chance to share our thinking about numbers, and solve problems together. We tried it for the first time today so we learned the signals needed to show our thinking, and then we shared our solutions. In the end, we identified the strategies and tools that helped us solve the number problem.