Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation

Strategies

What are ?

Classroom conversations around purposefully crafted computation problems that are solved mentally.

The problems in a number talk are designed to elicit specific strategies that focus on number relationships.

Students solve problems accurately, efficiently, and flexibly.

Can be conducted in 5-15 minutes.

Key Components of Number Talks

Classroom environment and community

Classroom discussionsThe teacher’s roleThe role of mental mathPurposeful computation problems

Classroom Environment and Community

SafeRisk-

free

Acceptance

Benefits of Sharing and Discussing Computation

StrategiesStudents clarify their own thinkingStudents consider and test other

strategies to see if they are mathematically logical

Students investigate and apply mathematical relationships

Students build a repertoire of efficient strategies

Students make decisions about choosing efficient strategies for specific problems.

The Teacher’s Role

Facilitator

Ask

students to

justify and

clarify their

answers

Guide the students to

ponder and discuss

examples that build

upon your purposes

“How did you get your

answer?” “Is there

another way to solve

it?”

The Role of

Encourages students to build on number relationships to solve problems instead of relying on memorized procedures

Help strengthen students understanding about place value because they are forced to look at numbers as whole quantities instead of discrete columns of digits

Purposeful Computation Problems

Select problems that guide students to focus on mathematical relationships

Requires careful planning to design just the right problems for the students

8+28+2+38+5+28+4+2+6

20+2019+1919+2119+17

Procedures and Expectations Essential to

Number Talks

Four Goals for K-2 Number Talks

Developing number senseDeveloping fluency with small numbersSubitizingMaking Tens

Fluency Number Talks Using Dot Images Fluency Number Talks Using Rekenreks Fluency Number Talks Using Five and Ten

Frames

Continue to use dot plates, rekenreks, and ten frames. Record equations to match students

thinking.

Counting all/Counting onMaking TensDoubles/Near DoublesLandmark or Friendly Numbers

Counting all/Counting on are entry-level strategies for addition. For this reason if

students share this method as their strategy, honor their thinking but make connections to

more efficient strategies.Making TensDoubles/Near DoublesLandmark or Friendly NumbersBreaking Each Number into its Place ValueCompensationAdding Up in ChunksRemoval