Module 3 - Activity 2: What is a Number Talk?
Defining Number Talks
Read the important characteristics of a number talk below.
Definition: Number Talk
A number talk is a 5 to 10 minute whole class conversation that allows students to share thinking strategies around important ideas. Teachers intentionally select problems that invite alternative solutions. Teachers actively facilitate the conversation to include different ways of thinking, justifying reasoning, asking questions, and connecting strategies.
Characteristics of Student Behavior During a Number Talk
- Compose and decompose flexibly
- Look for relationships
- Take time to think about the problem before deciding what to do
- Develop own strategy for solving the problem
- Listen to other students
- Critically analyze the thinking of others
Key Teacher Questions During a Number Talk
- What do you see?
- How do you see it?
- How can you see it differently?
Video: Example Number Talk Using a Dot Pattern
Watch the video of Jess/Laura conducting a number talk with peers using a dot pattern. Jess and Laura decided to have the students write on the dot pattern as they explained their thinking. When you practice conducting a number talk in the next part of this activity we encourage you to practice recording student thinking as they describe their thinking.
As you watch the video, keep track of:
- How they record student thinking
- What questions they ask
[Opening Video Text: Some dots will be flashed for 2 seconds. You need to figure out how many dots are showing. How many dots to you see? (box with 10 dots randomly grouped)
After watching the video, discuss the following with your PLC:
- How does this number talk encourage the composing and decomposing of 10?
- What mistakes were made by the "students" and how were they dealt with by Jess and Laura?