Module 5 - Activity 2: Conducting "Flash" Rekenrek Talks

There are many different routines you can use to conduct a number talk using Rekenreks. The goal of these routines is to help students compose and decompose numbers in flexible ways.

  This handout Links to an external site. lists many different possible routines for using Rekenreks for number talks. 

Each routine has some of the key components shared by all number talks: first, students share what they saw (or what the solution is), then students share how they saw it (or how they solved it). In other words, students are explicitly asked to explain or justify their thinking. The teacher records student thinking in a way to make ideas visible to the whole class.

Now you will plan your own number talks using Rekenreks, and lead them in your PLC. Each partnership can try a different routine. The other PLC members will be students. Having a chance to practice leading number talks is one of the most important elements of learning to incorporate number talks into your teaching. 

 Plan a Number Talk 

You will need about 15 minutes to work with a partner for this part of the activity.

• With a partner, plan a Rekenrek talk, using one of the routines Links to an external site. (Microsoft Word version Download Microsoft Word version
  ) to guide your planning. 
• Choose your own numbers for the Rekenrek talk with your partner. You can use a physical Rekenrek, the free app from the Math Learning Center Links to an external site., or the iPad app “Rekenrek” Links to an external site. as you conduct your number talk.
• Identify your goal for the number talk.
• Predict the different strategies that children might use to find the total number of beads. Consider strategies that lead to a right answer and also strategies that lead to a wrong answer.
• Practice how you will record these different strategies.

  Practice a number talk 

Reading about number talks is not enough! We found that simply reading about and discussing number talks is not enough to learn to do them in your classroom. We have found that teachers learn the most when they have the opportunity to practice the number talks with one another. Don’t just talk about what you would do - actually try it out!

Each partnership should perform their 3-4 minute number talk. The other members of the PLC will act as students.

 When you are leading the number talk using a Rekenrek, follow one of the routines Links to an external site. 

An important goal of a number talk is for students to compose and decompose numbers in flexible ways. Each of the five routines mentioned in the handout highlight different ways to compose and decompose numbers around the benchmarks of 5, 10 and 20.

When you are a student during a number talk:

• Use your experience with students to approximate how they would respond. The goal is to work on recording strategies, so don’t focus on student behavior issues.

• Stay “in character” for the whole number talk.

  Reflect on the number talk

• Reflect on the experience of leading the number talk with your PLC
  • What went well? What surprised you?
  • What did you learn about listening to and recording student ideas?