CGI math training: Number Talks

What I learned at my CGI math training:  Number Talks

I recently attended a week long CGI math training held by the UCLA math project.  We started with number talks.

What are number talks?

Number talks help students work out math mentally.  It helps build number sense. Kids build a better sense of basic number operations.

We started with a problem on the board. 

First, notice that there is no equal sign.  Instead of equal, we need to start saying things such as “the same as”.

Second, give the kids wait time.  They need to think about it. 

Third, use hand signals to tell you where they are.  Closed fist means I’m thinking.  One finger means I have a solution.  Index and thumb means I have more than one solution.

Now what?

First, have kids pair share.  As they share with each other, walk around and take note of what their strategy was.

Then, choose kids to share out strategically.  You’re looking for different approaches to solving the problem.  Chart it as they share out.

Here is an example of what it would look like charted....

As you can see, the solutions are labeled with the kids names to give them ownership.  And there are three examples here but you only do one problem at a time with the kids.

Things for you to think about as a teacher:

-What mathematical ideas emerged as the students engaged in mental math?

-What opportunities does mental math give teachers and students?

-How are these ideas related to your own CGI journey as an educator?

If you need some activities that are ready to go, check out the CGI products in my TPT store!  My products are read-only Powerpoints for fourth and fifth grades!  Well wishes to you on your own CGI journey!  It'll be great!