Introduction to Number Talks

1. Introduction to Number Talks Anne Gallagher – Director of Mathematics Katy Absten – K-12 Math Specialist Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Debra Kowalkowski – Regional Math Coordinator ESD 101

2. Email Newsletter • Best way to stay informed via OSPI emails • Go to website to sign up • Encourage your colleagues to do the same OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

3. Who Is With Us Today? • K-2 • 3-5 • 6-8 • HS • Administrator • Other?

4. Number Talks • First time hearing about them • Aware of them • Have tried them • Tried them and stopped • Do them regularly

5. What Are Number Talks? Instructional Routine • 3-4 times a week for about 10 – 15 min – consistency is important • Opportunity for students to mentally reason with numbers • Students share their solutions and strategies and their solutions are recorded and honored • Allows students to consider different perspectives on how a problem can be solved • Opportunity for students to reflect on and compare their solutions with other students’ solutions.

6. Why Are Number Talks Important- For Students? Honors each student’s individual approach to solving a problem Build’s flexible thinking Decreases math anxiety and builds confidence in mathematics For Teachers? • Teaches us to LISTEN to students • Challenges us to make sense of students’ mathematical thinking • Deepens our understanding of mathematics

7. One Student’s Perspective “Something wonderful happens when students learn they can make sense of mathematics in their own ways, make mathematically convincing arguments, and critique and build on the idea of their peers.” “Making Number Talks Matter”, page 5

8. Number Talks:a high-leverage teaching strategy to transform the culture of the classroom

9. “Helping students take back the authority of their own reasoning” “Making Number Talks Matter”, page 1

10. Number Talk

11. Illuminating the “Routine” • Students put paper and pencil away • Teacher writes a problem on the board – left to right, not one below the other • Students put a thumb up once they have an answer – additional fingers if they have more than one way of solving the problem • Once most thumbs are up, teacher records the answers only on the board – asking if anyone has a different answer. No reference is given as to whether the answer shared is correct or incorrect. • Teacher asks for volunteers to explain how they figured the problem out, student clarifies which answer they are defending, and teacher records the strategy and might ask the class “does anyone have a question for ____________”, “can you say more about____________?” • Teacher records the student’s solution as the student explains it.

12. 69 - 52

13. Number Talk in 2nd Grade

14. Debrief – What Did You Notice? • All solutions were honored and recorded on the whiteboard • Students were asked to identify what number they are defending – (students defending a wrong answer - honors mistakes, and teaches students that we can learn much from mistakes) • 3 different approaches to solving the problem – clarifying questions from teacher • Teacher records how the student is reasoning – for example the last student jumps by 1’s – teacher doesn’t suggest something easier. • Others?

15. Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP) • What SMP did you observe students engaging in? • SMP1 – Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. • SMP 2– Reason abstractly and quantitatively. • SMP 3 – Construct viable arguments & critique the reasoning of others. • SMP 7 – Look for and make use of structure. • How do Number Talks help to support aparticular SMP?

16. Smarter Balanced – Claim 3 Communicating Reasoning Students can clearly and precisely construct viable arguments to support their own reasoning and to critique the reasoning of others.

17. Number TalkYour Turn!

18. Dot Pattern Number Talk • Look at the dot pattern and, without counting one by one, figure out how many dots there are.

19. Number Talk

21. Number Talk

22. 3 + 3 + 1

23. 2 + 3 + 2

24. 2 X 3+ 1

25. Supporting Number talksK-12

26. Setting the Stage • Begin with dot patterns (YES! Even with HS students) - Each student needs to have the opportunity for success when beginning number talks. • Introduce and follow the routine - Ensures a safe environment for sharing. • Discuss with students that all answers are honored – we understand more about mathematics from understanding mistakes

27. Over time – move to: Simple addition and subtraction – build flexibility with reasoning with number – most students lack this (and adults!) Provide opportunities for success and create an environment where multiple strategies are valued and students can learn to build their own flexibility in reasoning. Then move to multiplication and division problems

28. When we (teachers) start to explain the solution, we rescue students and diminish the student’s autonomy as thinkers.

29. We Are Learners Along With the Students- • Ask purposeful questions that shift the focus from the teacher to the student. • Bring student solutions back to a PLC –particularly if you are unsure about a student’s strategy. • Build your own content knowledge by making sense of the many new strategies your students will come up with!

30. Connect with others! • We are developing an online collaboration site where teachers and educators can access number talk resources and participate in grade level discussions to support implementation across the state. • Washington Teachers Collaborating About Number Talks • How to get access: • https://waesdcoordinators.instructure.com/register

31. Dive Deeper Number Talks by Grade Band • Teachers from the specific grade bands will share their experiences with number talks, tips for getting started, changes they have seen in their students and their teaching, and an opportunity for Q & A. Sign up now! – Visit OSPI’s Math Webpage • Number Talks for Grades K – 2   February 11th 3:45 – 4:45 • Number Talks for Grades 3 – 5   February 16th 3:45 – 4:45 • Number Talks for Grades 6 – 8   March 7th 3:45 – 4:45 • Number Talks for High School   March 9th 3:45 – 4:45 http://www.k12.wa.us/Mathematics/

32. Resources • You Cubed - https://www.youcubed.org/You Cubed - Number Talks • Making Number Talks Matter (book) – Ruth Parker and Cathy Humphreys • Intentional Talk – Elham Kazemi and Allison Hintz • Teaching Channel – PLC Leadership & Number Talks • https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2015/07/23/plc-leadership-number-talks-gbt/

33. Questions?

34. Thank you! Anne Gallagher– anne.gallagher@k12.wa.us Katy Absten – katy.absten@k12.wa.us Debra Kowalkowski - dkowalkowski@esd101.net