Number Talks

This collection features resources that will assist you in conducting Number Talks in your classroom. 

There are a variety of differnet Number Talks, including:

  • Notice & Wonder
  • Dot Counting
  • Counting Circles
  • Number Strings (a series of related problems that build a specific concept or strategy)
  • Which One Doesn't Belong
  • Mobiles (balancing)
  • Quick Draw
  • Fraction Talks
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100 Questions that Promote Mathematical Discourse
100 Questions that Promote Mathematical Discourse
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100 Questions that Promote Mathematical Discourse
Includes questions that:

*help students work together to make sense of math
*teach students to rely on themselves to determine if something is mathematically correct
*learn to reason mathematically
*evaluate their own processes
*help with problem comprehension
*help students learn to conjecture, invent and solve problems
*learn to connect mathematics, its ideas and its application
*help persevere
*help students focus on focus on the mathematics from activities

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Author:
Ready
Date Added:
12/09/2019
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BETWEEN 2 NUMBERS
BETWEEN 2 NUMBERS
Rating

The inspiration for this site came from John Allen Paulos' book Innumeracy. From it Fawn Nguyen took the mathematical fun facts, etc. and created middle school mathematics critical thinking problems that relate to ratios and proportional reasoning and require students to compare stuff and really get them thinking.

Here's an example:
Tortoises have the longest lifespan among vertebrates, about 200 years.

A fruit fly's lifespan is about 45 days.
​
If we scaled both lifespans down so that a tortoise's 200 years is now 1 day, then what is the fruit fly's lifespan, in seconds?

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Homework/Assignment
Author:
Fawn Nguyen
Date Added:
09/27/2022
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Estimation 180
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
Estimation 180
Rating

Tag Line: Building number sense one day at a time.

The site provides a number of estimation activities involving height, number of objects etc. The activities may include a photo or video to help students develop some reference to solve the activity. The answers are provided, but the idea is that students utilize their estimation skills to determine the appropriate answer.

The site also includes a blog, a relationship between some american common core standards and estimation activities, as well as information on clothesline math activities as well.

Subject:
Math
Foundations
Workplace and Apprenticeship
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Homework/Assignment
Author:
Andrew Stadel
Date Added:
11/21/2018
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Focusing on the Fundamentals of Math K-8 - From ON
Focusing on the Fundamentals of Math K-8 - From ON
Rating

"This guide is intended to support teachers’ ongoing efforts in building students’ knowledge and skills in mathematics. It focuses attention on the content of expectations in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: Mathematics, 2005 that deal with fundamental mathematics concepts and skills (specifically, expectations in the Number Sense and Numeration strand and expectations that relate to number properties in the Patterning and Algebra strand). The guide outlines steps to achieving the knowledge and skills described in these expectations and suggests how to make more timely connections that will better support student learning. A strong foundation in the concepts and skills emphasized here will prepare students for success in high school, and ensure that they have a set of essential skills for employment and responsible citizenship in the future."

There are excellent charts included that organize foundational skills by grade grouping. These charts start on page 5.

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Primary Source
Author:
Government of Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Education
Date Added:
02/05/2020
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Inside Mathematics - Tools for Educators
Inside Mathematics - Tools for Educators
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The tools for educators include:
~ Problems of the Month - The Problems of the Month are non-routine math problems designed to be used schoolwide to promote a problem-solving theme at your school. Each problem is divided into five levels of difficulty, Level A (primary) through Level E (high school), to allow access and scaffolding for students into different aspects of the problem and to stretch students to go deeper into mathematical complexity.
~ Jumpstart Guide for Practitioners - guide to accompany the Problems of the Month
~ Formative Re-engaging Lessons - Formative Re-Engaging Lessons involve a cycle of inquiry, instruction, assessment, analysis, selection, and re-engagement around a mathematical concept. Each Formative Re-Engaging Lesson includes a classroom video of the lesson, downloadable lesson plan, student pages, pre- and post-assessments, and supporting instructional materials.
~ Classroom Videos
~ Resources for Social and Emotional Learning in Mathematics Classrooms

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Assessment
Homework/Assignment
Lesson
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Author:
University of Texas
Date Added:
06/02/2021
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MATHurdays — Where THERE'S A WILLS, there's a way
MATHurdays — Where THERE'S A WILLS, there's a way
Rating

Math so fun, we do it on Saturdays!

Finally…a structure for 1 hour math blocks that include

Building Community & Relationships

Math Routines

Math Task

Rich Mathematical Discussions

A great source for number talks

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Date Added:
11/10/2021
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Math Before Bed – Nighttime or Anytime Numeracy (K-MY)
Math Before Bed – Nighttime or Anytime Numeracy (K-MY)
Rating

These prompts can be used at school or at home!

"Math Before Bed is a collection of prompts that can inspire mathematical discussions that you and your children can have before bed, at dinner, or anytime.

Each prompt on this site shows you and your child a perplexing problem. Sometimes there is one right answer and sometimes there are many right answers. The purpose of each question is to generate a discussion about HOW you determined an answer. If you find one answer, try to find another. You could complete one prompt a night, or many prompts."

You can filter prompts using the STRANDS tab at the top of the page into number sense, patterning, geometry, measurement or probability.

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Author:
Math Before Bed
Date Added:
11/01/2022
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Math Pickle - games and puzzles Gr. 1-9
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Math Pickle - games and puzzles Gr. 1-9
Rating

Original math puzzles, games and problems - organized by grade.
You may find this site will not work directly from the site - If the page doesn't work copy and paste this URL into a web browser http://mathpickle.com/

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Game
Author:
F J
G H
Jean Piaget
John Guare
Marcus Du Sautoy
Michel De Montaigne
Date Added:
06/14/2019
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SAME BUT DIFFERENT MATH
SAME BUT DIFFERENT MATH
Rating

Same But Different is a powerful routine for use in math classrooms. The activity of same but different is an activity where two things are compared, calling attention to both how they are the same and how they are different.

This apparent paradox is the beauty of the activity. It is important to notice the word BUT. Instead of making a choice – am I going to prove that these are the same or am I going to prove that they are different – students are considering how two items can be both. This is a critically important distinction.

Not same OR different, rather same BUT different.

There are categories for addition/subtraction, early numeracy, multiplication/division, measurement, place value, fractions, ratios, geometry, algebra, and high school math.

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Homework/Assignment
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Author:
Looney Math Consulting
Date Added:
02/11/2022
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Same or Different? – Supporting Mathematical argument in the elementary grades
Same or Different? – Supporting Mathematical argument in the elementary grades
Rating

Same or Different? is a routine that provides students opportunities to construct arguments when comparing objects, such as numbers or shapes.

A routine like Same or Different? provides accessible opportunities for even youngest students to learn how to talk about various features of mathematical objects – quantity, shape, color, orientation, and arrangement, to name a few.

Subject:
Math
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Homework/Assignment
Author:
Brian Bushart
Date Added:
09/27/2022
MoreLess