What are the Benefits of Number Talks?

What are Number Talks?

Before we talk about the benefits of number talks, let me give you a quick summary of what a number talk is.

Number talks are a daily math routine that takes 5-15 minutes to complete.

During a number talk, the teacher presents the class with a math problem.

Students solve the math problem mentally. Then they engage in powerful, student-centered, discussions about strategies and solutions.

The benefits of number talks in the math classroom are huge! Especially for the amount of time they take. When used on a regular basis, number talks can be a great way to deepen your students’ conceptual understanding of math.

Grab a FREE SET OF NUMBER TALKS HERE.

Why We Need Number Talks?

Image of a girl in braids pointing to a chalkboard with numbers

Many students have the belief that to be good at math they need to get the right answer and get it quickly.

By the time students get to upper elementary and middle school, they have memorized many procedures, formulas, and algorithms.

What they often haven’t learned is the reasoning behind those procedures, formulas, and algorithms.

Many students have very little conceptual understanding of why the procedures work. They just know that they are able to get the correct answer.

I see students follow the steps they have learned to solve a problem, without even stopping to think about the reasonableness of the answer they get.

Black chalkboard with the number talk problem 18 x 35 = 144. Words ask if the answer is reasonable. — We want students to solve the problem and think about if their answer is reasonable.

What many students are missing is a deeper conceptual understanding of numbers and mathematical reasoning.

That is why number talks are so important!

What are the Benefits of Number Talks?

Multiplication number string example — Example of a Multiplication Number Talk with Number Strings

Help build number sense. Number talks help students see how numbers work. They help students visualize the relationships between numbers. Students can more easily manipulate numbers mentally when they can visualize the numbers they are working with.
Engage in mathematical conversations and build listening and communication skills. Being able to clearly explain your thinking and accuratly communicate the strategies you have used is one of the benefits of number talks. When students can clearly communicate their thinking, and listen to the thinking of others, they can begin to make connections between strategies and see that there is more than one way to get an answer.
Choosing efficient strategies. As students engage in numebr talk discussions, they will be exposed to many ways of thinking and a wide variety of strategies. As they work with a variety of strategies they not only learn different ways to solve problems, but they begin to determine which strategies are most efficient for them.
Strengthen mathematical reasoning. Students benefit from number talks by building their mathematical reasoning. This takes them beyond the simple memorization of formulas and procedures. Students learn to reason about the accuracy of their answers and the efficiency of their strategies. Mathematical reasoning allows students to build critical thinking skills that will help them take in new information and draw conclusions about numbers and strategies.
Flexibility with numbers. When students participate in number talks, they learn how to be flexible with numbers. They learn how the number system works and how numbers relate to each other. Being able to shift between different representations of numbers allows students to choose the most efficient strategy in each situation. This benefit of number talks will help students strengthen their strategy bank and accuracy of their solutions.
Strengthen mental math skills. Number talks are done mentally. Students learn different ways to manipulate and visualize numbers in their head to come to a solution. Students with strong mental math skills gain an understanding of the relationships between quantities and build overall number sense.
Increased use of academic language. When students are communicating their thinking during number talks, they build their academic language. They are exposed to the vocabulary used in math and how to use those terms to clearly communicate their thinking.
Build confidence! With all of the benefits of number talks, students are going to build confidence in math! Having confidence in math will builld students math mindset and attitude towards their math potential!

How Can I Get Started With Number Talks?

If you want to bring the benefits of number talks into your classroom, I have a FREE gift for you! I have put together a set of 20 number talks that can be used to work on different strategies for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Click the image below to grab your FREE SET OF NUMBER TALKS!