Planning Number Talk Activities

Planning number talk activities is an important step in creating and leading powerful number talks.

By putting in a little work ahead of time, you can plan number talk activities that will run smoothly and highlight as many learning points as possible.

Here are six things that I recommend thinking about during your number talk planning, and a FREE number talk planning template for you to use while planning your number talk activities.

1. Problem Choice

As you are planning number talk activities, select a problem that will encourage a variety of strategies. Number talks are meant to highlight multiple strategies and provide students with multiple entry points to solving a problem.

2. Related Problems

Sometimes the problem you choose to use for a number talk doesn’t pull out the strategies or methods you hoped for. Even with your prompting, students might not see or understand the applications and strategies in relation to the number talk problem.

This is why it is helpful to write down related problems as you are planning number talks.

These related problems may be additional problems that students can apply the same strategies to or problems that break the intended teaching points down into smaller chunks.

By having additional problems planned out ahead of time, you can avoid the awkward moment when you notice the original problem isn’t working and you need a new approach. No worries if you have additional related problems already planned out and ready to go!

3. Possible Strategies

It is very helpful to brainstorm all the possible strategies you think your student might use for this specific number talk activity.

Students may approach the problem with different strategies that have some similarities. When you are planning number talks, you can think through these possible connections ahead of time.

While doing number talk planning, it can also be useful to make note of the possible strategies students may use incorrectly. They may use them incorrectly due to a procedural error or as a result of misconceptions or misunderstandings.

4. Questions and Prompts

One of the most important parts of a number talk is the TALK that happens in relation to the problem.

While you are doing your number talk planning, jot down some questions you might ask your students to guide the discussion and keep the talk moving.

If your students are more proficient at carrying on a student-to-student discussion, you might want to plan some questions or prompts you can use to enhance or deepen the discussion.

5. Vocabulary and Academic Language

Number talks are packed full of opportunities to use math vocabulary and academic language.

As you are planning number talks, write down the math language you want to be sure to include in the number talk activity.

You might use some of the terms in your prompts, questioning, or as you record student thinking.

Number talks are a perfect time to model the use of math vocabulary and encourage the use of academic language in student discussion.

6. Wrap Up and Reflection

What are you going to do at the end of your number talk? Will you record student thinking and strategies highlighted in a permanent format, like an anchor chart?

Will students do any additional work related to the number talk? Some ideas might be an exit ticket, writing about the problem in their math journal, or having additional related problems as part of their classwork or math centers.

I also suggest reflecting on the number talk once it is done. What went well? What didn’t go well? Were there any unanticipated strategies? Did any vocabulary come up that you hadn’t thought of? Did you need to use any additional problems to strengthen the talk?

Having these notes will be super helpful as you are planning your next number talk, or doing number talk planning for the future.

Planning number talks doesn’t have to take a ton of time. Teachers already have too much to do and not enough time to do it.

Number talks are such a powerful routine, that I believe taking a few minutes to think through and write down your number talk plans and teaching points can go a long way in making your number talk activities even more powerful and packed full of learning.

Grab the Number Talk Planning Template for FREE

Click on the image below to grab my number talk planning template for free! Includes a black and white and color version.

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Save Time with Ready-to-Go Number Talks

I have done some of the planning work for you by creating several number talk resources that are ready to use!

These number talk resources are colorful, engaging, and focus on upper elementary concepts. I have received a lot of positive feedback from teachers who have used my number talk resources with their students.

CLICK HERE or on the image below to learn more about my number talk activities!

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