Number talks

My school’s School Development Plan this year centres around improving math scores and one of the things we have been using to improve math fluency is number talks. I have found them particularly useful in my immersion context because it’s a way to get students talking in maths.

Number Talk Images has lots of good images that work well for primary students.

Which one doesn’t belong also generates a lot of good talk for my students.

All of these help my students see that there is often more than one path to follow in math problem solving and takes the pressure off of them for getting the “right” answer. I have seen them becoming more persistent problem solvers away from number talks.

I have not yet tried the zukei puzzles with my students but it’s something I’d like to try. Would love your thoughts on it!