Paperless Number Talks for Every Day of the Week

This post originally appeared on the blog Crazy for First Grade.

Why Do I Love 
Paperless Number Talks?
A couple of years ago, I started using digital/paperless Number Talks during my guided math block. The results from this simple, powerful teaching practice blew me away. They instantly became the perfect math warm-up! My students were engaged in meaningful discussions focused on mental math and computational strategies. They were building their understanding of number sense and flexibility in number thinking. The benefits of this daily (5-10 minutes) Number Talk routine was also evident throughout the rest of our math time. 

To make Number Talks effective for my students, as well as for me, I started carefully crafting problems into digital slides each week. It didn’t take long for me to realize that digital Number Talks are amazing! All I had to do each day was open up a slideshow and my Number Talk lesson was ready. Such a time saver! Since Number Talks are all about the process of mental math computation and sharing strategies, the digital/paperless format was perfection.

How to Use Paperless Number Talks in Your Classroom

1. Teacher presents each problem and gives wait time.

 

2. Students mentally figure out the answer (no paper or pencil) and give a thumbs up to show that they have at least one solution. *Students can put additional fingers up if they have more than one way to solve the problem. Example: Two fingers up means I have two ways to solve the problem.

 

3. Students share their thinking as the teacher records (students can also record). During this time, the teacher is asking questions like: “How did you get your answer?” and/or “Why did you use that strategy?” Incorrect solutions and methods can and should be part of Number Talks.

I personally like to do Number Talks at the beginning of my math block, but it can be done at any time that works best for your schedule. 

Benefits of Paperless Number Talks

• Encourages math communication from all students
• Provides structured practice for mental math
• Promotes the value in using mental math to compute
• Promotes the importance of being flexible with numbers
• Uses a variety of strategies for computation
• Helps strengthen students’ understanding of place value

 

When Should I Start Number Talks?
You can start Number Talks at any time of the year, and I’ve made it really EASY for you! You can get 40 weeks of Paperless Number Talks in just one click here!

 

3rd-5th Coming Soon (Summer 2018)

These Number Talk lessons were designed to engage your learners in meaningful math conversations focused on mental math and computational strategies throughout the year. As I mentioned before, they make the perfect math warm-up! All you have to do is upload the Number Talk digital slides (PowerPoint)- PAPERLESS and ZERO prep! Everything is already done for you! 


Each day of the week has a specific Number Talk mental math focus. The predictable and student friendly structure of the digital slides allows you to spend more time talking about math instead of giving directions/expectations over and over.

Make it Monday

 Students will mentally think of equations that make the number in the circle using the given numbers. 

 

True or False Tuesday

Students will mentally solve the equations to determine whether they are true or false. 

 

Work it Out Wednesday

Students will mentally solve the equations and share their thinking. 

 

Time to Subitize Thursday

Briefly (5-10 seconds) flash each slide. Students will share what number was shown, as well as, explain their thinking in determining the number. 

 

Fact Fun Friday

Students will mentally solve the equations and share their thinking. 

Every week has 5 slides/problems for each day with the exception of Make it Monday. I’ve also included editable/blank slides in case you would like to create your own problems.

Number Talks have never been easier! 
Kindergarten Paperless Number Talks
First Grade Paperless Number Talks
Second Grade Paperless Number Talks

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Anna Brantley is a 1st grade teacher from Georgia. She’s been teaching for 12 years and loves to create fun, innovative, standards-based activities to engage her students. You can learn more about Anna and her teaching resources at her TpT store, on Facebook, or on Instagram. Also, make sure to also check out her teaching blog, Crazy for First Grade.