We do! And we can honestly say that Number Talks are the BEST way we have found to increase our students’ computational fluency and their ability to think about numbers flexibly.

This simple addition to our math warm up time has truly transformed mathematics in our classrooms. Pinky swear!

However…if the thought of implementing daily number talks gives you hives….we’ve got you covered!

Our YEARLONG First Grade Number Talks BUNDLE makes implementing Number Talks an ABSOLUTE BREEZE! 

If you have an interactive whiteboard, you literally just display a number talk each day and let the conversations begin. If not, just print a number talk out each day and you are ready to roll.

NO PREP and stress free!

5 Easy Steps to Teach Number Talks 

Step 1: Display Your Daily Number Talk & Give Individual Think Time to Solve

First Grade Number Talk Example

The first step is to display the daily Number Talk and give students individual think time to solve the problem.

This step is critical as we want all learners to have the time to access this learning opportunity. All too often the quick thinkers blurt out answers before others even have time to think and process. Please do not allow this to happen or the value of this powerful activity will be greatly diminished. Silence is golden during this portion of the math talk activity.

Step 2: Have Students Communicate Using Silent Hand Signals

Keep this activity running smoothly and calmly by having students communicate with you using silent hand signals. For this portion of the lesson, students will be signaling that they have an answer or that they have more than one answer to the problem.

Why silent signals? Again, we don’t want to disrupt students’ process time with discussion yet. During this portion of the lesson we want to check in to find out where each student is in their thinking process. Do they have an answer? Two answers? Do they have a question? Do you have students not showing silent hand signals that need more process time?

Guess What? You receive these adorable posters FREE with our First Grade YEARLONG Number Talks BUNDLE! Here is a blog we have on Silent Hand Signals.

Step 3: Partner Share Answers & Strategies Used

When you see that all students have an answer, ask your students to partner share their answer and how they got it. What strategies did they use?

We like to assign partners. One is Peanut Butter and one is Jelly. Then we alternate who shares first.

The important thing is that both students have the opportunity to not only share the answer they got, but also share how they got the answer. Sharing the how is critical. Learning and understanding go deeper when the how is shared. Mathematical concepts are better internalized through the process of sharing.

Step 4: Have a Student Share Answer & Strategy Used (Record)

Call on a student to share their answer and how they arrived at the answer. What strategies did they use? Record the students’ thinking. (We like to also record the student’s name.)

Then ask students to share who got the same answer and solved it in the same way. Students will use their silent signal for “me too” to communicate if they did.

Oftentimes several students will arrive at the same answer and use the same strategy. This is the time for those students to silently share that information with you instead of yelling out me too.

Step 5: Have Other Students Respond Through Silent Hand Signals & Share Thinking (Record)

First Grade Number Talk Example with Students Ideas Recorded

Ask students who got the same answer, but solved it in a different way; or who got a different answer. (Many of our number talks are open ended and have multiple answers.)

Again, have students respond using silent hand signals.

Call on students to share both their answer and how they arrived at the answer. Record.

Through this sharing process students are able to learn from their peers, which is very powerful! They may learn new strategies to try or more effective strategies to use. They may also recognize that they have misconceptions and ask clarifying questions to resolve gaps in their understanding.

And there you have it….Number Talks MADE EASY! If you are not currently doing Number Talks in your classroom, we highly encourage you to give them a try!

Here’s What Teachers Are Saying About Our #1 Selling Number Talks Resource!

“This has been the best thing I have EVER bought on TPT, hands down. This ensures my number talks are meaningful, interesting, and something that my kids look forward to each day.” -Sarah

“Oh my goodness, this resource is fantastic. I’ve never done number talks before, so I’m learning right along with the kids – and it’s amazing to hear their explanations and conversations each day! They are learning so many different strategies for looking at and thinking about numbers. These activities have enough repetition that the kids (and I) know what to do, but each month they “ramp up” a bit and the kids just love it! Even my least engaged students get involved in figuring out and sharing their answers. I can’t thank you enough for such an amazing product!” – Amanda K.

“Thank you so much for this product! It is very comprehensive and saves me loads of time. My students LOVE the interaction with the math, are learning to talk about their problem-solving processes and think critically and talk about the strategies others may use to solve problems! I love the directions and the plans! This is an awesome product.” -Tressa

Inside this EASY to Implement and HIGHLY Engaging Resource You’ll Find:

•  A YEARLONG  Set of DIGITAL Number Talks

• A YEARLONG Set of Printable Number Talks

• Number Talk Lesson Plans for the Entire Year

• 8 Colorful Silent Hand Signal Posters

• 7 Colorful Sentence Starter Posters

• 12 Adorable Addition and Subtraction Strategy Posters

HAPPY NUMBER TALKING!

Cindy and Becky of Primary Bliss Teaching

To answer the question many of you have asked us, YES we have  YEARLONG NUMBER TALKS BUNDLES for GRADES K-5. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Primary-Bliss-Teaching/Category/Number-Talks-K-5-Bundles-237381