Making Number Talks Matter

Making the transition to student-centered learning begins with finding ways to get students to share their thinking, something that can be particularly challenging for math class. Authors Ruth Parker and Cathy Humphreys introduce "Making Number Talks Matter: Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding, Grades 3-10," taking readers into classrooms where their Number Talks routines are taught. Parker and Humphreys apply their 15-minute lessons to inspire and initiate math talks. Through vignettes in the book, you'll meet other teachers learning how to listen closely to students and how to prompt them into figuring out solutions to problems. You will learn how to make on-the-spot decisions, continually advancing and deepening the conversation.

"Making Number Talks Matter" includes:

• Sample Problems: Filled with a range of Number Talks problems, 10-15 minute warm-up routines that lend themselves to mental math and comparison of strategies.
• Navigating Rough Spots: Learn how to create a safe environment for tricky or challenging student discussions that can arise when talking through problems and sharing ideas.
• Responding to Mistakes: Ways to handle misconceptions and mathematical errors that come up during the course of Number Talk conversations.

"Making Number Talks Matter" is filled with teaching tips for honoring student contributions while still correcting errors, and teaching concepts while nudging independent thinking. Whether you are an elementary, middle school, or high school teacher, through daily practice and open conversation, you can build a solid foundation for the study of mathematics and make Number Talks matter.