Number Talks

Number talks are short discussions among a teacher and students about how to solve a particular mental math problem. The focus is not on the correct answer, but on all the possible methods of finding the answer. Each student has a chance to explain their method, and everyone else learns from other people's methods.

To start a number talk, the teacher gives the students a SHORT math problem to solve — but the students are not allowed to use a calculator or paper and pencil. The idea is to solve it mentally. For example, you could ask 4th-12th grade students to solve 5 × 18 using mental math.

Magnolia's second graders (below) are learning to mentally add  two-digit numbers.