Number talks (Kindergarten, 1st Grade & 2nd Grade) offer a bridge between conceptual understanding and mental math. During mini-lessons and Guided Math, I am ALL about manipulatives. Base 10 pieces, unifix cubes, cuisenaire rods – give me all the math things. Especially in 1st grade, manipulatives offer a concrete way to represent a number and their thinking. At some point, this concrete thinking has to begin to transition into abstract and mental math processes. Number Talks offer a daily, short, structured way for students to talk about math with their peers.
What is a Number Talk?
Number Talks are short (10ish minutes), daily exercises aimed at building number sense. Number sense is the ability to play with numbers meaning students can visualize problem solving, perform calculations quickly, and are flexible in their mathematical strategy. Students who have strong number sense solve problems in more than one way and check that their answers make sense. As a part of this routine, students are thinking, asking their peers questions, and explaining their own thinking all while the teacher records the thinking.
Sherry Parish has written the book Number Talks (Amazon affiliate link) and it offers awesome ideas for Kindergarten to 6th grade. It is definitely an expensive (up to $60 if bought new) but offers great ideas and real-life examples of Number Talks.
What Do Number Talks Look Like?
When possible, I love slipping a number talk (Kindergarten, 1st Grade & 2nd Grade) in at the beginning of our Guided Math block. If we’re running late, I’ll slip a Number Talk in during an awkward transition or at the very end of the day. A traditional talk follows this routine –
Present the class with a problem. Students are seated in a common area with no math tools. Number Talks are mental exercises. I store my number talks (Kindergarten, 1st Grade & 2nd Grade) on binder rings next to my Document Camera for easy access.
Give think time. (When a student raises their hand, it tells other students they were not fast or good enough in their thinking. To account for this, students give me a sly thumbs-up on their chest to signal that they have thinking they want to share. Then, they put up multiple fingers (on the same hand) to indicate they have multiple ways to answer/solve the problem.
See a video of a number talk in action here!
How Do I Get Started?
Getting started with Number Talks in any K–2 classroom begins with creating a safe and predictable environment for math conversations. This means teaching clear routines—like how to gather on the carpet, when to use silent signals, and how to share or respond to others’ ideas. Even in these short, daily conversations, the goal is to help students see math as something they talk about—not just something they do. By modeling how to explain and justify thinking, teachers build a classroom culture that values curiosity, flexibility, and the idea that everyone’s thinking matters.
Scaffolding Students
If students have never been expected to explain their mathematical thinking, students may be very resistant to share their own strategies. So, how do I encourage students to share their own thinking/strategies?
- Model, Model, Model – The first 2 days of Number Talks, I do a lot of modeling. After this, I completely release the Number Talks to the students.
- Sentence Stems – “In my head I saw…” “My first step was…” “At first, I decided to try…” “I needed to…” “Since I wasn’t sure what to do, but I noticed…”
- Force It – Awkward silence is your friend. Sometimes I will wait (for extended periods of time) for students to share their thinking. Even if a friend is STRUGGLING with a problem or sharing their thinking, I do not come to the rescue. Growth comes when friends are able to sort out their own thinking and my 1st grade friends are able to do this…even if it is a little painful for me.
Examples of 1st Grade Number Conversations
2nd Grade Talking Numbers Pacing
In the 2nd grade number talks, the focus is on building fluency within 20 and 100, as well as, layering skills in different ways. From missing addends, to algebraic thinking, over 400 prompts offer students dozens of chances to spiral review math skills each month.
Subitizing Quick Images
Subitizing (Kindergarten, 1st Grade & 2nd Grade) is the ability to quickly identify the number in a group of objects without individually counting the objects. It is a concrete way to explore composing and decomposing numbers. Students will see dot patterns in different ways, and that is a great thing. When showing students 6, made from a pyramid students might see 3 and 3, 5 and 1, or 3 and 2 and 1. These are all ways to build 6 and lead students to understand that numbers can be composed and decomposed in many different ways.
Composing Numbers
Flexibility in number thinking is a critical skills in beginning mathematicians. Students must understand that 7 can be made from 4 and 3, 2 and 5, 6 and 1, or 7 and 0. Below students are provided with a “Target Number” and ask students to use some of the provided numbers to hit the target. Students then have to decide how many numbers to use, which operation to use (addition or subtraction), and then, decide if number order matters. (1st Grade Prompts, 2nd Grade Prompts)
Flexibly Composing AND Decomposing Numbers
An important part of teaching primary students is to build number fluency and flexibility. Students should be able to encounter numbers in a variety of formats and engage with them in a variety of ways. During our Representing Numbers conversations (1st Grade & 2nd Grade), I encourage students to branch outside of the typical ten frame, plus one, etc. These are great strategies when we first start, but after the first few days students can build on these basic representations to develop different relationships and understanding.
If you’re interested in me emailing you some of my favorite ways to talk about numbers, sign-up here and confirm your email. Some sample number talks will appear in your inbox.
Live Talking Numbers Prompt
To see a LIVE Talking Numbers Prompt in action, click on the video below!
For a FULL YEAR of number conversations for 1st Grade, click here. For the upgraded 2nd grade bundle, which includes digital companions, click here.
So friends, have you used number talks before? If so, how has your students’ number sense changed since using them? Do you have any go-to number talks? I’d love to hear your ideas!
In the meantime, to learn more about talking numbers in my K-2 classroom, click the links below:
Excellent article it is very impressive eddie redmayne fantastic beasts and informative content thanks for share us.
I would love to purchase a year-long set as well! I hope it is coming soon! Thanks so much!
Hi Caitlin! Email me at [email protected] and I can help troubleshoot the email problem. 🙂
Hi Celia! Email me at [email protected] and I can help troubleshoot the email problem. 🙂
Hello! Email me at [email protected] and I can help troubleshoot the email problem. 🙂
Hi Kayleigh! Email me at [email protected] and I can help troubleshoot the email problem. 🙂
I hope you are going to make more of these cards. They are great!!
Is there a place where you can purchase all of the cards you have hanging on your shelves or did the come from the book you suggested. Been working on this in my 2nd grade room. Love it!
This is my fifth year teaching but my first year in 1st grade. My district doesn't have much for guided math curriculum so I've been struggling to find things to make it more fun and entertaining for students (I have a wide variety of needs – as I know you all do too) aS well as managable for me. I just signed up for your emails and can't wait to receive the five weeks of number talks as well as other great resources. Thank you for all you do! I look forward to reading more of your blog too! Xo
Shared a modified version of one of your number talks with my class during our number talks this week! My kiddos are loving it! Thanks so much for your willingness to share!
Thank you so much for sharing your learning and ideas with me! I am super excited to start number talks, because you have done a great job of teaching me how, and what. THANKS!!!
Alyce
Sherry Parrish just did a PD training for us, and she was fabulous! I would love a set of these number talk ideas to get started in my classroom. I love your blog, and even though I teach 2nd grade I'm able to incorporate your ideas into my classroom. Thanks for sharing!
I have been reading all of your guided math/ math related post tonight and LOVE everything I have read! I am a fourth year, first grade teacher and currently "kind of" do a guided math set up but definitely have a lot to improve on. I have gotten so many good ideas, thank you!! I have already signed up for your emails but would love to see the number talks. I didn't know if they would be sent since this is an older post. Thank you for sharing your awesome ideas!
Hi! I have been wanting to do Number Talks in my classroom for some time, but didn't quite know where to begin. Thank you for explaining it in detail! I also would love a copy of your set of cards, and am signed up on your email list. Thank you for sharing all of your hard work and ideas with us!