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Key messages
Number sense is about having a competency with numbers that is based on understanding rather than reliant on memorisation or
algorithms
Number sense can be taught and developed with all
pupils in the class
Carefully crafted number talks are a powerful teaching
and learning strategy to develop number sense
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Workshop 1
• Develop number sense through Number Talks and use of models (including Ten Frames and Dot Patterns)
• Develop fluency within ten
• Subitising
• Making tens
Workshop 2
• Develop number sense through Number Talks and use of models (including Empty Number Line and Hundred Square)
• Explore mental strategies for addition and subtraction
• Explore assessment and recording
Overview
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Describe the classroom community and environment.What are pupils doing to figure out the problem?
What strategies showed accuracy, efficiency and flexibility?
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Number Talks……are best described as classroom conversations
around purposefully crafted computation problems that are solved mentally.
Parrish, 2014
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(Parrish, 2010)
Benefits for Pupils of Sharing and Discussion of Computation Strategies
• Clarify their own thinking
• Consider and test each other’s strategies to see if they are mathematically logical
• Investigate and apply mathematical relationships
• Build a repertoire of efficient strategies
• Make decisions about choosing efficient strategies for specific problems
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Underachieving pupils
Why might pupils be underachieving?
What do we do to help them currently?
What else could we do to support their learning?
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Counting; Creating a Strong
Foundation in Number
• Different starting points
• Counting backwards
• Bridging the 10 (or the 5)
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Ten Frame Number TalkComposing and Decomposing Numbers
Composing8 + 6 = 14
Decomposing14 = 8 + 6
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Goal of Number Talks
Develop number sense
Develop fluency with small numbers
Subitising Making tens
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Informal Recording
How could pupils be recording informally or jotting for these activities?
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(Parrish, 2010)
Number Talks
Key Components
Teacher poses purposeful problems
designed to elicit specific
strategies Pupils exercise
numerical reasoning
Can be whole
group or small group
5 - 15
minutes
Pupils collectively
reason about
numbers
Pupils share and defend
solutions and strategies