Number Talks Create Community of Intellectual Curiosity

Last Friday, Director of Lower School Jenny Rinn guest-taught in second grade, giving a number talk to the students. “Number talks are meant to offer all students access to the curriculum by offering multiple entry points and a high ceiling,” explains Ms. Rinn. “There are questions embedded in the number talk that all students in the class can answer, and there are some questions that provide enrichment opportunities for those students who need more.” Ms. Rinn’s number talk challenged second graders to calculate the number of planets, stars, and suns in a made-up galaxy (see photo gallery for specific questions students answered). “During number talks, students also share their methods for solving problems, which allows them to learn from one another,” adds Ms. Rinn. Teachers have already begun emulating the number talk and are visiting other classes to see what this instruction looks like in other grade levels.  “These number talks help create an environment that fosters learning not only amongst students but also amongst teachers.”

 

Students in second grade were so inspired by Ms. Rinn’s number talk that 3 students worked with their teacher to create their own number talk, delivering it to their class on Monday. The number talks are part of a larger math initiative that is being developed with the help of Math Chair Ali Frank to provide differentiated instruction across all grade levels. MORE PHOTOS