@NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE (my alma mater '89) I had the opportunity to share number talks with middle school math and science teachers along side one of my favorite friends and colleagues sueellen.
I was energized by the entire event. I was back at my undergraduate college which holds so many memories and I was sharing one of my favorite math teaching techniques with one of my favorite math friends. SueEllen and I began the day with a team building activity, CUPs, challenging the participants to problems solve, communicate and persevere in a way they hope their own students would. After setting the stage about communication and collaboration we began to share our Number Talks story. How we have used the number talks to build a classroom culture of risk taking and respect. How Number Talks have unveiled student misconceptions about procedures they have memorized. Even how number talks have drawn in the most reluctant students to have mathematical conversations and discourse with their peers. So many 'Side-Benefits' it really is hard to know them all until you are engaging in them yourself with your own students.
(I am going to tell how it all began, if you know this... skip down)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My son MJ has down syndrome, this implies to many people that his is less than capable of many thing and mostly learning.....this couldn't be more untrue. My husband and I are both teachers we fully understand that kids will live out the expectations of their peers, teachers and parents. From the moment he was diagnosed, our expectations for MJ were parallel to those of our daughter Madeline. Simple really, work hard, do your best, keep trying when things aren't easy and all the while have fun. In short, "Win them All" (as opposed to you win some you lose some). MJ's therapists and teachers were exceptional at living out those expectations, I would say they pushed him even more than his parents did. and one day...in third grade... (this is where the Number Talks story begins) MJ's teacher walked him out of the back of the school for pick up. Instead of letting go of his hand for him to run and jump into my arms like he always does, she walked him over with a proud smile on her face. "I just have to share with you what happened in math today" and she went on to describe how MJ verbally shared a number strategy for grouping that was so well said the entire class paused for a moment to digest. MJ, who at this point was not skip counting, had not memorized his facts, who had trouble manipulating his pencil enough to make a 5 look different than an S had communicated verbally a cognitive strategy that had not yet been described by the teacher. He has always been a good listener and loves to participate and share his thoughts, but this day he was able to shine in math class because the teacher had students, without paper and pencil, with their hands on their chest, gave everyone a respected voice, and listened. Listened carefully enough to hear mathematical thinking in a little boy who works so hard everyday to just BE like everyone else. This is how I first learned of the idea of Number Talks. This launched my research and professional development of this idea. How can I get this into my High School Classrooms, how can I get all students to have their thinking heard, respected and digested....
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
back to our Saturday morning smile group. Math and science teachers together what a great crew. We did some number talks, we introduced them to Sherry Parrish, Ruth Parker, Cathy Humphreys and their great resources and many more. We were able to light a fire and hope that they too will be able to use Number talks in their classrooms to give voice to all students mathematical thinking and open up the world of thinking mathematically for many who believe they are 'not' a math person.
(I am going to tell how it all began, if you know this... skip down)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My son MJ has down syndrome, this implies to many people that his is less than capable of many thing and mostly learning.....this couldn't be more untrue. My husband and I are both teachers we fully understand that kids will live out the expectations of their peers, teachers and parents. From the moment he was diagnosed, our expectations for MJ were parallel to those of our daughter Madeline. Simple really, work hard, do your best, keep trying when things aren't easy and all the while have fun. In short, "Win them All" (as opposed to you win some you lose some). MJ's therapists and teachers were exceptional at living out those expectations, I would say they pushed him even more than his parents did. and one day...in third grade... (this is where the Number Talks story begins) MJ's teacher walked him out of the back of the school for pick up. Instead of letting go of his hand for him to run and jump into my arms like he always does, she walked him over with a proud smile on her face. "I just have to share with you what happened in math today" and she went on to describe how MJ verbally shared a number strategy for grouping that was so well said the entire class paused for a moment to digest. MJ, who at this point was not skip counting, had not memorized his facts, who had trouble manipulating his pencil enough to make a 5 look different than an S had communicated verbally a cognitive strategy that had not yet been described by the teacher. He has always been a good listener and loves to participate and share his thoughts, but this day he was able to shine in math class because the teacher had students, without paper and pencil, with their hands on their chest, gave everyone a respected voice, and listened. Listened carefully enough to hear mathematical thinking in a little boy who works so hard everyday to just BE like everyone else. This is how I first learned of the idea of Number Talks. This launched my research and professional development of this idea. How can I get this into my High School Classrooms, how can I get all students to have their thinking heard, respected and digested....
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
back to our Saturday morning smile group. Math and science teachers together what a great crew. We did some number talks, we introduced them to Sherry Parrish, Ruth Parker, Cathy Humphreys and their great resources and many more. We were able to light a fire and hope that they too will be able to use Number talks in their classrooms to give voice to all students mathematical thinking and open up the world of thinking mathematically for many who believe they are 'not' a math person.