Number Talks Workshop

During the holiday break we ran a workshop on Number Talks. This was attended by 30 teachers and principals from 10 schools as well as Maths advisors from the Wellington region. We wanted to share what we have been doing at Worser Bay because it has a big impact on student engagement and achievement. 

What does developing a Mathematical Community of Inquiry mean to us? 

• Mathematics is a creative and challenging real world activity.

• Positive beliefs about mathematical ability are essential.

• Maths has to be visual and collaborative; with time and strategies to investigate, discuss, explore concepts and reflect.

At Worser Bay School, we have been inspired by the work of Jo Boaler who is a professor at Stanford University. She provides resources and ideas to help students get excited about Maths. 

"You have probably heard people say they are just bad at math, or perhaps you yourself feel like you are not “a math person.” Not so, says Stanford mathematics education professor Jo Boaler, who shares the brain research showing that with the right teaching and messages, we can all be good at math. Not only that, our brains operate differently when we believe in ourselves. Boaler gives hope to the the mathematically fearful or challenged, shows a pathway to success, and brings into question the very basics of how our teachers approach what should be a rewarding experience for all children and adults."

For a Number Talk to be successful, students need to be respectful in discussion. We have co-constructed (with our students) the rights and responsibilities for discussion in a Number Talk. 

This is how a Number Talk works...

We asked the students about Number Talks...

I think, I notice, I wonder...

We have been learning to think like Mathematicians. We have been thinking, noticing and wondering. This stimulates curiosity and helps to make new connections.

Please add to our slow Number Talk below. What do you think, notice, wonder?

 

Growth Mindset Messages in Maths

If students have a Growth Mindset in Maths it grows their Maths brains. Growth Mindset messages need to be reinforced at home and at school!

Carol Dweck, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University says that when students are in a fixed mindset they see that effort means that they are dumb. When students are in a Growth Mindset they understand that the effort and difficulty will help them to get smarter. This is when their brains grow as they are making new connections and they are "really, really learning."

She says that praising student intelligence and talent is harmful. This puts them in a fixed mindset. It makes them afraid of challenge and less resilient when they make mistakes. If they have a fixed mindset, they only care about looking smart.

It is very important that parents and teachers praise the effort, the strategies that students use and the persistence that they show. This gives students a Growth Mindset. This helps students to overcome obstacles and stick with challenges when they are struggling.

We need to make sure that we are all using Growth Mindset messages in Maths (and also in other areas of the curriculum too).

These last few weeks, we have been really proud of our students who stuck with the challenge of designing their own "Greener Worser Bay School."

These students designed a bird feeder- this is their prototype

We have also been excited to see students celebrating mistakes in Number Talks. Some of them have even started to do a mistake dance when they get things wrong. It is great to see many of our students taking risks and having a go.

Arrays

We have been investigating arrays. In our number talks we discussed the definition of an array...

Henry: It is a group of objects in a different arrangement.
Oscar: For example, it could be 4 X 4 or 8 X 8
Edie: It is objects that you can multiply to see how many there are.
Henry: You can also add
Janne: Or count them all.
Hugo W: It needs to be the same amount of objects up and down.
Parker: Yes, columns and rows.

We have been adding some of our arrays to the Padlet below. Challenge: Let's see if we can add as many arrays as possible this week.

Our friends at Auroa School have also made their own arrays. Check them out: https://mrwebbauroa.blogspot.co.nz/2017/08/r3-mathematical-arrays.html

Number talks is a great way for students to learn from one another. It is also important to see how they solve problems in different ways. 

In Jo Boaler's Ted Talk, "Believe in your Maths Potential" she says that it is important to see Maths visually. People visualise Maths in different ways.