Using ‘number talks’ with children

Number talks are the most common type of maths talk that we have encountered but other areas of maths, such as shape, space, and pattern, can be the focus of a maths talk. Children (and adults) often bring their own mathematical thinking to a stimulus which may include any aspect of mathematics so a number talk may include some aspects of shape, for example. 

These are three examples of number talks in practice. Click on each for a one-page summary of an example of how children engaged in number talks in early childhood settings.