Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Show It! Number Talks

Show It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique
As I mentioned in my last post, number talks are my favorite way to practice math concepts with my students. They almost seem too good to be true, being highly engaging for the kids and incredibly meaningful, as well as no prep.

The first installment in my line of number talks was Subitize It!, which makes a good place to start since many kids have some background knowledge with subitizing (whether they realize it or not).
I just released the second installment, Show It!, which is also a great one to begin with!

Show It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

With Show It!, students use any method they choose to represent the number on the screen. They can use pictures, ten frames, or tally marks, as well as addition or subtraction sentences.

Show It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

The various ways students can show the number makes this number talk perfect for differentiation. My higher level students love coming up with more complex addition and subtraction equations (in fact, one of my firsties even surprised me with a multiplication equation this week!). My lower level students choose simpler equations or methods like tally marks. Since everyone shows their own strategies, everyone is able to participate at their level and feel successful.

Show It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Number talks have given my students a lot of confidence in math, and I have been amazed at their growth. I can't wait to release the rest of my number talks soon! Until then, you can find Show It! here in my shop, or here in my TPT store.

Keep teaching with heart and passion!

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Subitize It! Number Talks

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Number talks have become my absolute favorite way to practice math. They require no prep, my students love them, and most importantly, they allow students to engage with numbers in a meaningful way.

I love how number talks develop mental math skills, give students the opportunity to show and explain their thinking, and the chance to learn from their peers. It is amazing to see the number of different strategies they can come up with for the same problem--often, they come up with strategies I didn't even think of!

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Subitize It! makes a great starting point for introducing number talks. Kids usually have some kind of prior exposure to subitization of some sort, just from using dice or playing with dominoes.

When I use Subitize It! in my classroom, I display a slide, and then give students silent think time. When they are ready with a strategy, they know to show me a quiet thumbs-up in front of their chest. I opted for this procedure rather than hand-raising, because I didn't want the students to feel pressured if they noticed a friend was finished thinking before they were.

After everyone has had adequate think time, I call on a few students to show us their strategies. They circle the groups they saw on the board, and write number sentences to represent what they saw. They get SO excited to show off their own unique ways to solve a problem! I think for some of them it has become a competition to see who can come up with the most creative strategy to arrive at the answer.

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique


This is a fabulous way for kids to really start putting the meaning behind the numbers; so much more effective than the old memorize-and-drill methods that were used when I was in school. I am thrilled with the number concepts my students are developing; they are able to manipulate numbers in ways that show me they truly understand what the numbers actually mean, instead of merely repeating rote facts.

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique

Subitize It! Number Talks for 1st Grade | Apples to Applique


Subitize It! is the first release in my new Calculate It! Number Talks line, with many more to come! Get it here in my shop, or here in my TPT store.

I know you'll love watching your students blossom with these number talks as much as I have!
Keep teaching with heart and passion!