We’ve been using number talks a lot in the classroom, sometimes they are warm-ups for the lesson and sometimes they shape a whole lesson and more.
This lesson started with what I thought would be a quick multiplication number talk.
When I presented them with this multiplication one student tried to use the compensation strategy in the same way as you would for addition. Much discussion followed as to whether the compensation strategy works for multiplication. Whilst the students talked I prepared this to display on the board.
I invited the students to share their comments and questions.
Students then moved back to their tables to play with the compensation strategy. Lots of chat and aha! moments – my favourite kind of lesson.
Doing Maths 