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DR. MARC HUSBAND

DR. TINA RAPKE

Mar 30, 2023

Mental Math in the

new curriculum:

What, how, why?

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WHO ARE WE?

  • Dr. Tina Rapke

York University

  • Teacher of Math Teachers
  • Mathematics Education Researcher
  • Mathematician
  • Why do I do, what I do? Math doesn’t need to be painful.
  • Dr. Marc Husband

St.FX University

  • Mathematics Teacher Educator
  • Mathematics Education Researcher
  • Professional Learning
  • All kids can learn math

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WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TODAY?

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  • Debunking myths about number talks and students getting good at mental math

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***After today, you’re going to have concrete ideas about how to support your students to excel in mental math and you may even learn some math yourself (it’s not going to be painful)!

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Why did mental math end up in the curriculum?

  • Mental math can (if taught a certain way) build foundation for success in other areas of math such as problem solving and algebra.

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What is a number talk?

  • Short (10 minutes ‘ish’) engagement with a mental math question
  • Done consistently throughout the week to build number sense
  • Build foundation and skill in math

Big take-away: Number talks are about Mental Math

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Mental Math

Myth #1: Mental math is boring

    • Mad-minutes and memorization

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Debunk: Mental math should be student ideas and how they see things in their minds

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Move the dots in your mind :)

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(Mental Math) Number Talks

Myth #2: Teaching mental math is hard because I can’t read their minds

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  • getting kids to share their ideas is hard

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Debunk: Everyone likes talking about their own ideas, especially kids!

Our videos show how other kids solve mental math problems (how they see things in their minds)

Easy: Kids only need to identify if their strategy is in the video or not.

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(Mental Math) Number Talks

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Myth #3: To teach it well, it’s going to take a lot planning and time

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Debunk:

  • We have ‘Open and Go’ lessons ready for you for Grades 1-8.

These videos are quick, easy lessons. We did all the hard lifting for you. You just need to hit play.

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Let’s do some NUMBER TALKS that focus on �WHAT STUDENTS SEE IN THEIR MINDS

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  • 5 x 6 (Gr.4, Topic 1)

https://vimeo.com/671985441

  • 20% of 60 (Gr. 7, Topic 4)

https://vimeo.com/558839416

  • 3 ÷ ½

https://vimeo.com/741683691

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RECAP

  1. Don’t use mad minutes, focus images.
  2. Easy to use questions and videos to get kids talking.
  3. Open and go lessons that take no planning time.

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Q&A �(THANKS FOR LISTENING AND DOING SOME MATH)

  • Ask us anything. We’re here to support you!!

Check us out on vimeo