How This Number Talk Shaped My Teaching Mindset

Designing this Number Talk helped me see how important student discussion is in math. When students explain how they solved a problem, they learn from each other and build confidence. I realized my role is not to tell students the “right” way, but to guide the conversation and highlight different strategies.

I also learned that mistakes are a big part of learning. When a student counts wrong or feels unsure, it opens the door for discussion. Instead of correcting right away, asking questions helps students rethink and make connections. This experience helped me understand how Number Talks support a positive mathematical mindset where students feel safe sharing their thinking.