Reply To: Number Talks

[Gerilyn Stolberg]

I use Sherry Parrish’s book on Number Talks. Although I teach third grade, I am still using the 2nd grade subtraction Number Talks as many of my students are lacking in subtraction strategies. They do not have the number sense of when to get a ten and will often just subtract the smaller number from the larger. For example, 43- 27   they will subtract 7 – 3 is 5 and 4 – 2 is 2 so the answer is 25.  I have been working to help them understand that 43 is 40 and 3 and 27 is 20 and 7. So therefore, we are really subtracting 40 – 20 and 3 – 7.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.