Mental Math Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

Decimals Fractions General Interest Interviews One-on-One Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

How Was Amber Reasoning?

The fifth-grade class I’m working with this year is studying addition and subtraction of fractions, and I asked to “borrow” the class to see how they would view Amber’s solution. I describe how I structured the lesson and have also included students’ writing.

Marilyn BurnsDecember 14, 2024

Division

A Lesson Designed Around One Problem—100 ÷ 3

Did I teach an entire division lesson focused on just one problem? Yes! From giving many hundreds of interviews where students solve problems mentally, we’ve learned that solving 100 ÷ 3 is often a challenge. After recently interviewing and hearing two answers for 100 ÷ 3 that I’d never heard before, I taught this lesson.

Marilyn BurnsDecember 9, 2024

Numerical Reasoning Silent Math

Silent Math

Have you ever used Silent Math with your students? During this instructional routine, no one talks, not even the teacher. Read more to learn about how Silent Math works and why it’s a staple of my instruction.

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 7, 2024

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

What’s the Difference Between a Number Talk and a Lesson?

This is a question that I’ve thought about for a while. It seems that I embrace the same pedagogical approach with both, but I know there are differences. I think I have some clarity now. Read on.

Marilyn BurnsJune 5, 2023

Fractions General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Numerical Reasoning Videos

What Was Adrian Thinking?

When asked in a Listening to Learn interview which fraction was greater, it was clear to Adrian that 5/6 was greater than 1/4. His explanation, however, was anything but clear. Listen to Adrian reason and learn how I used this video in a class lesson.

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 19, 2023

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Mental Math Multiplication Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Silent Math

What Was Nathan Thinking?

In a Listening to Learn interview, Nathan knew from memory that 6 x 5 equals 30. He explained to Rusty Bresser, "So, 6 divided by 2 equals 3, and you just add a zero behind it." Here's a suggestion for using that video clip in a lesson and what happened in two different classes.

Marilyn BurnsFebruary 22, 2022

General Interest Mental Math Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

Answers Are Only the Starting Point

I woke up early this morning, scanned Twitter, and was pulled in (as I always am) by Pam Harris’s Share Your Thinking problem. (Thanks, @pwharris!) Here’s how I responded and what I learned.

Marilyn BurnsNovember 18, 2021

Addition Do The Math General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Math and Literature Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning Place Value

A Children’s Book, Differentiating Math Instruction, and More

I love incorporating children’s books into math lessons. Since most of my teaching focuses on math, it’s a treat for me to read a book aloud to a class. After the students have a chance to enjoy the story and respond to the illustrations, then I use the book as a springboard for a math lesson.

Marilyn BurnsAugust 31, 2021

General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

How We Begin the School Year Is More Important Than Ever

Over the years, I’ve collaborated with Lynne Zolli and Patty Clark on a variety of math education projects. For this blog, we worked together to share our thinking about how Listening to Learn math interviews can serve teachers and students.

Marilyn BurnsAugust 16, 2021

Estimation General Interest Interviews One-on-One Listening to Learn Mental Math Multiplication Number and Operations Numerical Reasoning

Two Students . . . Two Different Ways of Reasoning

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, I posted the sixth in my Wednesday Twitter series of video clips from Listening to Learn math interviews. The response to this Tweet amazed me―it received over 100,000 impressions! I was appreciative of the many supportive and insightful replies. Read more.

Marilyn BurnsMay 11, 2021

Mental Math Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

How Was Amber Reasoning?

A Lesson Designed Around One Problem—100 ÷ 3

Silent Math

What’s the Difference Between a Number Talk and a Lesson?

What Was Adrian Thinking?

What Was Nathan Thinking?

Answers Are Only the Starting Point

A Children’s Book, Differentiating Math Instruction, and More

How We Begin the School Year Is More Important Than Ever

Two Students . . . Two Different Ways of Reasoning

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Mental Math Archives - MARILYN BURNS MATH

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