Number Talks 10.19.2020

The Power of Persuasion


   A couple of weeks ago, half of my students attended AMSTI training. I have a very big class this semester and with COVID only half could come. We have been doing NT since the beginning of the semester with my entire class online. However, things did not click until AMSTI training. My PST used to acknowledge my getting too deep in math during class. I use to correct their thinking when it came to regrouping. "THAT IS NOT A ONE!!!!" They did this until AMSTI training. 

    During training, my PST engaged in different NT with the AMSTI facilitator. She taught them different strategies like compensation, composing and decomposing numbers, adding with place value, and so forth. She also talked to PST about saying the correct value of the digit when regrouping. This was the same concept that my PST voiced their disdain for my in- depths.  When my PST returned from AMSTI training they used those strategies with our NT and the correct mathematics vernacular too. 

    This week I presented the NT with addition. The PSTs who attended AMSTI training again used the strategies and correct mathematics language. However, another phenomenon happened!! A PST who did not attend the training used the strategies too. She was inadvertently persuaded by her colleagues. I found it fascinating and thought-provoking. Even PSTs can learn from peer PSTs. This is important because teachers feel that they must have the answer to help their students. The power of persuasion can reach students because the information is coming from someone like them. This was amazing for me to see. I can't wait until she attends AMSTI training next week!

 I also learned something else. Teaching NT online is possible but exhausting. LOL. 




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