ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at why talk is important for young children as they learn about mathematics. It considers how talk fosters mathematical understanding and the importance of having something to talk about which relates maths to real situations. It then describes some four- and five-year-old children talking about simple number activities linked to a favourite rhyming story-song, highlighting their revealing comments on different mathematical ideas. The prominence given to talk in the new curriculum guidance for the early years shows just how important it is. It is important to plan for and provide activities that will promote mathematical talk and hopefully lead on to mathematical learning. Maths Talk highlights three different types of 'mathematics talk': talk that is teacher led, child–teacher talk, and talk between the children themselves. These three types of mathematics talk all have important parts to play in the various stages of the national numeracy strategy (NNS) numeracy hour.
