Number strategies interview suggestions:

About the interview

As I look at everyone's interview plans, I see a lot of good planning, but it looks like it would be easy to get too ambitious.  So, when you're doing the interviews themselves:

• Take note of any math facts that children have memorized (they just know the answers and can answer almost instantly)
• Ask just enough questions that you get their thinking and counting strategies for problems they don't have memorized for 3-4 questions (I really won't be disappointed that you didn't get through the whole list!)
• Think about ending with an easier problem so that children can feel positive and successful.

5 minutes is a good time length for these interviews.

About the report

I have now read your CGI interviews, and I like the detail and information you're sharing in those reports. I'm also really happy to see you reading and discussing other people's results!

When you write up these interviews, would you make sure to include:

• the grade level of students you are interviewing
• the specific questions you asked

I know you gave me that information in your plan, but when someone else goes to read it, I think it would really help to have that information included in the report.