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Reciprocal Thinking

Talking about Place Value

Introduction In this interview Courtney reads decimal numbers conventionally (digit point digit digit) and shows she knows the tenths and hundredths columns. She also knows it is sometimes useful to treat the decimal part as a whole number. Comments: Text in italics Interviewer: Text in red Courtney: Text other colour

Interviewer: Could you please read out the numbers on these cards?

Courtney: Oh point 4 Correct, zero point four is preferable. Many teachers encourage beginners to read this as four tenths.

Courtney: nine point seven Correct, either this or nine and seven tenths.

Courtney: Oh point one six three Correct

Courtney: Oh point oh two five Correct, zero or nought is preferable to 'oh'.

Courtney: Oh point nine seven Correct.

Courtney: Four point two six Correct.

Interviewer: If a friend asked you to explain what this last number means, what could you say to help them? Courtney: Well there are 4 ones and then 26 pieces. Interviewer: Has your teacher talked about names for the different columns?

Courtney: I think that maybe is the tenths and...

Courtney: ...that is the hundredths...but it could also be 26 is 2 tens and 6 units, it just depends on the question.