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Maths Mindset

Maths discussion stems

Give children sentence starters for explaining and questioning.

Quick answer

Maths discussion stems are sentence starters that help children explain their thinking, ask questions, and talk about maths in a clear and helpful way. These helpful phrases help children share their ideas and listen to others when solving maths problems.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use maths discussion stems to explain your thinking, ask questions, and help others understand your maths ideas. Success signs:
  • You can say how you solved a problem using words like “I think…” or “I wonder…”
  • You can ask a good question about a maths problem
  • You can listen to others and respond with helpful words like “That’s interesting because…”
  • You can help a friend understand a maths idea using clear sentences

Why this matters

When you use maths discussion stems, you’re not just doing maths problems – you’re becoming a maths talker. This helps you understand your own thinking, helps your friends understand yours, and makes maths more fun and useful. In school, teachers often ask you to explain how you solved a problem. In real life, you’ll use these skills when you’re shopping, cooking, or playing games. Learning to talk about maths helps you get better at it and feel more confident.

How it works

Maths discussion stems help you:
  1. Explain your thinking – You say how you solved a problem
  2. Ask questions – You wonder about the maths or help others understand
  3. Listen and respond – You help others by asking follow-up questions or giving helpful comments
These stems can be used in many ways:
  • When you’re working on a maths problem
  • When you’re helping a friend
  • When you’re talking about maths with a grown-up
  • When you’re sharing your ideas in class

Examples you can see

Here are some examples of maths discussion stems in action: When explaining your thinking:
  • “I solved this by adding 5 and 3, which equals 8.”
  • “I think this is the right answer because…”
  • “I used my fingers to count and got 7.”
When asking questions:
  • “Why did you choose to use subtraction here?”
  • “I wonder if there’s another way to solve this?”
  • “Can you explain how you got that answer?”
When listening and responding:
  • “That’s interesting because you used a different method.”
  • “I agree with you because…”
  • “I had a similar idea, but I did it a different way.”
Let’s imagine you and your friend are solving a maths problem together. You both have 12 counters. You take 4 away. Your friend says, “I think you have 8 left.” You can respond with a stem like:
  • “I agree because 12 minus 4 equals 8.”
  • “That’s a good idea, but I think I did it a different way.”

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Maths Talk Challenge! You are on a treasure hunt with your friend. You find a chest with a maths puzzle. It says: “If I have 6 apples and eat 2, how many do I have left?” You both solve it. Now, use maths discussion stems to talk about your thinking.
  1. First, you solve the problem. You say, “I think I have 4 apples left because 6 minus 2 equals 4.”
  2. Next, you ask your friend a question. You say, “Why did you choose to subtract?”
  3. Then, your friend shares their idea. They say, “I counted back from 6 and got to 4.”
  4. You respond with a helpful stem. You say, “That’s interesting because we both got the same answer but used different ways.”
This is a great way to practice using maths talk and help each other learn.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Not using words to explain thinking.
    Why it happens: Some children think they don’t need to explain, or they’re not sure how.
    Fix: Practice saying how you solved a problem. Try using stems like “I think…” or “I solved it by…”
  • Mistake: Asking questions that don’t help.
    Why it happens: Children may not know how to ask good questions.
    Fix: Use stems like “Can you explain how you did that?” or “Why did you choose that method?”
  • Mistake: Not listening to others.
    Why it happens: Some children focus only on their own idea.
    Fix: Try using stems like “That’s interesting because…” or “I had a similar idea.”

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Encouraging children to explain their thinking using maths stems
  • Modeling how to ask questions using stems like “Why do you think that?”
  • Listening carefully when a child shares an idea
  • Using stems to respond to children’s ideas, like “That’s a good idea because…”
  • Practicing at home with simple maths problems
How to help in 5–10 minutes:
  1. Choose a simple maths problem, like 5 + 3.
  2. Ask your child to explain how they solved it.
  3. Use a stem like, “Can you tell me how you got that answer?”
  4. Ask a follow-up question like, “Why did you choose to add?”
  5. Share your own thinking using a stem like, “I solved it by counting on my fingers.”
What to say:
  • “That’s a good way to solve it!”
  • “Can you explain how you did that?”
  • “I wonder if there’s another way to solve it.”
What not to worry about:
  • Children may not know all the stems at first
  • It’s okay if they use their own words to explain
  • Practice makes progress, not perfection

Practice questions

  1. Use a stem to explain how you solved 7 + 5.
  2. Ask a question about how someone else solved a problem.
  3. Respond to a friend’s idea using a stem like “That’s interesting because…”
  4. Use a stem to explain why you chose a certain method.
  5. Share a way you solved a problem and ask a follow-up question.
Answers:
  1. “I solved it by counting on from 7 to 12.”
  2. “Why did you use subtraction?”
  3. “That’s interesting because you used a different method.”
  4. “I used addition because I wanted to find the total.”
  5. “I used my fingers to count. Why did you do it differently?”

FAQ

What are maths discussion stems?

Maths discussion stems are sentence starters that help children talk about maths. They help explain thinking, ask questions, and listen to others.

Why should I use them?

Using maths stems helps you understand your own thinking, helps others understand you, and makes maths more fun and useful.

Can I make up my own stems?

Yes! You can use your own words to ask questions or explain ideas. The stems just help you get started.

Are they only for maths?

Maths stems help with any subject where you talk about ideas. They’re great for science, reading, and even art!

How can I practice them at home?

You can practice by solving simple maths problems and using stems to explain your thinking. Try asking questions like “How did you solve that?” or “Why did you choose that method?”