How to Teach Math With Manipulatives in the Classroom
Math can be a very complicated subject for children who have difficulty picturing the abstract in their minds. Manipulatives, tangible learning tools that reinforce abstract skills, are a necessary component to the math classroom. They provide concrete evidence for mental equations. Manipulatives can be used at all grade levels and by students of all learning styles and abilities.
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic linking cubes
- Bingo chips
- Geometric shapes
- Clear plastic boxes or Ziploc bags
Instructions
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Introduce manipulatives at the beginning of the year. This gets students used to using them from the outset. Explain their purpose and how they will be used. Start with easy activities like sorting, counting, and graphing.
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Use manipulatives to help explain basic concepts. For example, when you introduce addition, model the use of manipulatives with two different color linking cubes. Put the cubes together, one color on top of the other to show that addition is the joining of two items together. You can use this method even as the addition concept gets more complex, like adding two or three digit numbers.
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Store manipulatives in clear, plastic boxes or zip-lock bags. Keep them in areas where students will have easy access and feel comfortable using them with a partner or independently. Encourage children to use similar items at home to complete homework assignments.
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Utilize on-line manipulatives. There are many websites which contain interactive games and point-and-click manipulatives to further reinforce mathematical concepts(see references). Schedule time in your school's computer lab if possible, or rotate use on the computer(s) in the classroom so all students have some time using this valuable resource.
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