Strategy of the Week #4: Using Manipulatives in Math

Strategy of the Week #4: Using Manipulatives in Math

(Adapted from Dr. Jean Shaw, Donna McKenzie, Lorraine Walker)

Manipulatives:  Three-dimensional teaching aids and visuals that teachers use to help students with math concepts. Typical tools include counting beads or bars, unifix cubes, base ten blocks, shapes, fraction parts, and rulers.

Why are manipulatives important in math?

• Manipulatives help students develop conceptual knowledge.
• Manipulatives represent the mathematical ideas in multiple ways.
• Manipulatives help students to “see” and build mental images of mathematical ideas.
• Manipulatives engage students in the language and communication of mathematical ideas.
• Manipulative actively engage the sense of touch.
• A physical representation of a mathematical idea or solution provides a student with greater confidence in his/her solution.
• Manipulatives enhance the abilities of students at all levels to reason and communicate.

When to use manipulatives:

• When you are modeling a mathematical concept with your students.
• When children are exploring a new concept, practicing a familiar concept, or working with other students.
• When you are informally assessing students, or when students are asked to solve problems independently.
• When students are communicating mathematical ideas to their peers.

Suggestions for successful use of manipulatives:

• Management: Develop a routine/procedure for the way students get and use the manipulatives.  Manipulatives should be close at hand and easily accessible.
• Tools not toys:  Teach the students that manipulatives are tools, not toys.  The more the students use the manipulatives, the less likely they will be to be playing with them in ways other than to think mathematically.
• Never take them away!  Allow students to use the manipulatives until they decide they no longer need them and are able to problem solve successfully without them.
• Show them the way:  As students use manipulatives, model for students how they could represent the math using a pictorial representation and encourage students to use both.  This will help bridge the transition from concrete to pictorial representation.

If you are interested in planning how to manage and use manipulatives in your classroom, be sure to fill out the Partnership Interest Form below.  I would love to support you!

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