| When we think about methods for teaching | | | | student understand geometric relationships. |
| children math, the first things that probably | | | | |
| come to mind are flash cards, repetition and | | | | There are also manipulatives that teach about |
| memorization, pie charts, workbooks, and the | | | | fractions. These are usually made out of foam |
| like. But one method you may not have thought | | | | or plastic. They can be used to help the |
| of, or even heard of, is the use of | | | | student understand the relationship between |
| educational manipulatives and games. | | | | whole things and parts of things. |
| | | | |
| What are the benefits of using educational | | | | Manipulatives that teach design and |
| manipulatives and games for learning math? | | | | patterning skills are very popular. Perhaps |
| | | | it is because they are often used in crafts. |
| First of all, you may be wondering, just what | | | | Crafting can be fun, but how many children |
| are educational manipulatives? Our official | | | | realize they are developing their problem |
| definition of “manipulate” means | | | | solving skills while they are doing crafts? |
| “to treat or operate with or as if with | | | | Pretty sneaky, huh? |
| the hands or by mechanical means especially | | | | |
| in a skillful manner” (Merriam-Webster | | | | Another way to enhance learning is with |
| Online Dictionary). In other words, | | | | games. |
| it’s doing something or handling | | | | |
| something with the hands. But how does this | | | | We all know children need to learn their math |
| relate to teaching math? | | | | facts. Although some children can learn these |
| | | | facts the first time they see them, most |
| Well, when you want to teach children about | | | | children learn by seeing them over and over |
| money, what do you do? You pull out some | | | | again. They learn by repetition. Simply |
| coins and some bills and you explain how much | | | | using flash cards or workbook pages can be |
| each is worth and how they relate to one | | | | boring and not very stimulating. |
| another. This is a hands-on approach to | | | | |
| teaching the value of money using | | | | But by using a game, children get the needed |
| manipulatives. | | | | repetition in an interesting, fun way. And |
| | | | there are games available for all levels of |
| Educational math manipulatives are things the | | | | learning. For example, the game Sum Swamp is |
| students can actually touch and pick up with | | | | for beginners who need practice with addition |
| their hands. They come in all shapes, colors | | | | and subtraction. Totally Tut is another game |
| and sizes. Manipulatives can give the student | | | | that gives practice in addition, subtraction, |
| a three dimensional hands-on picture of the | | | | multiplication and division as well as order |
| concepts they are learning. And, best of all, | | | | of operation practice. |
| they are easy to use. | | | | |
| | | | Does your child need practice with logic, |
| Manipulatives are usually cubes, rods, tiles | | | | strategy or pattern recognition? Tic Tac |
| or cards with or without numbers on them. If | | | | Twice is a fun game that will surely help. |
| your child is just starting out, you would | | | | Players use two boards at once. A good move |
| use the ones without numbers. One example of | | | | on one board may not be a good move on the |
| this is Cuisenaire rods. | | | | other. Players must place four playing pieces |
| | | | in a row across, up, down or diagonal on one |
| Cuisenaire rods are a collection of | | | | board. This game is based on algebraic |
| rectangular rods, each of a different color | | | | principles. |
| and size. They help students visualize | | | | |
| problems involving fractions and can be used | | | | Geoshapes is a game that is a little more |
| to teach the basics of addition, subtraction, | | | | challenging. Students will plan strategies |
| multiplication and division. After your child | | | | and calculate risk while getting practice |
| learns the basics, then you can use the | | | | with their math. The goal is to be the first |
| cubes, rods or tiles with numbers and symbols | | | | to fill a figure with combinations of |
| on them. These are used just like flash | | | | geometric shapes. |
| cards. | | | | |
| | | | Whatever your child’s learning goals, |
| But what if you want to teach about geometric | | | | there are games and other tools to help. |
| shapes or fractions or patterns? | | | | Educational manipulatives and games are some |
| | | | of the often-overlooked tools in our |
| First, there are geometric manipulatives. | | | | educational arsenal that can be used to both |
| These can be used to teach children about | | | | teach and entertain at the same time. While |
| cylinders, spheres, cubes, pyramids and | | | | traditional methods of teaching math that |
| cones. Some geometric manipulatives are | | | | have proven their value should certainly not |
| whole. Others are divided into parts to make | | | | be abandoned, educational manipulatives and |
| it easier to demonstrate the adding or | | | | games can and should be used as a resource to |
| subtracting of those parts. Suppliers of | | | | overcome those short attention spans for |
| geometric manipulatives usually provide an | | | | which most children are famous. |
| activity book with many lessons to help the | | | | |