What Math Manipulatives Do You Really Need?

I often get asked about math manipulatives from educators.

• Do you really need all those math manipulatives?

• Where do you put them?

• How do you keep the students from just playing with them?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyjxzvORBuQ

I always answer with a resounding yes! to needing math manipulatives. If you have read my other blog posts, you know the research from Jerome Bruner on concrete-pictorial-abstract. He found that students need that concrete experience to make sense of new concepts. Their hands are moving while their minds are processing. (Please note that this post contains affiliate links. I do receive a small compensation if you purchase.)

Think of a new concept you may have to learn like putting together a robot or changing a tire. While reading about it can be helpful, seeing it and even experiencing it helps the concept to make more sense. It provides more of a context for what's actually happening. In fact, Jerome Bruner wasn't the only one who found this. A popular quote from Maria Montessori says, "What the hand does, the mind remembers."

Choosing what manipulatives you want in your math program can be a lofty goal. Often textbooks come with their own list, but these can be rather costly. I've encouraged educators to think about their must haves. What are the tools that you must have in your curriculum? What are the things you will use most often? This can be a great way to consider what you actually need, especially if you are on a budget. (And don't forget all those resale pages on Facebook!)

Here are some Amazon links to some of my K-2 favorites:

• Base ten blocks

• Connecting cubes (There are a lot of different brands available. I like Learning Resources, because they actually snap together.)

• Shape Pattern Blocks with Cards to Explore

• Gear Clocks

• Magnetic base ten blocks for the board

You may also see these lists I have created for you organized by my Must Haves and things that are Nice to Have. Click on the link below to download your own copy of each list. While this isn't specific to any particular program, it highlights the most common manipulatives.

Here are some links to my 3-4 favorites:

• Place Value Chips or Disks

• Flat 2-color counters (I like the foam ones because they are quieter.)

• Geometric solids that fold out to explore the nets of each figure

• Fraction circles or fraction bars

• Magnetic place value chips for the board

The final thing to consider is how to store them and actually use them within a learning setting. Whether you are homeschooling or using them in a classroom, you will want them organized for student use.

I like to put manipulatives in caddies for table groups. This is important, because so much time can be taken going to the cabinet/closet, getting the materials and then passing them out. I don't have every single manipulative in the caddy. I rotate the resources as we go through each unit or chapter. Having them readily available is vital to save time and encourage students to use them on their own.

Some of my 5-6 favorites include:

• Decimal place value chips

• Place value strips

• Teacher protractor for using on the board

A key that often gets overlooked is how to train students to use math manipulatives. In my classroom, math manipulatives are also available for exploration during free play or indoor recess. Sometimes when I use them in math class, students struggle to make the transition from toy to tool.

In my Day Zero: The First 5 Math Lessons, I have lesson plans training students to establish norms for using manipulatives during math time. This includes practicing the right way to use them and building time for students to first explore and play before actually using them as tools. I will never forget the time I used colorful overhead counters to teach arrays to 3rd graders in New York. This school had a lot of discipline problems and found manipulatives led to misbehavior. We used them in our lesson and first used them to make beautiful pictures. They had a blast and then used them the right way with the remaining time. You can access a download of this document in my SHOP.

Manipulatives play a vital role in the math classroom, especially in grades K-6. However, they must be used in a thoughtful way to truly be successful. If you would like to see some creative ways to use manipulatives, I include several videos as part of the Math Learning Lab subscription. Don't forget to grab your FREE download below!