Learning math in the primary grades should be an active experience that involves hands-on activities, exploration, and talking. That is how young children learn. While rules and procedures are part of effective classroom management, a compromise is needed between keeping a quiet classroom where students sit at their seats all day and developmentally appropriate active student learning. That means it's going to be organized, engaging, and fun with "controlled noisiness", as I like to call it. This blog post will discuss some ways to make your primary classroom an effective learning place. Let's start with manipulatives.
Math manipulatives are objects that students can manipulate to help them understand mathematical concepts. They are an effective teaching tool in primary classrooms because they engage students and help make abstract concepts more concrete.
Introduce manipulatives:
Begin by introducing the manipulatives that students will be using. Refer to them as "math tools", not toys. Show students how to use the manipulatives and give them opportunities to explore and experiment with them. The natural reaction is that children want to play with them. I usually let them have free time with math manipulatives to help develop their spatial sense, to figure out different ways to use them, and, of course, practice using them as math tools.
Model their use:
It is important to model the use of manipulatives during instruction to help students understand how they can be used to solve problems. I found out that children do not naturally know how to use manipulatives to solve a problem but need some guidance. Demonstrate how to use the manipulatives to model concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In multiplication, for example, show them how to make groups of objects that they can later draw to show their learning.
Be prepared:
I can't count how many times I said to the class "Okay, get your counters and start your work" only to have the whole class run to that one little container, some grabbing handfuls while others got none. Pure chaos! I learned to be prepared! Use plastic sandwich bags to make enough packages of manipulatives for the whole class and hand these out after students are seated. Ask an older student or parent helper to prepare the bags for you. This will save you a lot of time.
Keep them organized:
I had a big shelf unit with all my math manipulatives organized in clear plastic containers and labeled. Students were required to replace them in the same spot they were taken from. A container had to be put back before another one was taken. Only certain containers were allowed out for free time. All "structures" had to be dismantled before putting them back.
Encourage creativity and exploration:
Allow students to explore and experiment with manipulatives to develop their own understanding of math concepts. Encourage them to manipulate the objects and explain what they are doing. Manipulatives can be used in creative ways to solve math problems. Encourage children to explore different ways of using the manipulatives to find solutions.
Again, free time with manipulatives is important. I remember that, when I was discouraged by the lack of progress on a math concept, I would give the kids time to play with the math tools because I didn't know what else to do. Much to my surprise, I found that they actually DID "get it". I have seen them build structures with base 10 blocks, count a jar of pennies by making groups of 10, make a tower with snap cubes to measure different objects in the classroom, see who could make the biggest castle with 3-D objects, practice telling time with clocks...for fun!
Overall, math manipulatives can be a great way to engage students in math
and help them understand mathematical concepts in a hands-on way. With a little planning and preparation, you can effectively incorporate math manipulatives into your primary classroom.
Next week, we will talk about using music in the classroom.
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