How to Use Manipulatives in the Classroom

A manipulative is an object that is used by students enabling them "to actively learn a concept," according to Tammie Jacobs of BJU Press. Manipulatives are commonly used in mathematics classes and include materials such as base 10 blocks, buttons for sorting or three-dimensional geometric shapes. Although manipulatives are tools that can help all students understand a concept and achieve success, too often they are used only as a remedial teaching technique. Manipulatives should be an integral part of every math class and can be effective when used correctly.

• 1

  Use manipulatives when introducing a new concept in order to appeal to multiple learning styles. If you teach every new concept using direct instruction, it is unlikely that your non-verbal-linguistic learners will gain a deep understanding. For example, teach the concept of subtraction with borrowing using base 10 blocks. In the equation "27-9", have students take one 10 block from the "20" and give it to the "7" to create the equation 17-9 in the ones column.

• 2

  Model the task that you are teaching your students. If you give the manipulatives to students before modeling, you can set yourself up for confusion and chaos. When explaining the task, have students gather in a circular formation on the floor while you model exactly what you want them to do with the manipulatives. For example, if they are sorting buttons by color, model the process before distributing the buttons.

• 3

  Set expectations before beginning the activity. According to the Australian Association for Research in Education, many teachers avoid using manipulatives because of the perceived behavior management issues that may arise. Behavior issues can be prevented by setting clear expectations before manipulative use. For example, when using blocks, make it clear to students that building towers is not permitted, and anyone that does so will not be able to use the manipulatives. Follow through with your expectations and consequences. As a student, sitting and watching the others use manipulatives and not being able to can be enough to prevent the behavior from happening again in the future.

• 4

  Integrate other learning styles into manipulative use. To combine kinesthetic utilization of manipulatives with verbal-linguistic understanding, have students record their observations and work. For example, if the students are adding using dice, have them record the equations in their math notebooks.

• 5

  Have students create manipulatives to add an extra boost of comprehension. If time is short, make manipulative creation an art lesson so that you are not taking time from math class. An easy manipulative for students to make is fraction strips. Cut out five equal strips of paper. Have students cut the first one in half, label each piece "1/2" and glue it onto a larger piece of paper. The second strip should be cut into thirds, each piece labeled "1/3" and glued beneath the halves. By continuing to sixths, students will gain an understanding of the fact that as the denominator increases, the pieces get smaller.