The World of Manipulatives

They can be found in most classrooms – baskets of cubes, tangrams, counters, and blocks.  These are math manipulatives and they have received much acclaim as one of the most effective ways to introduce mathematics to young children.  They are often used to assist in the learning of the concepts of problem solving, reasoning, counting, and the skill of geometry.  Much in the same way that a city map helps an adult to become familiar with a new town, manipulatives help young children to become accustomed to mathematical theories and reasoning.  This introduction makes formal mathematical lessons in the future more familiar and easier to grasp. 

The physical interaction with manipulatives is advantageous to children in a variety of ways.  As an architect constructs models to search for solutions, children use manipulative materials to solve problems.  This physical evidence of a solution not only fosters problem resolution, but also makes the lesson more memorable because there is a visual representation to go along with it.  This teaches abstract reasoning and encourages independent thinking, raising a child’s confidence level.  This form of three-dimensional teaching can be used in children of all ages.  Young children can learn counting with the use of blocks and shapes while older school age children can use them to learn more complex concepts.

No matter what the age or the lesson, manipulatives make useful tools for solving problems while making the exercise enjoyable and motivational.  Wood Designs offers a variety of units to house your manipulatives.  These products provide open shelving which is conducive to Montessori teaching and a raised lip on the top to allow children to move objects around and experiment.  We pride ourselves on the functionality and features of these classroom options.