Using+Manipulatives

=**Using Manipulatives by Michael Donahue**=

====**What are manipulatives?** Manipulatives are concrete objects or materials that students can touch and move round, in order to learn mathematical or other academic concepts, by actively constructing understanding.====

====**Why use manipulatives?** Manipulatives can enhance any lesson because they give learners a chance to learn kinesthetically, by touching and doing, as opposed to simply listening to a teacher lecture. They allow ELL students an opportunity to build and demonstrate knowledge even if their second language acquisition skills are limited. Manipulatives help develop conceptual understanding by representing ideas in multiple ways, thus giving students with different learning styles a better chance at proficiency. They help keep students engaged, improve comprehension, open communication, build confidence, and foster higher retention of concepts and ideas. If they are used as part of a direct, explicit, systematic teacing approach, manipulatives can benefit any student, in any grade.====

====**When should manipulatives be used?** Manipulatives can and should be integrated into any lesson, regardless of discipline, where their use will enhance students' learning experience. They can be effectively used to introduce new concepts, or to reteach concepts that any struggling students haven't mastered. They help transfer understanding to the abstract level. ELL students, in particular, benefit from use of manipulatives, whenever possible, as they try to acquire their second language.====

====**What are some examples of manipulatives?** Some examples are: pattern blocks, colored blocks, alphabet blocks, base ten blocks, fraction circles, flashcards, number cards, guided reading beach balls, large geometric solids, two sided counters, conversation cubes, writing flip charts, magnetic learning letters, objects from nature, buttons, coins, jelly beans, pictures.====

= ** [|SDAIE Strategy- Manipulatives] ** =