Manipulatives to rescue

Math.

The subject that can make even the brightest student suddenly “need” a bathroom break. Or doodle cats in the margin. Or stare out the window like they’re waiting for inspiration from the clouds.

Why? 😖

Because abstract concepts can feel like learning a secret code without the decoder ring. If the teaching style doesn’t click with a student’s learning style, math quickly goes from “maybe I’ll try” to “nope, not today.”

Then enter the unsung heroes of the classroom: manipulatives. 💪

Blocks, counters, algebra tiles, or the fancy digital kind they’re basically math’s way of saying: “Hey, want to play a game instead of memorizing rules?”

Suddenly, fractions aren’t just numbers on a page, they’re pizza slices. Geometry isn’t just scary angles, it’s building with Lego.

But here’s the thing. Tossing manipulatives at students without a plan is like giving them a set of drums and expecting Beethoven. Fun? Sure. Productive? Not always.

That’s why structure matters because manipulatives aren’t magic wands; they’re bridges. And with the right guidance, they help students cross from confusion to that magical “Ohhh, I get it!” moment.

Comments

Handling Criticism Constructively

If I’m being honest, I used to hear the word criticism and immediately brace for impact. My heart would race, my brain would go on defense mode, and all I could think was, “Oh no… what did I do wrong?” Criticism doesn’t have to crush you. In fact, if you can handle it constructively, it can become your best teacher. Here’s the framework that helped me turn feedback from a personal attack into a professional upgrade. But over the years, especially through teaching, research, and plenty of presentations, I’ve learned something important: The 5-Step Calm Response Framework Pause - Separate - Ask - Decide - Reflect Pause Before Reacting When someone gives you feedback, your first job is not to respond; it’s to breathe. Literally. Inhale for 4 seconds, exhale for 4. This little pause stops you from blurting something defensive and helps you actually hear what’s being said. “Let me hear this fully before deciding what i...

The Day the Equation Clicked

“Miss, I finally get it!” Those five words lit up my entire week. We were deep into linear equations, a topic that usually triggers a collective groan. I had introduced the concept using a real-life scenario about sharing snacks among friends (because who doesn’t like food math?). Some students were engaged, but one in particular, let’s call him Tom, sat quietly, eyes down, pencil untouched. Halfway through the lesson, I handed out mini whiteboards. “Explain the rule in your own way,” I told them. A few minutes later, Tom called me over and quietly said, “Miss, I finally get it.” He showed me a simple drawing of two snack packets being shared equally. It wasn’t textbook-perfect, but it was his understanding, in his own words. We high-fived. He smiled. And in that moment, the equation wasn’t just solved, it clicked . Why This Moment Matters It reminded me that understanding doesn’t always look the same for every stu...

Technology: Our New Frenemy

Technology is like that coworker who’s both helpful and super annoying. Yes, it’s great for grading papers and creating fun quizzes, but it also means dealing with students who insist, “I Googled it, so it must be true.”😒 Also, let’s not forget that the brave student who uses AI to write an essay and fails to remove “As an AI model, I believe…” from the intro.😉 Classic. But as teachers, we’ve learned to work with technology, not against it. And yes, we know how to spot AI-generated work most of the time. Challenges? Bring It On Let’s not sugarcoat it, being a teacher today isn’t all rainbows and motivational quotes. We deal with: Digital Divide - Some students have state-of-the-art tablets, while others are working off their mom’s old flip phone. Yes, that’s still a thing. Constant Tech Upgrades - Just when we master one app, another comes along to confuse us all over again.😕 Balancing Tech and Tradition - How do we mix TikTok-worthy lessons with actual learning?😏 It...

Dals blog

Search This Blog