Read the following scenario, and formulate the response you might give the parent; share your response, and explain your reasoning: A new math teacher at your school is questioning your use of manipulatives in the classroom. They think using manipulatives is too simplistic and that the child is not learning the concepts needed to count. What might you say to this teacher to justify your use of manipulatives?
Explain your success (I assume you have been successful, or you would not be using them), and tell him to try them if his regular methods seem unsatisfactory.
If his students learn from his methods, then it would be a useful exercise, but not really necessary.
Read the following scenario, and formulate the response you might give the parent; share your response, and explain your reasoning: A new math teacher at your school is questioning your use of manipulatives in the classroom. They think using manipulatives is too simplistic and that the child is not learning the concepts needed to count. What might you say to this teacher to justify your use of manipulatives?
Response:
I would explain to the teacher that using manipulatives in the classroom actually enhances and strengthens children's understanding of mathematical concepts, including counting. Manipulatives are concrete objects that students can physically interact with, allowing them to visualize and experience abstract mathematical ideas. This hands-on approach helps them build a solid foundation of understanding before moving on to more abstract concepts.
To further justify the use of manipulatives, I would explain that research has shown the numerous benefits of using manipulatives in math education. For instance, studies have found that manipulatives can improve student engagement and motivation, foster conceptual understanding, develop critical thinking skills, and support students with different learning styles.
By using manipulatives, children can physically manipulate objects, group and separate them, and actually count them. This tactile engagement enhances their understanding of numbers, quantity, and the mathematical operations involved.
If the teacher still has concerns, I would suggest conducting a small classroom experiment. We could compare two groups of students: one using manipulatives and another not using them. By collecting data on their understanding of counting concepts and their ability to apply those concepts in various scenarios, we could objectively assess the effectiveness of manipulatives.
Explaining reasoning:
In justifying the use of manipulatives, it is important to provide evidence and reasoning that supports the benefits of their use. By mentioning research findings, we can show that the use of manipulatives has been proven to be effective in enhancing students' mathematical understanding. Additionally, highlighting the advantages of manipulatives, such as engagement, critical thinking, and support for diverse learners, helps to address any concerns about simplification. Suggesting a classroom experiment provides an opportunity to gather objective data and further demonstrate the benefits of manipulatives in comparison to alternative methods.