Math Manipulative Linky with Ideas by Jivey

Today I am linking up with Jivey for her Workshop Wednesday.  I excited to see she was doing a math related theme this week so I could participate easily. : )

I am not actively teaching in the classroom, so I am not going through the day to day stuff with twenty or more kids, but I do have five kids of my own to teach, help with homework (at this point one still needs a lot of help), and all the other good stuff that comes with being a mom.

This week is about math manipulatives.  I LOVE teaching math and love the hands on aspect of it.  I feel there are so many learners that need that visual and sensory part of math before they can move on to the representational and abstract part.

So, about my math manipulatives.... I don't have the common teacher manipulatives at home, so I use all the things around my house and that my kids use to be their manipulatives.  The manipulative they use most is probably Legos.  Almost anything you have multiples of at your house (or in your classroom) can be a manipulative: Books, blocks, balls, paperclips, hair clips, eggs, etc.  In some of my past posts I have shown this.

Here are those posts if you want to take a look at them...

• Math activities with apples
• Math activities with hangers
• Math activities with necklaces and neckties
• Math activities with paperclips
• Math activities with popcorn
• Math activities with Legos
• Math activities with Q-tips
• Math activities with shoes

I plan on making some teacher resources so that all my teacher friends can give these hands-on math activities for homework or as a station in the classroom.  I'd love to know if you think you would use something like that.

Please join me tomorrow for my first MaTh activity Thursday party--the theme is place value.

Also, I'd love to add your blog to my growing Teacher Blog Directory.

Thanks Jivey for hosting a linky party!  Have a great day!