Manipulative Activities Reflection

By doing the manipulative activity in class, I now have a better understanding of the types of manipulatives as well as their uses. After examining several different types of manipulatives, I now have a better idea of the kind of manipulatives I would like to have in my classroom. I saw some manipulatives that we used today, such as pattern blocks and snap blocks that I would like to use in my classroom. Other types of manipulatives I saw were not so versitille and I would not nesecarily want to use them in my classroom. I believe that manipulatives are essential to use in math classes, as well as other subjects. I believe that all students can learn but they all learn differently, manipulatives are a great teaching tool and great for visual learners. When students use manipulatives, they deepen their understanding by being able to physically use something to represent a mathematical concept. Students deepen their understanding by connecting a math problem to something real, they can use the manipulatives and mess around with them to understand the mathematical problem. In order to determine if students can transfer their understanding from manipulatives to other situation you must gently ease them away from using manipulatives. By having the students use manipulatives on a regular basis to solve math problems, you slowly ease them away from using the manipulatives until they say they do not need them anymore. Once the students stop using them and realize they do not need them anymore, that is how you can assess their understanding or growth.