Today’s post offers an idea that will help us be green, save money, and differentiate instruction all at the same time. This short article by Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben provides several ideas for creating your own math manipulatives. I loved the uses for twist ties, stickers, and playing cards in particular. The milk ring idea is nice too as it will appeal not only to your tactile learners but to those who do best with visual supports.
It would be fun to think of DIY supports for older students too. As Marilyn Curtain points out in this insightful article (from the Math Goodies portal), we need to make math more accessible in secondary classrooms. What could you find in your junk drawer, kitchen, or closet that could be recycled to teach probability, area, whole numbers…?
About Paula Kluth
