Why Should You Use Virtual Manipulatives in Your Math Classroom?

Research shows that hands-on learning helps students visualize mathematical concepts (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics). Overall, digital manipulatives make this possible. First, abstract concepts become more concrete with the power of virtual manipulatives. Next, using manipulatives promotes conceptual understanding of math standards.

Another reason to use digital manipulatives comes from John Dewey. Of course, even educators in the early twentieth century knew that students learned best by experiencing learning concepts hands-on. Of course, allowing students to experience math by putting materials in their hands is the definition of learning by doing. In addition, experiential learning using manipulatives makes math come alive online.

What Math Concepts Work with Virtual Manipulatives?

From counting to algebraic expressions, virtual manipulatives have a place in every math classroom.

First, use virtual manipulatives with these math standards and units available in my ready-to-use digital math centers. These digital math activities are differentiated; there are A/B slides included for each standard.

In addition, these digital activities also use moveable pieces as manipulatives to help your students solve algebraic equations, represent parts to a whole in fractions, make shapes, and also review place value. Overall, digital math centers with virtual manipulatives are the perfect way to help your students with problem solving and critical thinking.

Where Do You Find Digital Manipulatives Online?

In addition to the moveable manipulatives in the digital math centers, there are also many places to find complementary virtual manipulatives to support student learning. Here are two of my favorite websites to find online manipulatives.

Didax

First, Didax includes a digital plethora of hands-on math manipulatives. Cubes, counters, dice, ten-frames, tiles, geoboards, disks, and more can be used with any of the digital math centers for 3rd-5th grades. To begin, try this site for simple, ready to use digital manipulatives.

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

When it comes to finding free online digital manipulatives, the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is the best site for PreK-12 learners. The site is divided into five topics: Number & Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement Data, and Analysis & Probability

Of course, each topic has resources for PreK-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12 to use with learners at any level. Because of the vast amount of resources on the site, you can use these manipulatives to differentiate instruction for any student in your classroom. First, help your students that need additional scaffolding by using an Abacus of factor trees. Finally, challenge your students with function machines and circle puzzles.

Along with standard virtual manipulatives, this site also has measurement tools that integrate well with science class, clocks to practice telling time, and dozens of graphs.

The power of manipulatives not only help your students “see” math in front of them with hands-on learning, they provide tools that are safe and affordable even while students are participating in distance learning. Having hundreds of manipulatives at their fingertips gives students their own personal virtual manipulative toolkit.

Try using virtual manipulatives with digital math centers during independent learning, small group work, or station rotations. Overall, virtual manipulatives help promote problem solving and critical thinking for all students.

Want to try a sample of our differentiated digital math centers >>>> CLICK HERE!

The post The Power of Virtual Manipulatives appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.

The question I get asked the most is “What digital math activities do you recommend?” One of the positives of COVID-19 is the rise of digital instructional activities. I am so impressed by the capabilities of digital activities and what this means for the world of education. Here are 4 reasons why digital math activities are perfect for any classroom setting and will remain important after pandemic life is over.

Auto-grading features

How many of us have given up family time or self-care to review/grade ALLLLLL THE THINGS our students have completed? It’s a lot! If you have math resources created within Google Sheets or Google Forms they may have auto-grading features that will do the work for you! You can access data collected on your students immediately after they complete an assignment. Our digital math quick checks review all math standards for grades 3-5 and grades everything for you!

Highly engaging for students

Let’s keep it real- children love technology and if done correctly it can be highly engaging and impactful for students. One of the fears I had for teaching math in 2020 was the potential of losing the hands-on component of math lessons, but with digital math activities there’s space for virtual manipulatives. Our Digital Number Sense Activities for grades 2-5 and our Differentiated Math Centers for grades 3-5 have built in movable pieces that spark conceptual understanding and engagement for students!

No more killing trees!

Getting through a day of teaching requires A LOT of paper, especially if you are implementing math centers. Digital math activities require NO PAPER and often times this means low prep for you! Save the copy count you are given by administration and minimize the amount of time you spend prepping for your math block with digital math activities!

Instant feedback for students

Students need as much support as possible without excessive hand holding. Our Digital Math Pixel Arts provide immediate student feedback in an engaging presentation. Digital Math Pixel Art Activities are ready to go activities for Google Sheets that review a specific math skill. As your students correctly answer various questions a mystery picture will start to reveal!

Digital Classroom Escapes also provide instant feedback, as students enter solve secret codes and messages. Your students are having so much fun they don’t realize they’re also reviewing math, science, or reading skills!

In years to come you’ll see more digital content in the classroom. Digital education can feel overwhelming, but in the end it will positively impact the lives of your students! Want to try a FREE Digital Math Pixel Art? CLICK HERE to test one out today!

The post Why Digital Math Activities Are Perfect For The Classroom appeared first on Tanya Yero Teaching.