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May 15, 2016

Online Math Manipulatives

From cuisenaire rods to base-ten pieces, manipulatives are a CRITICAL part of our primary classrooms. They offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept and build their own meaning. The CSA model of mathematics has us moving students from the concrete to the semi-concrete to the abstract when introducing and teaching new material. When students are struggling at the representational/abstract level, we always move back and build concrete experiences with mathematics. Students need hands-on ways to interact with math.

Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!

Why Use Online Manipulatives?

 Online manipulatives are internet-based math tools that allow for whole-class modeling (led by students or teachers) moving students from the concrete to the representational mode of thinking. These math tools are often free resources sponsored by textbook companies and other organizations to generate alternative ways to represent math content. There are SO many ways to use online math manipulatives.
Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!
  • Online manipulatives allow students to show their thinking in a whole-group mini-lesson before guided math small groups begin (a great scaffold for students who struggle but still want to share their math thinking)
  • While doing a number talk, online manipulatives give a way for students to ‘try-out’ others’ thinking or for teachers to model student thinking in a real way
  • Partner task cards with a carefully chosen online manipulative displayed on a SMART Board or laptop, and it makes a perfect math center
  • Math manipulatives can be SO expensive! Online manipulatives give students and classrooms access to a variety of math tools without having to invest in them, perfect for at-home learning and practice.
Today, I am going to start by sharing websites with the greatest number of resources and then, highlight a few specific  learning tools within websites.

Think Central

Think Central, a free resource from Hardcourt, offers K-12 teachers resources to accompany their math textbook. Our school does not use a prescribed curriculum, but still we love having access to these free resources. From basic math concepts to middle-grade geometry and algebra, Think Central is thorough (remember – it’s intended to supplement a textbook so it has a HUGE catalog of resources).

Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!

I really like these manipulatives and workspaces because within each resource there are lots of bells and whistles. The different options offered within each section closely match specific skill and strategies introduced in the classroom. These manipulatives are perfect for mini-lessons!

Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!
Although we try to do most of our number talks mentally, I do love pulling out the number balance for 1st grade algebra. This can be such an abstract concept for my 1st graders and being able to easily manipulate a scale (without having to make sure it is initially balanced) helps simplify balancing equations!
Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!

Math Learning Center

The Math Learning Center offers web and app-based manipulatives – with the best resources for building number sense. The Math Learning Center provides easy to use number-sense building manipulatives – abaci, ten frames, hundreds charts, etc.
Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!
Personally, this is the most visually appealing of the online manipulatives  The colors are bold, allowing students to visually differentiate between different numbers and concepts. Plus, the bottom dashboard makes flipping, copying, and writing on the screen simple. We love using rekenreks in the classroom and the MLC offers a great online-component for this learning tool.
Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!

 Glencoe Manipulative Library

Glencoe has an awesome collection of grade-specific thinking mats named “backgrounds” that you can interchange with a huge bank of manipulatives. From Part, Part, Whole mats to fraction unit tiles, Glencoe has ALL the materials needed to demonstrate Common Core math strategies and concepts. There aren’t as many bells and whistles (pens, markers, flexibility) but in terms of content, it’s thorough.Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!

Interactive 100s Chart

For the first few weeks of school our 1st grade focus is recognizing number patterns on the 100s chart, as well as, ‘before’ and ‘after’. My go-to 100’s chart is SPLAT online! We turn this online resource into a game, playing as a class on our SMART Board. Using different paint colors, students can visualize patterns on the chart. Another variation on the game is having students take turns making number puzzles, “I’m think of a number that is one more than 15.” Everyone would circle it on their 100s chart (at their desk using a dry erase marker) and then, one special friend would SPLAT a number on the board.

Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!

A Number Line (Open and Closed)

A number line is such a valuable tool especially as I am weaning my 1st grade friends off of their fingers for counting. It offers familiarity and comfort but allows students to work with larger numbers. EduPlace‘s Number Line is one of my go-to resources because of its flexibility. (1) The number line continues to any number by clicking the black arrows…even negative numbers (2) Hops can be made in any increments which makes it great for introducing open number lines. As students become more comfortable with the number line, they can take larger hops (2, 5, 10, etc). This is a perfect number line to explore number relationships and compose/decompose numbers!
Math Manipulatives offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept, build their own meaning, and help develop number sense!
Online manipulatives offer a perfect transition from concrete to representational math thinking. They can provide an important scaffold in math thinking and offer students a way to show their thinking when words or numbers aren’t just-right. I’ve shared some of my favorite online manipulatives and would love your perspective. What are your go-to ways to use online math manipulatives? What are your favorite websites or resources? I’m always looking for other resources and would love to hear what works in your classroom!

Join me for weekly classroom updates and free resources that are just-right for your guided math classroom!

Sweet! Thanks so much for joining me. Now check your email to confirm your address & snag your freebies. Happy Teaching! -Catherine

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Filed Under: 1st Grade, Guided Math Tagged With: Guided Math, Math, Number Sense

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Comments

  1. The Techie Teacher says

    May 17, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    Glencoe Math has ALWAYS been my fave 🙂 I have never heard of Think Central. Checking it out now:) Thanks for sharing!
    Julie
    The Techie Teacher

    Reply
  2. Karen F. says

    June 13, 2016 at 2:36 am

    Thank you so much for sharing!! I will definitely be using these 🙂

    Reply
  3. Kelly M says

    June 29, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    Based on your information provided, I would suggest having an online discussion on the essay writing service. I will suggest your blog to students having focus on creating a well researched content on a topic.

    Reply
  4. Afsi says

    September 22, 2016 at 1:12 am

    These are awesome! THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!

    Reply
  5. Sara C. says

    January 11, 2017 at 3:20 am

    Thank you for taking the time to share about your routines and resources! I am a 1st year teacher and I have found great guidance and support in your website! ¡Gracias!

    Reply
  6. Leah S. says

    February 4, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    Your blog has been so helpful to me this year! I have been struggling to use Guided Math with my very wide range of students this year, but you have given me so many great resources and ideas! Thank you so much!

    Reply

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My name is Catherine Reed, and I am a fourth-year teacher living in small-town, Kentucky.  I student taught in 1st grade and never imagined myself ...

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Sweet! Thanks so much for joining me. Now check your email to confirm your address & snag your freebies. Happy Teaching! -Catherine

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