Kathie and All,

I am delighted that we are having a discussion about using manipulatives in
the adult education classroom. I taught elementary school for 18 years and
have taught adults for 30. I cannot imagine teaching math to anyone without
manipulatives. So many adults in basic education classes, GED classes, and
even content classes such as Algebra can benefit from beginning with the
concrete and making the expected progress to the symbolic and then to the
abstract where we can see real mathematical thinking.

Years ago when I taught my first ABE classes, I immediately ordered
scissors, crayons, and rulers. Only the stock clerk seemed surprised and
teased me a little for that order. The students readily used the materials
when I distributed the crayons to color patterns, make bar graphs, and shade
shapes to find their areas. They were proud to put the finished graphs on
the wall or to make generalizations about the patterns.

My advice about manipulatives is that the success comes with the tone that
is set by the instructor. If the teacher simply expects that using
manipulatives will deepen mathematical understanding and is not shy about
explaining why they are helpful, the students will respect that position and
dive in. They will color, paste, stretch rubber bands on geoboards, find
mass using balance scales and anything else that is in the lesson design.

Margaret Rogers
President Elect
Adult Numeracy Network




On 9/17/07 1:27 PM, "Myrna Manly" <mmanly at earthlink.net> wrote:


> Kathy, 

> 

> Because you are interested in introducing manipulatives into the adult

> classroom, I¹m guessing that you know how powerful they can be in helping

> students to recognize patterns and to see more than one way to solve problems.

> They help to make the transition from the concrete to the symbolic reasoning

> that is so important in math.  But I also sense that you are hesitant to use

> them with adults who may dismiss them as being for children.

> 

>  

> 

> Perhaps this a good question to throw back to the list subscribers.  What has

> your experience been when you introduced manipulatives to your adult classes?

> 

>  

> 

> Myrna

> 

>  

> 

> 

> From: specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:specialtopics-bounces at nifl.gov]

> On Behalf Of Kathie Daviau

> Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 2:49 PM

> To: specialtopics at nifl.gov

> Subject: [SpecialTopics 652] Re: Components of Numeracy

> 

>  

> 

> I am interested in the use of manipulatives in the adult ed math classroom.

> How are manipulatives used?  How do you introduce manipulatives to adults?  Do

> you use manipulatives in an individualized setting?  What are your favorite

> manipulatives? 

> Thanks,

> Kathie

> Billings, Montana

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

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