Viva maniplulatives

Posh word, simple meaning. Things you can handle...play with.

They go in and out of fashion but I am a huge fan. The look on a child's face when an abstract concept is transformed into a practical task is magic. Ideas become realities. This week I have been sorting through the new stock and it occurred to me just how many of these wonderful maths aids we often have tucked away around the house. During the holidays there are so many fab opportunities to consolidate your child's learning

 I have to confess to buying new Lego, even though there are boxes full of the stuff in the loft...the colours are so pretty these days. Lego is wonderful for learning number bonds, addition and subtraction, multiplication and divisions factors, multiples and fractions. It's also a brilliant way of practising the new spatial aspects of the 11+/Kent Test. 3D rotation and aerial views really lend themselves to a nice, cosy half an hour with the Lego.

Then there are pegs...10 of them on a coat-hanger and there you have an excellent method for learning number bonds.

 Recipe cards (not technically  manipulatives in themselves but the cooking is hands on) are brilliant for scaling problems. Instead of making one batch of cakes, try making one and a half and get your child to work out the new quantities...and of course they get lovely practice in measures as they weigh out ingredients.

4 is half of 8, 2 is half of 4.

I'm off to play with my new toys (displacement activity - I should be writing an essay on Coriolanus). have a fantastic Easter break, and see how many of those wonderful manipulatives you actually have tucked away just waiting for a chance to become a learning experience.

Changes

It's been a while since I posted last. There have been a number of reasons but the main one is the I've been too busy doing to spend time writing.

 There has been a lot going on. Firstly we have increased our  staff and the area we cover.  We'd like to extend a very big welcome to Mr Mascall and Mrs Sherlock, who will be covering Medway and the Folkestone areas, and we have new tutors joining us in the East Kent Coastal area. This is really exciting, considering that I left work last July expecting to to be a one man band for some time.

We have also spent a good deal of time and money on improving our practical resources. We have a fab new range of maths manipulatives, which the children are thoroughly enjoying, new books and technology.

For me, personally, I have been enjoying settling into our new schoolroom.

I have also been working on the idea of sessions for parents who want to understand the new methods, new terminology and  the new curriculum. I will be starting sessions on Tuesday mornings at 10.30  to cover each of these areas. We are in the process of updating the website to include these sessions but for the time being please contact me for further details on:

http://www.eastkent-tutors.co.uk/contact.php

or call 075515 642020