manipulatives

You don’t *have* to buy much of anything at all. Any small objects — pennies, dried beans, etc — can be used as counters. Keep small things in baggies. Many other things, including ones squares and tens sticks and hundreds sheets, can be photocopied and cut out of light cardboard. Basic rulers are usually brought by students and you can measure real-life objects. For area, use inch squares or centimeter squares cut out of paper. For volume, use measuring cups. For clocks, photocopy a nice *large* clock face with clear numbers and tick marks for each minute, use cardboard or popsicle sticks or something similar for hands, and hold the hands on the face with those flexible brass paper fasteners; then each child can have his own clock. If you cover things with sticky clear plastic, available at Walmart or dollar stores,you can re-use them over and over again. It is a useful skil to teach students to look at visuals on the blackboard — teach yourself to draw *large* and clear, to be visible from all parts of the room (go to the back and check!). Also it is worthwhile to teach students to copy their own problems and to draw their own sketches on paper; the habit of only writing the single perfect answer in a little space stifles thinking and problem-solving skills. Manipulatives are vital, but avoid the trap of concentrating too much on fancy material and missing the subject.