By Pam Woodbury

Whether you are lining up blocks, stacking pebbles, arranging tile pieces, or experimenting with plastic measuring cups or washed out milk containers, you are using manipulatives.  I remember the first set of pattern blocks that Kristina received.  My aunt gave them to her for Christmas when she was five.  Immediately Kristina started building beautiful star shapes and other patterns.  Remarking on what a great manipulative they were, I was rewarded with a roll of the eyes from my aunt.  "Can't you just call them blocks?" she asked.  I guess I was really into this "new" homeschooling thing.  Anyway, blocks or manipulatives, they were great.  Finding and making patterns is a huge part of what mathematics is all about.  Years ago, before they came out with proportionally correct stacking cups and rods that could actually be used for measuring, I remember teaching my little brother how to add and subtract using our butter knives.  He was really having trouble, but then we struck on the idea of demonstrating the concepts and right away we could see him catching on.  People need to be able to "see and feel" math in order to really learn and understand it.  Of course, some people need to use manipulatives more than others, but everyone benefits from them to some degree.  Besides, most of them are just plain fun to use!