I love math, but I did not always feel this way. It was not until things began to "click" that my world opened, and I began to view math in a new way.
A love of math and deep understanding are at the heart of inquiry-based instruction. Inquiry-based instruction is a type of instruction where students investigate and draw conclusions about information.
Sometimes manipulatives get lost in the shuffle during instruction, or they are reserved for students that do not grasp math concepts. Using manipulatives with all students is crucial and is a great way to introduce a math concept. It encourages deeper understander rather than only memorizing math steps.
To teach math in an inquiry-based way, create scenarios similar to science labs. Put manipulatives on the desk in front of a small group of a small group of students along with an index card with a question for thought. Students make their predictions first, then they use the manipulatives to determine if their assumptions are correct or not.
I asked a group of students, "How many eighths fraction pieces are needed to create one whole?"
Some of the students were immediately able to say 8/8ths energetically while others said, "Six out of eight pieces". Once the students used their manipulatives to find out the answer, they created more equivalent fractions and discovered patterns in what is needed in order to create a whole. By the end of the lesson, everyone understood the concept.
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