Beginning number experiences and structured materials

Abstract

Few teachers would deny the importance of the role of concrete objects in helping primary children to understand number, number operations, and number relationships. In fact, many teachers believe that at this level the choice of appropriate manipulative material ranks in importance with the choice of an adequate text or workbook. Some teachers are of the opinion that beginning number ideas can be taught most effectively when pupils are provided with a great variety of carefully chosen manipulative and pictorial aids. Others prefer to rely on highly structured materials such as Cuisenaire rods and Stern blocks to provide a concrete vehicle for teaching abstract number concepts.