Hands-On Math for an Active Learner

"My son hates math. It seems like torture for him to sit still and do his workbook pages each day. He is struggling to learn his math facts. What can I do?"

 

I feel your pain. I have a daughter who would much rather be doing cartwheels than calculations! It was a challenge when I began teaching her addition facts. After weeks of banging my head into the wall, I finally realized she learned differently than her older brother. :)

She responds well to things that keep her hands busy (aka math manipulatives). She can't stand filling out worksheet after boring worksheet. So, to teach her money counting we use coins. To tell time we use the JUDY CLOCK. When she began learning her multiplication tables, I knew I had to find something for hands on learning.

Thankfully, I stumbled onto Wrap-Ups at our local Marbles store. She exclaimed yesterday, "I love practicing multiplication using my Wrap-Ups!" That is a win in my book!

Wrap-Ups - the multiplication set I purchased goes from 1's all the way up to 12's. The company sells wrap-ups for everything from addition to algebra. They also offer a few non-math subjects as well.

Let me show you how it works:

Start by wrapping the string around the back of the key and hooking it into the START notch.

This gives you your first problem to solve - 2 x 5

Next, wrap the string across the front of the key, hooking it into the answer's notch. In this case, 10.

Wrap around the back and go to the next number, which is 4. Ect, ect...

This is the finished key. Make sure to pull the string into the notch at the bottom. You will be flipping the key over to self-correct on the back.

Make sure your string lines mirror the lines on the back of the key. (Sorry, it is difficult to see in a photo!)

Here are the lines on an unwrapped key.

She did it!!!!

 

(Disclaimer: I'm not being paid for this review. I just like the product.)

Here is the link to a list of Wrap-Ups on Amazon. They usually sell for around $10 a set.

Click here if you are interested in more homeschooling articles like this.

 

Many blessings,

Kristen

 

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