Teaching your child math concepts — even very basic ones — can be an intimidating process. After all, how can one possibly explain why 2 + 2 = 4? It just is! Math teachers rely heavily on the Montessorian principle of giving an idea “to the hand” before we give it to the mind. In other words, start with a concrete object before moving to the abstract. Give the child something to see, touch, and manipulate. These objects are called “manipulatives,” a sacred and powerful word in math teacher jargon. Of course, a child can learn everything through real life experience with nothing but a pencil and some paper, but the road can be much smoother with these bits of specialized equipment. Not all manipulatives are created equal though. Here are my top four must have math supplies for your K-4 homeschool classroom. Armed with these tools, you’ll be unstoppable.
Must Have Math Supplies, K-4
Unifix Cubes Set
Starting with counting to one hundred, these little blocks will see you through early addition and subtraction, comparing quantities, skip counting, pattern building, and so much more. I’ve even used them while doing Algebra with middle schoolers.
They come in sets up to 1000, but don’t even think about it. One hundred is all you’ll ever need.
Base Ten Blocks
*Note: Wooden base ten blocks are also available if you prefer to skip the plastic, but they’re much more expensive.
Carrying and borrowing — or “re-grouping” in mathspeak — are two of the hardest concepts for young math students to master without enough concrete practice. When they’re pushed to the abstract formula too quickly, they never really understand why they are crossing out a zero and turning it into a ten. As a middle school math teacher, I saw it over and over. If a student comes to fifth grade hating math or believing they aren’t good at math, I can almost guarantee you that it started with re-grouping.
This is an easy problem to solve because re-grouping is clear and common sense when students have base ten blocks to work through problems. Don’t rush your child away from these tools. Better to spend more time with them at a young age than to lose the plot and regret it later.
Fractions are another sticky spot for many math students. Give your child a strong foundation with a simple, engaging tool like this pizza game. There are many fraction tile sets that are rectangular bars, but I advise against these. Firstly, they’re boring to play with, and the bright colors simply aren’t enough to engage children. More importantly, the rectangular shape doesn’t help students conceptualize fractions. A whole rectangle cut in half is just a smaller rectangle. Nothing about it is inherently a “half.” A half circle, on the other hand, is a clear, common sense way to illustrate the idea of “half” without needing the whole for reference.
Additionally, this particular product has plenty of pieces and a nice range of denominators, allowing your child to explore and experiment without becoming bored.
For more on fractions, check out my post How to Stop Hating Fractions!
Try to explain or draw one of these shapes. Then save yourself a heap of time and hand your child a geometric solid. These are three-dimensional, real world objects, so naturally, it makes sense to have models on hand. For instance, with blocks like these, your child can feel the difference between a plane, an edge, and a vertex.
You may not use these for many actual math lessons, but in the meantime, you can toss them in with your other wooden blocks. They make great castle turrets for young engineers, and each time they play, they’re getting more familiar with the shapes. I wrote the names on each of ours, so my kids also practice that vocabulary while they build.
If you’re in the market for a set of blocks, we highly recommend the wonderful Imaginations Unbound, and you can save 20% on any product there with discount code thishomeschool20!
Supplies to Skip
There are many other math manipulatives on the market, but most are a waste of money. Most egregious are the fake things to teach real life skills. Please don’t spend real money buying fake money for your kids to play with. Just let them use real coins and bills. Similarly, fake clocks are silly. Put a real clock in their bedroom and refer them to it often.
Other math supplies that are rarely used can be found in digital form for free, often giving more flexibility than physical counterparts. Some, like Math Learning Center’s digital pattern shapes, are especially fantastic because your child gets an endless supply of pieces and can customize colors. For the best of free online options, check out my articles on geoboards, 100 charts, and other digital manipulatives.