Does Math Mammoth curriculum encourage the use of manipulatives?
For the most part, the curriculum does not specifically emphasize manipulatives but visual models. The exercises with visual models COULD be done equally with manipulatives (beans/counters, base ten blocks, fraction manipulatives, etc.) The exception is the 100-bead abacus, which I feel is needful for first grade. (The other option would be base ten blocks.) I feel that it’s essential that kindergartners and first graders have the opportunity to learn tens and ones (place value) using some manipulative. On each of these pages you will see a list of needed manipulatives for grades 1-3. You need to scroll down the page a bit.
For the most part, the curriculum does not specifically emphasize manipulatives but visual models. The exercises with visual models COULD be done equally with manipulatives (beans/counters, base ten blocks, fraction manipulatives, etc.) The exception is the 100-bead abacus, which I feel is needful for first grade. (The other option would be base ten blocks.) I feel that it is essential that kindergartners and first graders have the opportunity to learn tens and ones (place value) using some manipulative. On each of these pages you will see a list of needed manipulatives for grades 1-3. You need to scroll down the page a bit.
