At Kids Village, you may have seen that we use bear counters to help teach math to our Sweet Peas, Little Sprouts, and Tater Tots. While bear counters are cute and colorful, we love them for more than just their aesthetics. Hands-On Learning These bear counters are called manipulatives. Manipulatives, or “learning through objects” have become more and more important in traditional learning. The this hands-on approach to learning is not only more fun and engaging, it also creates stronger connections between concepts the child is learning and the world around them. In 2013, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) expressed the importance of manipulative in learning. “…in order to develop every student’s mathematical proficiency, leaders and teachers must systematically integrate the use of concrete and virtual manipulatives into classroom instruction at all grade levels.” (NCSM, 2013) Why use Bear Counters? Contrary to the name, these bear counters are used for much more than just counting. They’re also used for: Engaging Students – Interest and focus are very important when teaching young children. These cute, colorful, fun-shaped bears keep students engaged in their lessons. Sorting – This skill is useful in pattern recognition and comprehension which is important … Continue reading Counting Bears – The Importance of Manipulatives in Early Childhood Math