Which math manipulatives to keep and rid of? and Mat books

[Janeway]

I think I have too much. I am trying to declutter and reduce in my house (Konmari). They actually all spark joy with me! LOL

 

Thing is..we have Legos, beads, base ten blocks, MUS blocks, MUS fraction overlays, plastic fraction circles, large plastic set of 3d shapes, small plastic set of 3d shapes (this one is scattered, so, not really useful right now), a set of math manipulatives for grade school-as in, one from the public school, counting bears, counting bones (also scattered, LOL), etc.

 

I was thinking I should just give away the Base ten blocks, the public school set of manipulatives (includes unifix cubes, base ten blocks, and a few other things), the large plastic shapes, small plastic fraction circles, ....

 

I feel bad as I spent money on some of these things, especially the Base ten blocks, but frankly, I never use them. I still have 3 more children coming up. Should I continue to hold on to them? Or consider them redundant to the MUS blocks and Legos and counting bears and so on? I do not know which math program I will use with the rest of the kids. So far, I like Horizons and Singapore Math the best. I would love to give Beast Academy a try. You get the idea. What do you think?

 

Also, anyone ever use the Mat books? I have a bunch, filling up an entire small drawer. They keep getting scattered, but yet, no one uses them. Should I rid of them? It seems as if the older kids used stuff like Star Fall and Progressive Phonics and whatever else until they were old enough to hit the more interesting readers. 

[HomeAgain]

I would keep the MUS stuff, the 3D shapes, and the base ten blocks (and dual colored counters if you have them)

 

MUS for initial concept introduction.  3D shapes for grammar, lol, and counters for learning 10 frames.  Base 10 for exploring concepts without a color crutch.

 

These are most used in our house (though my youngest prefers c-rods to MUS blocks, go figure), and all the rest pretty much sits in a cabinet.  I'm holding on to each until I know we won't be using it and then getting rid of them.

[kateingr]

Ooh, I'm a big fan of Konmari. I did a big declutter last summer and it was GLORIOUS. (Although we still seem to have a lot of stuff...)

 

The amount that you're thinking about getting rid of sounds about right to me, but I'd keep the base-ten blocks. They might prove to be handy for place-value concepts for either Singapore, Horizons, or Beast. (But if you really want to simplify, take a look at the Minimalist Math Manipulative Guide that I wrote recently.) 

 

[Janeway]

I would keep the MUS stuff, the 3D shapes, and the base ten blocks (and dual colored counters if you have them)

 

MUS for initial concept introduction.  3D shapes for grammar, lol, and counters for learning 10 frames.  Base 10 for exploring concepts without a color crutch.

 

These are most used in our house (though my youngest prefers c-rods to MUS blocks, go figure), and all the rest pretty much sits in a cabinet.  I'm holding on to each until I know we won't be using it and then getting rid of them.

Shapes for grammar? I sure hope you have a blog post about this or something! I want to hear more!

Edited March 19, 2016 by Janeway

[HomeAgain]

Shapes for grammar? I sure hope you have a blog post about this or something! I want to hear more!

 

It's a Montessori thing.  :) The shapes help reinforce the grammar concepts for young children.  A rolling ball for a verb.  A large triangle (pyramid) for a noun.  We use an activity guide based on it and aligned with Grammar-Land chapters to introduce parts of speech and diagramming.  When I introduce the concept, though, we start with concrete shapes and match them up before moving through the chapters slowly and using the paper stamps/cartoon character cut-outs to do paper work.

[wintermom]

Mine manipulative spark joy in me, too, AND they are still useful for my dc. I'd keep them all. If there is a legitimate need for these in your homeschool, and it looks like there is, then why part with them?  Rather than give them away, why not bring them out more and promote their use in exporatory play with your youngest dc? 

Edited March 20, 2016 by wintermom

[Holly]

I'd keep them.  I pull out the manipulatives when I need to keep my younger two occupied!  :)

[J&JMom]

You could use digital manipulatives.  Here is a link to a free publisher site where you can select your grade level (from K-6). On that page you pick 'Math Tool Chest' and select from rods, fraction models, spinners, counters, etc. and use them on the computer. http://www.mhschool.com/math/2003/student/

Edited March 20, 2016 by J&JMom

[pumpkinbear]

I *just* used Base Ten blocks to teach my 9-year-old how to do long division, and it was the only thing that finally made that darned algorithm make sense to her (and to ME, frankly!), so I will probably keep my Base Ten blocks until I retire. And then I'll set them decoratively on a shelf and admire them.

[Alessandra]

Mine manipulative spark joy in me, too, AND they are still useful for my dc. I'd keep them all. If there is a legitimate need for these in your homeschool, and it looks like there is, then why part with them? Rather than give them away, why not bring them out more and promote their use in exporatory play with your youngest dc?

I'd keep most people of them too.

 

Maybe give away the counting bears and the fraction circles. (The 1/10 and1/12 circles were so small they drove me nuts.)

[Alessandra]

I *just* used Base Ten blocks to teach my 9-year-old how to do long division, and it was the only thing that finally made that darned algorithm make sense to her (and to ME, frankly!), so I will probably keep my Base Ten blocks until I retire. And then I'll set them decoratively on a shelf and admire them.

Can you post how you used them for long division? I did too, but I am always curious in case there is another way that I don't know about.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Alessandra

[chaya]

I'm a huge konmari fan. I'm by nature a minimalist, I declutter my space for fun, my family knows that when they see me on the prowl with 'that look' they had better put their stuff away or I will get rid of it :)

 

that said, I keep all of my math stuff. we've tried so many different curriculum over the years (not even homeschooling that long!) and I've accumulated a ridiculous amount of stuff (manipulatives, books, etc). and it happens at least once or twice a year that one child is struggling with a concept and I'm able to pull out something to help them. for example, at some point I purchase saxon 3. I dont even remember why, but I did. It was NIB and sitting around for years. I saw someone here iso of it last summer and was >this< close to selling but I hung onto it. and now, my third grader who is hs'ing for the first time was hating right start and generally just giving me a hard time with my other go-to math programs. my 6 yo found the saxon box and suggested that her older brother try it...we did and he's doing rather well with it. so I'm happy we had it. I have a hard time calling my homeschool stuff "clutter", I keep it organized and honestly, it does spark joy! I love my hs stuff, especially my math manipulatives. def. keep the base ten blocks. I relate to what pumpkinbear said.... keep them until you retire and then set them on display :) love that!

 

the mat books though, well, my kids were thoroughly traumatized by those when they were in school, so I wouldnt be inclined to keep those. (probably more of a reflection on how they were used rather than on the books themselves, but thats our story :))