Math Pop It Manipulative

Funded Apr 21, 2024

Since incorporating the math manipulative pop-its and other resources into our classroom, my students have been more engaged and excited about learning. The pop-its, especially the ten-frame versions, have become an essential tool for practicing counting, addition, and subtraction within 10. During math centers, students eagerly pop the numbers as they count, which keeps their focus while adding a fun, hands-on element to their learning. The repetitive physical motion has helped reinforce number recognition and simple math operations in a way that feels more like play than work.

One of the most memorable moments came when I introduced the pop-its for the first time. My students' faces lit up with excitement, and they couldn't wait to try them out. Their initial reaction was pure joy—they immediately saw it as a game, and their enthusiasm carried through into their learning. I've also incorporated connecting cubes with letters and digraphs, which they use to spell our weekly sight words. This tactile approach has been fantastic for their fine motor skills and letter-sound recognition, allowing them to engage with language arts in a new and interactive way.

Next, my students will continue using the pop-its to strengthen their understanding of number operations as we transition into more complex math problems. With the connecting cubes, they'll start building simple sentences, further reinforcing their knowledge of letters and phonics. These resources have not only made learning more engaging, but they've also laid a strong foundation for my students' future academic growth.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Bramers