Let Them Use Their Fingers!

Are you familiar with the term “manipulatives” with respect to math curriculum? Manipulatives are physical objects that students can use to experience mathematical concepts in a tangible way. Base 10 blocks, fraction strips, and tangrams are commonly used, and helpful, manipulatives. Really, though, any physical object can be used as a manipulative to help with counting, adding and subtracting, and multiplying and dividing. I’ve been known to use craft pom-poms, animal erasers, and French fries with my students. Touching and physically moving these objects around while performing calculations can help math become real and applicable to every-day life. They are great for helping students grasp new concepts.

The best and most convenient manipulatives are our fingers!

While pom-poms and erasers are fun and engaging tools to use while learning new concepts, it can be time consuming and cumbersome to dig out the bulk erasers every time we need to work on math. Not to mention that your 6^th grade student might get some strange looks if they pull out their miniature dinosaur collection to help them recall their division facts during class. There comes a time when once we understand a concept we need to get down to business and get it done without a lot of fuss. Yet, we might still need a little assistance. That’s where our fingers come in!

Students can learn to use their fingers to count up, count down, count by multiples, and so much more.

I realize there are different schools of thought on allowing students to use their fingers during math class and I’m not here to step on anyone’s toes. I very much appreciate the viewpoint that students should have math facts memorized – see my previous post! However, I also know that every student is different and has different strengths and struggles. Also, when learning new and difficult concepts beyond simple arithmetic, sometimes it can be overwhelming for a student to do everything ‘just so’. Being able to relax and use their fingers to help keep track of calculations can sometimes provide the relief the student needs to get through a difficult problem. I have had many students come to me discouraged and deflated after having been shamed or disciplined for using their fingers during math class. Once I give them permission and encouragement to use these wiggly, ever-present tools, they often are more able and willing to get through their math homework and typically exhibit more confidence in approaching new problems.

If your student is empowered by using their fingers during math, I highly recommend you encourage them to continue using them! Let them build their confidence by having success!

If your student is in a class or environment where using fingers during math is discouraged, I would suggest teaching your child to use their fingers discretely by pressing them against their leg instead of holding them in front of their face. Have them practice feeling the answer on their leg instead of seeing it with their eyes. This will also help them to experience the calculation in a different, physical way and might help it stick. Eventually, with enough successful practice, they will not need to use their fingers anymore. But the goal at first should be to allow them to have success upon success when working out their math problems. Their fingers can help!