using base ten blocks

base ten blocks are great manipulatives and versatile in that they can be used to teach a wide range of concepts--place value, addition, subtraction, number sense, etc.

i first began using base ten blocks while tutoring jason (not his real name)). jason was a second grade student with learning disabilities. math was one of his most dreaded subjects. when i first started tutoring him in multi digit addition and subtaction, i wrote out the problems, divided the columns, gave him visual and verbal cues for regrouping and moving to the next column. at some point i realized that jason never developed certain foundational math concepts and that was the main issue. i could teach him tricks, techniques and short cuts 'til he (and i) were blue but it wouldnt help address the underlying issue--understanding place value.

he had little sense of place value. if i asked him to add 120 and 100, he had to write it out and add it up. there was no sense of "maybe i can group the hundreds and tens values". there was no sense that the two in the tens place represented 2 tens or twenty. so i decided to try base ten blocks and have jason explore place value, addition, and subtraction with base ten blocks. most of the activities in this section are lessons and activities ive used with jason to develop his understanding of foundational math concepts.

-shaun skariah