Using Simple Imagery to Help Students Learn Mathematics

Utilizing imagery and visual memory can be very helpful when learning mathematics.  A single picture can help a student define and remember a concept, or it can even help them to recall the steps required to compute a problem.  What’s more, it often brings the “fun factor” into the learning environment as students can pull out their crayons, colored pencils or magic markers to complete the activity.

I recently learned about the Palm Tree Method from one of my students. I scoured the internet to find its origin, but came up empty handed.  So, although I did not come up with this idea, it is still one of my favorites for solving proportions.  Here is a sample problem and the steps to follow.

1. Write out the proportion.
2. Draw a green oval around the numerator of the first fraction and the denominator of the second fraction.
3. Draw another green oval around the denominator of the first fraction and the numerator of the second fraction.  
4. Notice how the crisscrossing ovals create a multiplication sign.  This will remind students that they will be multiplying the numbers circled. 
5. Draw the trunk on the tree as a brown rectangle.
6. Write out the problem:  100·x = 60·80  (placing the equals sign in the trunk of the palm tree).
7. Solve the next step 60·80=4800 (again placing the equals sign in the trunk of the palm tree).
8. Then divide the two sides by 100 to solve for x.

If you would like to learn about other imagery activities to help your students learn math concepts, you might like my products, Measurement Memory Strategies or Why We Should Learn about Angles.

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com  www.dyslexiamaterials.com and  www.learningtolearn.biz 

Learning Place Value with Pompoms and Pill Boxes

Bringing a tactile, visual and experiential component into math instruction can bring the “fun factor” into your lessons.  In addition, incorporating multisensory dynamics into lessons makes them more memorable and concrete. 

This activity is great for math centers, a classroom activity or individual remediation. 

When I teach place values, I like to engage my students with colorful pompoms and pill boxes!  You can usually find pill boxes and bags of assorted pompoms at a Dollar Store.  With a few color coded labels, that cover the days of the week, your pill boxes can be transformed into pompom compartments.  I like to put a single color in each compartment and I color code the labels to match.  This makes it easy for students to reassemble the activity for the next person.  Also, make sure to vary the number of pompoms in each partition.  I like to make a variety of difficulty levels for the students and use the seven boxes as follows:

· Millions, Hundred Thousands, Ten Thousands, Thousands, Hundreds, Tens, Ones

· Hundreds, Tens, Ones, Decimal, Tenths, Hundredths, Thousandths

· Decimal, Tenths, Hundredths, Thousandths, Ten Thousandths, Hundred Thousandths, Millionths

I also like to provide a laminated sheet so students can record answers with a dry erase marker or I place the answer sheet in a dry erase pocket.   Students can check their answers with an answer sheet or a barcode on the back of the pill box.

If you would like this activity, you can create it yourself.  However, this activity, as well as the score sheets, are included in my popular publication, Place Value Panic Game, and Instruction. To learn more, Click Here.

Cheers, Erica
Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com  www.dyslexiamaterials.com and  www.learningtolearn.biz 

Main Ideas and Supporting Details Instruction, Activities and Games

Many students struggle with main ideas and supporting details.  What’s more, they often find the instruction and activities associated with these abstract concepts to be boring.  I have just finished a new, main idea and supporting details product that offers engaging, multisensory, and mindful lessons, handouts, activities and games.  A charming, cartoon-like character, Main I-deer, will walk your students through the process in a fun and memorable way.  To top it off, I have included two card games (beginners and intermediate) that can be used for group work, learning centers or individual remediation.  

Come check out a free image as well as a preview document.

Cheers, Erica 

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com  www.dyslexiamaterials.com and  www.learningtolearn.biz 

108 Online Games that Offer Cognitive or Educational Benefits

Over the years, I have scoured the internet for great, online games.  I am a learning specialist, and if I can get my students involved in activities that benefit cognition and learning, then they can expand their potential and also find joy in the process.   I have each of the games described and linked on the website for my private practice.  In addition, the games are categorized under the following headings, so that it is easy to find the needed resources:  cognitive, general education, writing and language, social studies, science, spelling, reading, digital story telling, math, grammar, typing, social skills, and sequencing.

So, I wanted to share this link with other teachers and families.  CLICK HERE  

I hope you find it useful.  I would love to hear your thoughts!  Also, if you have any other sites that you like, let me know and I will be happy to place them on the page. 

Cheers, Erica

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials.  She is also the director of Learning to Learn, in Ossining, NY.  To learn more about her products and services, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com  www.dyslexiamaterials.com and  www.learningtolearn.biz