This professional development session focuses on using manipulatives intentionally to help students develop lasting conceptual understanding rather than relying solely on procedural solving. Educators will explore how hands-on tools can make abstract math concepts concrete and meaningful, ensuring students not only get the right answers but understand the why behind them. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Differentiate between using manipulatives for solving and for understanding. 2. Facilitate math conversations that encourage students to explain their thinking with manipulatives. 3. Design learning experiences that make math ideas stick by linking concrete, representational, and abstract models.
