• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Demme Learning
  • Math-U-See
  • Spelling You See
  • Analytical Grammar
  • WriteShop
  • Store
  • Digital Toolbox
Demme Learning

Demme Learning

Building Lifelong Learners

  • Search

  • Sort by

  • Category

Customer Service: M-F 8:30am - 6pm ET
Live Chat • 888-854-6284 • Email

Shop Now
  • Home
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • History
    • Company Culture
    • Careers
  • Products
    • Math-U-See
    • Spelling You See
    • Analytical Grammar
    • WriteShop
    • Building Faith Families
    • KinderTown
  • Blog
  • Guild
    • Math Resources
    • Spelling Resources
    • Webinars
    • eBook
    • Digital Toolbox
    • Partnerships
  • Events
    • The Demme Learning Show
    • Virtual Events
    • In Person Events
  • Digital Toolbox
  • Support Center
Home Learning Blog Integer Blocks = Success for the Artsy Math Student

Integer Blocks = Success for the Artsy Math Student

Integer Blocks = Success for the Artsy Math Student

Sue Wachter · May 1, 2020 · 3 Comments

Integer blocks are an effective tool to enhance the student’s ability to make a connection and thrive in both math and art.

The misconception that students are either strong in math or strong in art but not both is something I hear often. As a Placement Specialist, I often find struggling math students do gravitate to the artsy side. So how do we help these struggling math students succeed?

As I collaborate with a parent/instructor, the initial answer has more to do with changing the approach and mindset. The ultimate avenue for success is to reveal both math and art are used to describe concrete objects, tell a story, or reveal a vision. The integer blocks are an effective tool to enhance the student’s ability to make this connection and thrive in both subjects.

Why Math Manipulatives?

Young artists have a rich supply of images in their long-term visual memory. These images are stored and built upon. They pull from these treasures as they create and communicate through their art. Long-term visual references have shape, color, angle, texture, and line. They increase and evolve. Resources are continually assessed while the students are creating. Math-U-See Integer Blocks have a consistent shape, texture, and color, providing a concrete visual to represent the numbers. This, along with the Build-Write-Say steps, provides the learner with resources to store in their long-term memory. When used along with these strategies, they are able to access these mental images making visual sense of the abstract math facts and concepts.

Teaching Back

Once the student shows an understanding of the new concept, it is important that the student teaches you the concept using the blocks before moving on. Motivate the student to advocate for themselves as they decide what they need to successfully prepare to teach.

For example, they might find it helpful to have a magnetic whiteboard and attach ½” magnetic strips to a few of the blocks. This would allow them to teach in a similar manner to what they see in the videos. I often find young artists love to educate others as to their process whether it is art or math.

When we prepare to teach something we more intentionally store that information in long-term memory. Requiring that your student is not allowed to move to the next lesson without teaching will be a motivator for using the blocks and provide an opportunity to share and further develop their love of teaching.

As a teaching artist, I find this a valuable method for my own learning. There are times I need extra motivation to learn something I don’t yet know. If I schedule a class using the concept, by the time my students show up, I have developed the skill I might otherwise find difficult.

Word Problems and Math Manipulatives

When reading the following word problem, what do you see in your head?

“Sally had 5 apples. She found 3 more. How many apples does Sally now have?”

You might say that you see 5+3=8. You might see 5 apples lined up and then 3 more and you count the apples. (Post what you see in the comments so we can all learn from each other.)

Here is what the artist in me sees:

It’s a sunny day. Sally is standing in a grassy orchard. She has red curly hair and is holding a woven basket to carry apples.

When I say this to parents whose artist student struggles with word problems they often laugh and say, “Yes, that’s about right.” Or they are shocked and say, “I had no idea that might be happening.”

For the “artsy” student, word problems can get cluttered when they visualize the scene instead of the numbers or concepts needed for the solution. If you are using the Math-U-See Curriculum, the word problems on the practice pages are intentionally designed to work with the manipulatives. Encourage the student to choose one of the word problems for “teaching back”. Using the manipulatives in this way will provide them with a way to remove the clutter.

Creative Processing

Active artists are processors. When your artist is starting to develop the next skill they practice, ponder, discover and marinate. They rarely “get” and apply their next skillset instantly. Often, the creative processor will not instantly “get” a new math concept either. It is not a matter of intellect, it is a matter of how they process new concepts.

Growing up, I survived basic math but it was indicated I would not be able to move on to upper levels. Later, when I was challenged to complete Math-U-See Algebra 1 as part of my job, a major switch happened. I realized when I applied those same processing skills I embrace in art learning to math, it was a game-changer. Math not only became enjoyable and successful, but I also was able to see that math and artwork in tandem. I truly believe the combination of solid art and math skills will be highly valued in future job markets. Math-U-See Integer Blocks, when used as directed, have the potential to reveal the art connection for your student.

For more information on how math and art connect, read my blog post titled “The Connection Between Math & Art”.

We Are Here to Help

If you have questions about teaching math, we are here to help!

Get in Touch
https://demmelearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Integer-Blocks-Success-for-the-Artsy-Math-Student.jpg
Previous Post Next Post

Category iconMath

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to the weekly Demme Learning newsletter for the latest blog posts, product information, and more!

The Demme Learning Show

Join host Gretchen Roe as she facilitates fascinating conversations with a wide range of guests in the education space. Watch the show live, or watch/listen to the recorded episodes.

Learn More and Subscribe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosemary Schmid says

    July 14, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    Sue, I am an academic ESL teacher at a community college. My international students come from all over the world to learn English on their way to higher education in the USA or to use their professional knowledge and experience in an English-speaking environment. Many of these students are really challenged with reading “story problems” in math even though they can set up and do complicated computations in their own language. In addition, about 20 years ago, a colleague with knowledge of learning differences started me on a quest to understand what is going on in the learning process of students with learning differences. That quest leads me to my comment/question. You explained your own discovery of the use of math manipulatives and the “artist’s mind.” One of my current students, for example, is studying web design, does have learning differences, and is extremely visual in remembering history, and so on.
    I am new to Demme Learning. Where do I find other information here and there on the website that focuses on learners with learning differences? The strategies needed for these learners are also effective for all second language learners!

    Reply
  2. Sue Wachter says

    April 21, 2021 at 5:40 am

    Rosemary- I am preparing for and Artsy Math Student webinar and just now read your comment for the 1st time. I wish I had seen it earlier! Please connect with me if you are still interested. I would love to talk to you. Swachter@demmelearning.com

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Stories

  • A young student doing multiplication facts.

    4 Reasons Why Learning Multiplication Facts Are Important

  • A young girl draws math facts with sidewalk chalk.

    Engaging Summer Math Activities & Games

  • A student looks at her homework with a worried look on her face.

    Beware the Myth of Being Behind in Math

Primary Sidebar

Stories
show/hide
  • A young student doing multiplication facts.
    4 Reasons Why Learning Multiplication Facts Are Important
  • A young girl draws math facts with sidewalk chalk.
    Engaging Summer Math Activities & Games
  • A student looks at her homework with a worried look on her face.
    Beware the Myth of Being Behind in Math

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Thousands of parents enjoy our weekly newsletter, with informative blog posts, product information, and more!

Subscribe to The Demme Learning Show!

Join host Gretchen Roe as she facilitates fascinating conversations with a wide range of guests in the education space. Watch the show live, or watch/listen to the recorded episodes.

Learn more

Logo for The Demme Learning Show.

Footer

Our Location

Address:
Demme Learning
207 Bucky Drive
Lititz, PA 17543

Contact Us

Customer Service M-F 8:30am - 6pm ET
Live Chat 888-854-6284 Email

Hours

Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, Eastern time.

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Sign up for our newsletter

Sitemap

  • Home
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • History
    • Company Culture
    • Careers
  • Products
    • Math-U-See
    • Spelling You See
    • Analytical Grammar
    • WriteShop
    • Building Faith Families
    • KinderTown
  • Blog
  • Guild
    • Math Resources
    • Spelling Resources
    • Webinars
    • eBook
    • Digital Toolbox
    • Partnerships
  • Events
    • The Demme Learning Show
    • Virtual Events
    • In Person Events
  • Digital Toolbox
  • Support Center

Terms & Conditions  •  Sitemap  •  Copyright © 2023 Demme Learning •  Return to top