Research Brief
Incorporating Manipulatives into Classroom Practice
Matthew Cardano
Loyola University Maryland

Abstract
​This article proposes the use of manipulatives in secondary mathematics classrooms. Referring to scholarly sources throughout, it describes the value that manipulatives provide to students as well as the role that they can play in students’ progression towards mastery of topics. It is a teacher’s responsibility to have students utilize manipulatives to further enhance their learning and to conduct their own explorations and/or representations. Evidence is provided as to just how beneficial manipulatives can be to the mathematical experiences of diverse learners.