In today’s digital age, virtual learning has revolutionized the way students access education, offering unprecedented flexibility and access to quality instruction. However, when it comes to teaching math online, especially to students with neurodivergent needs, traditional methods often fall short. That’s where multisensory learning steps in—engaging students through visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic experiences to make abstract math concepts more concrete, relatable, and easier to grasp.
At MindBridge Math Mastery, we understand the power of multisensory learning. In this blog, we’re excited to share our top 10 multisensory tools that can transform virtual math tutoring sessions into dynamic, effective learning experiences. Whether your child is in elementary school or preparing for college, these tools will help them thrive in math.
What is Multisensory Learning?
Multisensory learning is an educational approach that involves engaging more than one sense at a time to enhance understanding and retention. This method is particularly effective in math education because it allows students to interact with concepts in a variety of ways—seeing, hearing, touching, and moving—rather than just passively observing. For students with neurodivergent needs, such as ADHD, dyscalculia, or autism, multisensory learning provides alternative pathways to understanding that cater to their unique learning styles.
1. The Document Camera: A Virtual Math Tutor’s Best Friend
The document camera is the cornerstone of effective virtual math instruction. This tool allows tutors to model math concepts in real-time, using physical manipulatives that students can see and replicate at home. By projecting what the tutor is doing onto the student’s screen, the document camera makes it possible to create a hands-on learning experience, even from a distance.
How It Works: The document camera is essentially a high-quality webcam that captures and displays whatever is placed underneath it. Tutors can use it to show how to solve problems, manipulate objects, or write out equations in real-time.
Teaching Specific Concepts: For example, when teaching fractions, a tutor might use a document camera to demonstrate how to divide a whole into equal parts using craft sticks or paper. Students can follow along with their own manipulatives, mirroring the tutor's actions, which reinforces their understanding through both visual and kinesthetic engagement.
Why It’s Effective: The document camera bridges the gap between the physical and digital classroom, making it easier for students to connect with the material. It allows for immediate, clear demonstrations, making abstract math concepts more accessible.
2. Craft Sticks: Versatile Tools for Place Value, Fractions, and More
Craft sticks are simple yet powerful tools in the multisensory math toolkit. They can be used to teach a variety of math concepts, from place value and addition/subtraction to fractions and even basic geometry.
How It Works: Craft sticks are easy to manipulate and can be arranged to represent numbers, groups, or fractions. They can be used in conjunction with place value mats or simply laid out on a flat surface.
Teaching Specific Concepts: When teaching place value, for instance, students can use craft sticks to represent tens, hundreds, and thousands, making the concept of base ten more tangible. In a fractions lesson, students might be asked to represent a whole number with craft sticks and then break one in half to represent a fraction, visually and physically illustrating the concept of parts of a whole.
Why It’s Effective: The tactile experience of handling craft sticks helps students internalize abstract concepts. The physical act of grouping, breaking, and rearranging the sticks enhances understanding and retention.
3. Playdough and Dental Floss Picks: The Handy Fraction Creators
Playdough, combined with dental floss picks, offers a fun and tactile way to explore fractions. This dynamic duo allows students to physically manipulate and divide shapes, providing a concrete understanding of how fractions work.
How It Works: Students start by rolling a ball of playdough and flattening it into a circle. They then use the rounded end of a dental floss pick to cut the playdough into equal parts, creating visual and tactile representations of fractions.
Teaching Specific Concepts: This tool is particularly effective for teaching fractions and division. By slicing the playdough into halves, thirds, or quarters, students can see and feel how a whole can be divided into parts. This hands-on activity makes it easier for students to grasp the concept of fractions and the relationships between them.
Why It’s Effective: The sensory experience of touching, rolling, and cutting the playdough engages students’ senses, making the abstract concept of fractions more concrete and understandable. It also adds an element of play, which can increase engagement and motivation.
4. Unifix Cubes: Modeling Linear Functions and Division with Remainders
Unifix cubes are a staple in math education, known for their versatility and ease of use. These Unifix cubes are a staple in math education, known for their versatility and ease of use. These interlocking cubes can be used to model a wide range of mathematical concepts, from basic counting to more complex functions.
How It Works: Unifix cubes can be snapped together and pulled apart, allowing students to create visual models of math problems. They are often used to represent numbers, groups, or sequences.
Teaching Specific Concepts: In a lesson on linear functions, for example, a student might use Unifix cubes to model a scenario where they save a certain amount of money each week. By adding a different color cube for each week’s savings, they can visually track the linear growth of their savings, making the concept of a linear function more tangible. Unifix cubes can also be used to teach division with remainders by grouping and regrouping cubes and visually identifying any leftovers.
Why It’s Effective: Unifix cubes provide a visual and tactile way to explore math concepts. They make it easier for students to understand patterns, sequences, and functions by allowing them to manipulate and experiment with physical objects.
5. Pony Beads and String: Visualizing Multiplication and Division
Pony beads and string offer a creative way to help students visualize multiplication tables and division problems. This tool is particularly effective for students who benefit from seeing math in action.
How It Works: Students string together beads in groups, using different colors to represent different numbers or sets. This method allows them to create visual and tactile representations of math problems.
Teaching Specific Concepts: When working on multiplication tables, for example, a student might string together groups of 7 beads, alternating colors for each group. This visual representation helps them see the pattern and understand the concept of multiplication. Pony beads and string can also be used to teach division, as students can physically divide the beads into equal groups and see any remainders.
Why It’s Effective: The process of stringing beads engages students’ fine motor skills while also providing a clear visual representation of math concepts. This multisensory approach makes it easier for students to understand and remember multiplication and division.
6. Voice: The Power of Chanting and Rhythm in Math
Voice is a powerful tool in multisensory math instruction, especially when it comes to helping students memorize and internalize math facts. Chanting math facts to a rhythm adds an auditory element that reinforces learning through repetition and sound.
How It Works: Students chant math facts, such as multiplication tables, to a consistent rhythm. For example, chanting “6 times 4 ends in 4, 24” can help solidify the connection between the problem and its solution in the student's mind.
Teaching Specific Concepts: Chanting can be particularly effective for mastering multiplication tables and other math facts that benefit from repetition. By pairing each fact with a rhythmic chant, students can more easily recall information during tests and everyday problem-solving.
Why It’s Effective: The auditory and rhythmic nature of chanting engages students' auditory senses, making it easier to remember math facts. This approach is especially beneficial for students who thrive on auditory learning and repetition.
7. Body Movement: Bringing Math Concepts to Life
Incorporating body movement into math instruction allows students to physically engage with mathematical concepts, making abstract ideas more tangible and memorable.
How It Works: Students use their bodies to represent different math concepts. For example, they might lean forward to show a positive slope, lean backward for a negative slope, stand straight to represent zero slope, and stand vertically with no tilt to depict an undefined slope.
Teaching Specific Concepts: Body movement is particularly useful for teaching geometry and algebra concepts, such as slopes, angles, and vectors. By physically acting out these concepts, students can better understand the spatial relationships and dynamics involved.
Why It’s Effective: Kinesthetic learning through body movement allows students to experience math physically, which can deepen their understanding and retention of abstract concepts. This method is especially effective for students who learn best through movement and hands-on activities..
8. Interactive Whiteboards: Engaging Students in Real-Time Problem Solving
Interactive whiteboards bring a collaborative, hands-on approach to virtual math instruction, allowing students to engage directly with the material in real-time.
How It Works: Students and tutors use interactive whiteboards to draw, write, and solve problems together. This collaborative tool can be used to visually represent math problems, explore different problem-solving methods, and engage in interactive lessons.
Teaching Specific Concepts: Interactive whiteboards are particularly effective for teaching complex problem-solving techniques, such as algebraic equations, graphing, and geometry. By working on the board together, students can visually explore different approaches to solving problems.
Why It’s Effective: The real-time interaction and collaboration offered by interactive whiteboards keep students engaged and allow for immediate feedback and correction. This tool enhances visual and kinesthetic learning, making math concepts more accessible and easier to understand.
9. Virtual Manipulatives: Digital Tools for Visualizing Math
Virtual manipulatives provide a digital alternative to physical objects, offering students a way to interact with math concepts visually and interactively.
How It Works: Students use virtual manipulatives, such as digital blocks, counters, or fraction tiles, within online platforms. These tools allow students to manipulate and explore math concepts in a visual, hands-on way, even in a virtual environment.
Teaching Specific Concepts: Virtual manipulatives are particularly effective for teaching concepts like fractions, place value, and algebra. For example, students can use digital fraction tiles to explore equivalence and addition of fractions, or virtual blocks to build and decompose numbers.
Why It’s Effective: Virtual manipulatives offer flexibility and accessibility, allowing students to engage with math concepts even without physical materials. This tool supports visual and interactive learning, making abstract ideas more concrete and understandable.
10. Gamified Learning Platforms: Making Math Fun and Interactive
Gamified learning platforms transform math practice into an engaging, interactive experience, motivating students through rewards, levels, and challenges.
How It Works: Students engage with math content through gamified platforms that turn learning into a game. These platforms often include various challenges, levels, and rewards that encourage students to practice math skills in a fun, competitive environment.
Teaching Specific Concepts: Gamified platforms are particularly effective for practicing arithmetic, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. They can be used to reinforce concepts learned during tutoring sessions and to build fluency in a way that feels like play.
Why It’s Effective: The interactive, game-like nature of these platforms keeps students motivated and engaged, making math practice more enjoyable. This approach also helps build confidence and fluency in math by providing frequent, low-stress opportunities for practice.
Easy-to-Find, Budget-Friendly Tools for Hands-On Learning
One of the great advantages of the multisensory tools we've discussed is that many of them are items you can easily find around the house, such as craft sticks, playdough, and string. Even if you don't have these items on hand, they are inexpensive and readily available. By gathering these materials ahead of time, students can actively participate in sessions with their own set of manipulatives, mirroring the teacher's actions as concepts are modeled in real-time. This hands-on approach not only reinforces understanding but also makes learning more engaging and interactive.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Multisensory Tools in Virtual Math Education
Multisensory tools are essential in virtual math education, providing students with the hands-on experiences they need to truly understand and retain mathematical concepts. By engaging multiple senses, these tools make math more accessible and engaging, particularly for students with neurodivergent needs.
At MindBridge Math Mastery, we specialize in incorporating these powerful tools into our personalized tutoring sessions. We understand that every student is unique, and we tailor our approach to meet their individual needs, helping them unlock their full potential in math.
For parents looking to support their child’s math education, especially those with neurodivergent needs, integrating these tools into your child’s virtual learning environment can make a significant difference in their math success. If you’re interested in learning more about how multisensory learning can benefit your child or are considering educational therapy, book a FREE consultation or contact us for personalized guidance and support. Let’s work together to transform your child’s math learning experience and help them achieve brilliance through mindful methods.
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