This session will be a “back to basics” (re)introduction to the power of mathematical manipulatives (with a focus on Numicon) in strengthening strategic thinking and deep conceptual understanding in our elementary classrooms. With the 2025 PYP Mathematics Continuum placing greater emphasis on Pattern and Function, we will explicitly connect these materials to how students notice structure, build number sense, and develop early algebraic thinking. Informed by elementary mathematics intervention and curriculum leadership experience, this session connects research, structure, and classroom reality in practical and accessible ways.Participants will explore and play with selected Low Threshold High Ceiling activities, experiencing firsthand just how impactful the right manipulatives can be. These approaches are increasingly important in supporting all learners within a wider MTSS (Multi-Tiers Systems of Support) framework and align naturally with UDL (Universal Design for Learning) principles through multiple representations and entry points.Come and join in the play, the thinking, and the joy of mathematics learning.
