Why+Use+Manipulatives?

Why use manipulatives?
The research shows that learning materials that can be touched or involve movement (tactile/kinesthetic) provide the most benefits!

"International research in giftedness, across eight cultural groups and eight subject areas showed that the learning styles factors which most often identified giftedness were kinesthetic (first) and tactile (second)." Dr. Garry Price, Dr. Roberta Milgrim, Dr. Rita Dunn

"85 perent of troubled readers have a right-brain processing style and tactile/kinestetic learning strengths." Dr. Marie Carbo, National Reading Styles Authority

Since 1983, on-going studies of 11th grade vocational students conducted by Ohio State University reveal a "strong preference for global, tactile/kinesthetic learning." V. Fleming

In learning styles studies conducted, "88 percent of all droupouts have strong tactile abilities and 99 percent have strong kinestetic abilities." Dr. Helene Hodges, Director of Research, ASCD

"Learning style research reveals the following groups of students have global (right hemespheric style) and tacktile/kinesthetic learning strengths: C. Marshall and K. Johns
 * "at-risk" students
 * slowly or poorly achieving students
 * dropouts
 * alternative school students
 * incarcerated learing disabled adults

(From: Guide to Hands-On Learning, Harrison and Nordeen)