Keri Brown shares K–5 math strategies using manipulatives to boost student engagement, classroom management, and deep learning in early math education.

In this engaging episode of The Classroom Collaborative Podcast, I’m joined by southern teacher and educator Keri Brown from Enchanted Kindergarten to explore the powerful role of math manipulatives in K–5 classrooms. Whether you're teaching kindergarten or working as an interventionist, this episode is packed with practical teaching strategies to elevate math education through student exploration and hands-on learning.

Keri shares her favorite takeaways from the book Mastering Math Manipulatives by Sarah Delano Moore and Kimberly R. Rby, plus how she brings concrete learning and pictorial learning into her daily math instruction. You'll hear how she manages classroom expectations, keeps manipulatives organized, and increases student engagement—even after the challenges of pandemic-era teaching.

🔢 In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to introduce and use math manipulatives effectively from kindergarten through second grade

• The connection between manipulatives and deep math understanding

• Classroom-tested tips for classroom management and material organization

• How Keri’s early childhood education background shapes her approach

• The importance of professional development and attending educational conferences like the Educator Summit

If you're ready to make math more meaningful, this episode will leave you inspired with fresh, easy-to-implement ideas that make a big difference in how students learn.

More About Keri:

Keri is a K-2 interventionist, national speaker, author and curriculum creator from Alabama. With over 17 years in education, she previously taught both kindergarten and 1st grade. She’s all about mixing hands-on activities with research based ideas. Thriving to be a lifelong learner, she is always on the lookout for fresh ways to engage her students and help fellow educators. She shares her teaching ideas and what she’s learned along the way through her platform, Enchanted Kinder Garden.

Email:

[email protected]

Blog:

https://www.enchantedkindergarden.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enchantedkindergarden