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Dear Colleague:
If you are a fan of Primary Concepts products, you are likely a proponent of hands-on learning, and you make active engagement the cornerstone of your teaching practice. You know that this way of teaching pays off because your students have a deeper understanding of the concepts you teach.
You may not need anyone to tell you that the way you teach is "best practice." But have you wondered if there is a consensus among experts about the characteristics of best practice? In their newly published book, Best Practice: Bringing Standards to Life in America's Classrooms (Heinemann 2012), Steven Zemelman, Harvey "Smokey" Daniels, and Arthur Hyde provide some answers. At the top of their list of best practices are hands-on learning (#1) and active involvement (#2).
We at Primary Concepts applaud this recognition of the importance of hands-on, active learning. For almost three decades now, Primary Concepts has focused on providing manipulatives and activity resources that engage children actively in understanding concepts. It is what we are all about.
You can explore all our hands-on products on our website or in our 2012 catalog. If you are wondering where to start, go to Greatest Hits to find a list of some of our most popular hands-on products.
Of course, there's nothing like hands-on experience with our hands-on materials. If you plan to attend the IRA Convention in Chicago (April 29-May 2) you can do just that. Just go to Booth 2017 and "test drive" our manipulatives. You may even win a prize. (See Breaking News.)
I hope to see you in Chicago.
Best wishes,
Joan Westley, Newsletter Editor editor@primaryconcepts.com | 
