Visual models are not decorations. A number line can show distance and direction. An array can show multiplication structure. A graph can turn counting into comparison. Regular review gives students repeated contact with these representations.
Use visuals before they are needed
Students are more likely to use a model during problem solving if it has already appeared in low-pressure review. The review routine gives the class a chance to read, discuss and connect visuals without the load of a brand new topic.
- Ask students what the visual shows before asking for the answer.
- Move between a diagram and an equation.
- Use the same representation with easier numbers first.
- Invite students to explain where they see the answer in the model.
Good review question
Show the same multiplication fact as an array, a skip-counting sequence and an equation across three different days.