In this workshop, we aim to empower middle school math teachers with practical strategies to implement the Concrete, Representational, Abstract (CRA) instructional approach in their classrooms. CRA is a research-based method that promotes deeper conceptual understanding by gradually transitioning students from hands-on, concrete manipulatives to more abstract mathematical thinking. Through a hands-on model lesson, we will explore how to effectively integrate algebra tiles across various middle school math topics—such as integers, expressions, and equations—to support vertical alignment. Participants will leave with ready-to-use lesson plans and an understanding of how to create a learning environment where manipulatives serve as a bridge to abstract thinking, rather than just a supplementary tool.