Build Calculation Speed Practicing the 10 Pair Complements
The main method of addition and subtraction on the abacus is understanding and using the 5 complement pairs of 10, i.e. pairs of numbers that add to 10. There are only 5 complement pairs in our base 10 numbering system: 9 and 1, 8 and 2, 7 and 3, 6 and 4, and 5 and 5. The faster
Take a Multi-Sensory Approach to Learn Arithmetic with Abacus Math
When we think about learning and learning efficiency we must consider how the brain receives information from the outside world. Most learning information we receive comes to us through our senses. We also know that the more different ways we can experience learning the deeper the learning experience. So what if we thought about learning
Tips and Thoughts on How to Develop Your Mental Math and Mental Calculation Skills?
To develop strong mental calculation skills, i.e. mental math, we first need to learn the required bead movements on the abacus. The entire concept of mental calculation is based on the knowledge of the soroban bead movements needed to solve the problem. But knowing how to move the beads to solve a problem is not enough for
An Effective Mental Math Tool – The Paper Abacus or Kami Soroban
This is an introduction to using a mental math tool called the Kami Soroban or Paper Soroban. The Kami Soroban will help students develop strong mental images of the abacus bead movements used to during mental calculation. As students progress through their abacus math training, they naturally develop the ability to visualize all the same
5 Great Reasons Why Children Should Learn Math Using an Abacus
Reason #1: Number Sense and Basic Numeracy All students must develop a sense for numbers, what numbers represent, and basic fluency. Unfortunately most students don’t have a good grasp on these basic core math skills. PEW Research shows 35% of 4th graders are below basic math understanding. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only
How to Practice Every Abacus Bead Movement in One Exercise
For this activity you will need to have completed all of the Skill Training program on RightLobeMath.com or know all the bead movements for any addition or subtraction. Basically you should be at least a beginning Level 10 abacus student to practice this exercise. In this exercise we are going to add the number 123,456,789
What are the Foundations of Basic Numeracy and Number Sense?
We all understand the importance of math education especially early math education. Math education is built on the foundations of basic numeracy and number sense. Students learning math must understand how to represent, recognize, and count using our base10 numbering system. The abacus is one the most efficient ways to represent any number by assigning the
Mental Math, We All Need It But How To Teach It?
We all remember our teachers asking us to do math calculations in our head but not knowing really how to do it? Teachers offered us various mental tricks and strategies but it always posed the additional question which strategy to chose. Faced with each problem we had to decide on a strategy without any way of knowing
Math More Than Reading Is the Best Predictor of Future Academic Achievement
You might, as I did, find this article surprising if you have a young learner just about to enter kindergarten. According to research conducted by a group of university professors called “School Readiness and Later Achievement“, math skills entering kindergarten are the best predictor of future academic success more so than reading skills, attention skills,
How to Divide on an Abacus with a Two Digit Divisor?
Now that we have learned Basic Division and Division with a Single Digit Divisor, let’s continue this time considering division with a 2 digit divisor. If you are new to abacus math or need a little refresher on addition and subtraction on the soroban, please take a look at some of the earlier lessons like