| Is your child struggling in math?We all love | | | | abacus training develops visualization and |
| to see our children succeed academically, but | | | | memory skills that can help people succeed in |
| few of us can afford private tutoring | | | | other academic areas besides mathematics.When |
| programs to help them achieve their true | | | | children use both hands to move the abacus |
| potential. | | | | beads to perform arithmetic calculations, |
| | | | there is quick communication between the |
| You can provide your child with the | | | | hands and the brain that stimulates both the |
| opportunity to improve math skills in your | | | | right and left hemispheres of the brain. This |
| own home, using techniques that are already | | | | promotes rapid, balanced whole brain |
| helping schoolchildren around the world. You | | | | development, which in turn helps your child |
| can do this by incorporating easy, enjoyable | | | | succeed in other academic areas."Abacus |
| abacus education into your child's free time | | | | students are found to be superior in the |
| with Learning Mathematics with the Abacus, a | | | | accuracy of their memory and the number of |
| set of books developed specifically for | | | | digits they are able to memorize when |
| teaching youngsters in grades 2, 3 and 4.Many | | | | compared with non-abacus learners of the same |
| schools in Asia, where abacus education is | | | | age. This is because abacus students place |
| widely popular for teaching mental math | | | | numbers on the abacus image in their head as |
| arithmetic, introduce the abacus between | | | | they mentally calculate with the abacus |
| kindergarten and 4th grade. Studies show that | | | | method," says Ms. Shizuko Amaiwa, Professor |
| if a child starts learning the abacus before | | | | at Shinshu University, Faculty of Education, |
| being taught traditional arithmetic, there is | | | | in Japan. She is a psychologist who studies |
| minimal conflict and the child will easily | | | | the positive effects of abacus education on |
| work within both systems. If a child starts | | | | overall mental ability.A popular abacus |
| the program later, having already received | | | | program available exclusively in the United |
| traditional foundations, there may be a | | | | States through NurtureMinds.com, offers books |
| slightly extended learning period for the | | | | containing simple step-by-step instructions |
| child to accept and integrate the abacus | | | | that make learning the abacus fun for |
| method.With abacus education, children | | | | children. This set of books, Learning |
| achieve much more than just excellent math | | | | Mathematics with the Abacus, was developed |
| skills. Abacus use can build confidence, | | | | specifically for teaching youngsters in |
| provide a sense of achievement, promote | | | | grades 2, 3 and 4 how to master mental math |
| intuitive thinking, enhance problem-solving | | | | arithmetic with the abacus. The site also |
| capability, stimulate creativity, and improve | | | | offers the Japanese Soroban abacus, which is |
| concentration and mental endurance.Abacus | | | | ideal for teaching purposes. |
| calculation relies on the manipulation of | | | | |
| beads rather than use of traditional | | | | You can find all the materials you will need |
| arithmetic. It teaches children to visualize | | | | to help your child master mental math |
| numbers and their relationships and placement | | | | arithmetic and improve school math grades at |
| values. | | | | the above mentioned website. You can also |
| | | | download free pages from the books and see |
| "Once children understand numbers, they will | | | | for yourself how effective they can be for |
| probably become fond of mathematics," says | | | | teaching your child valuable mental math |
| Ms. Kimiko Kawano, a researcher at Nippon | | | | skills.Dhaval Shrimankar is a private tutor |
| Medical School, Center for Informatics and | | | | based in Fairfax VA. He focuses on early |
| Sciences in Japan. She has been studying EEGs | | | | childhood brain development and improving |
| of brain waves in subjects doing various | | | | math skills. |
| mental activities. Her findings show that | | | | |