| Today, we all know the importance of learning | | | | teaching mathematical calculating skills to |
| and marveling at mathematics. And every time | | | | young children. |
| we visit our children's schools we see | | | | |
| Chinese and Indian students marveling at | | | | Using an abacus, a child can do all |
| SATs. And we all know why they succeed in | | | | arithmetic calculations up to 10 digits and |
| Engineering and Medical fields. Answer is | | | | master the skill of doing it mentally, |
| quite simple, they are good at Math. But why | | | | without relying on modern devices such as |
| are they so good? How did they study Math | | | | calculators. |
| that makes them so good at that one arduous | | | | |
| subject? | | | | There are procedures and training |
| | | | methodologies to master abacus use. When |
| When we go to teacher meetings we are told by | | | | children use both hands to move the beads for |
| the teachers, to marvel at Math one must | | | | small and large arithmetic calculations, the |
| practice, practice and practice. But what if | | | | quick communication between hands and brain |
| the child loses interest in practicing math? | | | | not only stimulates brain cells promoting |
| We all have had our share of experiencing the | | | | speedier and faster calculation ability but |
| monotonous boring task of memorizing times | | | | also promotes quick, balanced and whole brain |
| tables. And after so many years, the same is | | | | development. |
| repeated by the teachers everywhere, except, | | | | |
| Asia. What do these Asians (Chinese, | | | | Now that you know what are all the benefits |
| Japanese, Indians, etc.) do to make their | | | | of learning abacus math - let us continue |
| children so good with Mathematics? Answer is | | | | talking about practicing math. Every textbook |
| quite simple, practice, practice & | | | | comes with few practice problems and we |
| practice. But what is it that those students | | | | always feel that these few problems are not |
| actually practice? | | | | enough. We want more practice problems for |
| | | | our children and students. The next best |
| Lately, Abacus math has taken some of these | | | | alternative is to find math practice |
| Asian nations by storm. Abacus is a Latin | | | | worksheets. There are many websites that |
| word that has its origins in the Greek words | | | | offer you downloadable practice worksheets |
| abax or abakon (meaning "table" or "tablet") | | | | for a small fee. And there are some websites |
| which in turn, possibly originated from the | | | | that offer you for free. Some offer you |
| Semitic word abq, meaning "sand". The abacus | | | | predefined sheets where as very few websites |
| is an instrument, a manual tool invented by | | | | offer you build your own math practice |
| the Chinese 2000 years ago. Over the past | | | | worksheets. |
| five years, in nations like Malaysia, Taiwan | | | | |
| and India, countless tutoring centers like | | | | Usage of math practice sheets early on can |
| Sylvan, Huntington and Kumon have sprung up | | | | instill a great habit of enjoying math and at |
| but with one goal in mind, tutor abacus math. | | | | the same time help to solidify mental math |
| Most of these centers offer training using | | | | skills. And using these sheets to perform |
| the Japanese "Soroban abacus", which has one | | | | abacus math mentally is absolute fun for a |
| upper row of beads and four lower rows. The | | | | child. |
| Soroban abacus is particularly effective for | | | | |