Some people think mental math skills are no longer important. After all, we have computers and devices that can do it for us any time we choose. But there's more to it than that! Here are some very important reasons for teaching (and learning) mental math skills.
1. Teaching mental math encourages kids to really understand how to reason through a problem, not just memorize it. Doing mental math means using conceptual understanding and problem solving. In fact, using mental math strategies often helps kids to really "get it".
2. Being proficient in mental math strategies help students realize when a problem doesn't "look" right. Students are thinking about the problem (mind's on) throughout the entire process rather than relying on a formula of some kind.
4. More and more schools are placing a high priority on problem solving in math. Mental math gives the tools for problem solving, and helps students evaluate their answers.
5. Doing mental math in a classroom discussion helps students orally talk about math concepts and how they are using them. They develop not only mathmatical concepts, but the math vocabulary they must know to solve the problem.
6. It gives students lots of practice with basic facts and combining operations.
7. By using mental math, students play with the patterns that exist in our number system. As a result, they develop a deeper conceptual understanding.
8. Kids love the "tricks" involved in figuring out mental math problems. It's fun because they know a lot of people who can't do it. Give kids a good strategy for mental math, and they feel like they are able to do mathmatical magic!
9. Mental math exercises a child's mental muscle. This is especial important between the ages of five to ten. As a child's brain develops during this time, it is most susceptible to the benefits of mental math.
10. Mental math develops a child's ability to concentrate. This allows them to aquire more information because they are better able to pay attention.
11. Mental math improves listening skills. They have to focus on what is being said by the teacher, this exercises those important listening skills.
12. Mental math actually improves self confidence! When a child sees that she can do mental math successfully, they feel good about their abilities.
13. Mental math improves memory. Since ta child must store important information to solve the problem, mental math increases the ability to store larger and larger amounts of information in their brain.
(Some information from: Math Genie)
How about a great freebie to help with those mental math strategies? I have made 12 Math Thinker task cards complete with an answer sheet and a grading key. This makes this free resource perfect for centers! Click on any picture below to access the freebie!
