Mental Arithmetic

Mathematics/Arithmetic - What's in a Name?

After doing some research and rethinking, I've changed the topic
name of this discussion to mental arithmetic. Even though the
curriculum document uses 'mental mathematics' as their term,
it is really 'mental arithmetic or mental calculations' that they
are describing.

Does the term matter? Yes, especially if you want to be accurate,
learn more about this process and seek Web resources.
Search results for 'mental arithmetic' produce fruitful and
interesting results as opposed to 'mental mathematics' which
was not helpful at all.

Here is a link to a website that includes some description
and teaching strategies for this topic http://www.themathpage.com/ .
I found Lesson Four, Mental Arithmetic, to be especially useful
and I have started using the strategies recommended with
my students. The explanation of 'add by endings' really
filled a missing link to the strategies that were presented at the
DaCosta Math Workshop I attended in the fall.

Who is DaCosta? David DaCosta is (was) a university math
professor that is employed by the Southern Alberta
Professional Development Consortium to provide inservicing
workshops on the 2007 Alberta Mathematics Curriculum
to Alberta Teachers to assist them in implementing the
new curriculum.

My journey continues, let me hear from you.
Liza

Welcome to Teaching Mental Math

Is Teaching Mental Math a new concept to you?

In the New Alberta Mathematics Program of Studies, mental mathematics is listed as an outcome in the number strand section. The implication is that it is new to this program of studies and now teachers must teach it to their students. However, mental mathematics is not new and teachers all over the world, for decades have been teaching mental mathematics, allbeit, perhaps not in this structured, detailed manner.

Fortunately, in the particluars of the program outcomes, there is a list of strategies that students can learn to help them use mental mathematics when they solve problems or answer math questions. Memorization of the basic facts is not one of the strategies mentioned, which is suprising. Why is this?

Here is a website I found that has some online games that students can play
to assist them with practicing 'mental math' using the memorization strategy. Check it out http://www.vectorkids.com/.

My question to you, teachers, is what are you doing to teach mental mathematics in your primary classroom?

Since teaching is an ongoing daily event, I will keep you posted on what I am doing to teach mental math.

Liza