Mental Maths: Is it still relevant when we have tech now?
Technology is a blessing for everyday things and having a pocket calculator most definitely makes our lives easier. However, as with anything, there is a negative side.
Children who rely on technology will lack problem-solving skills and will not use their brain’s full capacity. Put it this way, you’ve sent your child to the shop, they don’t know how much change they should get, and well...they’re change-less and you’re pennies down. How about baking a cake and needing to understand measurements? and for most children, knowing how long is left of that boring class (not TutorBEE sessions, obviously).
Children that develop strong mental ability can use their initiative and weigh up actions and consequences to guide their decisions. They may even figure out tips and tricks over time. For example, they will learn that mentally subtracting most numbers is time-consuming and difficult. Instead, they might start rounding because when it comes to division, subtraction, and addition, rounding the numbers will solve problems faster. This also helps children to imagine the problem they are working on, possibly by visualising it on a piece of paper.
As a parent or carer, you can encourage mental development by doing the following:
· Turn everyday experiences into learning opportunities
· Puzzles, puzzles and did I say puzzles?
· Weekly spelling tests at home or competitions and rewards to encourage learning.
· Frequently reading with your child and encouraging them to ask questions and relay their thoughts.
At TutorBEE, we aim to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. Our students are taught methods to work out calculations without using calculators and methods to sound out and spell words without using a dictionary. This ensures they become self-learners who develop the skills to complete work on their own and through various methods.
Book a free tuition trial to find out more about our services and discuss what may work for you and your family.
