Mental Math: Using the Abacus

The mental math class teaches students between Kindergarten and 5th grade to use an abacus to learn the skill of mental counting eventually without the abacus. Using the abacus strengthens the operator's sense of decimal places and an overall better understanding of numbers. When students see numbers and calculations concretely represented, their intuitive understanding and confidence in them is enabled. It allows students to develop mental calculation earlier and with a stronger foundation. Because the abacus works on the decimal system rather than with fractions, students understand decimals faster and better. Learning elementary math with the abacus improves student's ability to learn higher level math, concentration, visualization skills, imagination, memorization and observation. For more information visit the Recreation Department page of the City of Burlingame website.