Helping students make sense of math, find joy, improve, and accelerate through our 1:1 lessons, classes, and curriculum.
Why mental math is the most underrated skill in learning
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Pencil in hand, she stared at the paper. She wanted to use a calculator, but this was a non-calculator problem. So she started counting on her fingers. It took her a moment to remember what 12 + 3 equaled. It wasn’t that she couldn’t get the answer. She could. But every problem took so long. That’s when I introduced her to a few mental math shortcuts. 12 is 10+2 right? What does 2+3 equal? Now, we add 10. Yep, the answer is 15. These weren’t tricks, but ways of breaking numbers apart so the problem felt easier. Suddenly, she wasn’t dragging through the work anymore. She started solving the problems quickly and even thought these were kind of fun. Why Mental Math Matters When a student knows how to find friendly numbers or quickly break a problem down into parts, it frees up their mental energy. Instead of getting dragged down by calculations, they can keep moving forward. And that sense of momentum makes math feel less intimidating. Tools That Work
These small shifts add up to big results. Students who once struggled to keep pace start to feel lighter, faster, and more capable. And because the strategies are simple, students can practice them almost anywhere—while riding in the car, setting the table, or even playing games. Want to go deeper into how this works? We put together a blog post with examples you can try at home with your students who struggle to add and subtract quickly: Unlock Math Confidence with Number Bonds - Get your Free Guide! Your Coach, P.S. Looking for classes to help your students gain confidence with math, or techniques you can teach your students? Set up a consultation call to find out more about how we can help. |
Ingrid | Tampa Bay Test Prep
Helping students make sense of math, find joy, improve, and accelerate through our 1:1 lessons, classes, and curriculum.
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