Online Abacus classes provide a structured learning environment where students can systematically develop their mental calculation skills. Most people relate fast arithmetic calculations as the top most benefit of Abacus classes for kids, however the real magic that makes this happen is the Abacus methodology which develops the mental ability of students to do these complex arithmetic calculations with ease. Let us do a little deep dive into this.
Is Abacus and Mental Math the Same?
Yes, Abacus is definitely one of the forms of Mental Maths. However, contrary to this, every Mental Math trick may not be derived via Abacus. One can develop mental math ability via other techniques also like Vedic Maths. Although the approach and content covered by Vedic Maths is hugely different (for example it not only covers arithmetic, but also covers the foundational concepts like square roots, geometry, algebra and also the advanced topics like trigonometry). But let’s switch our focus back to Abacus, since the target audience for Abacus and Vedic Maths are different based on the age group.
In how much time can we expect good Abacus results?
You must understand that Abacus online classes follow a slow process and we cannot expect overnight results. A child needs to spend a minimum duration of roughly 6 months, during which he typically covers the first two levels of Abacus training. Each Abacus level has following steps:
- A new topic like single digit addition, then a double digit addition and subtraction and so on
- Abacus formulas and techniques relevant for topics in current level are taught to the child (e.g. big friends, small friends, using the thumb for upper bead movement and the finger for lower bead movement)
- The child is trained to first use these formulas on the physical Abacus tool
- Once the child is comfortable with the physical tool, the trainer asks him to leave the tool and solve the questions mentally, via Visualization. The process of visualization is not easy and needs a lot of guidance and practice, and this is where the role of Abacus trainer is most crucial.
What are the kind of questions that a child can solve mentally via Abacus training?
A child proficient in Abacus training can do all types of arithmetic calculations mentally and we are listing some of the examples below for your reference.
Let us look at some examples below that a child can solve mentally via Abacus:
- Addition and Subtraction
43 + 67 – 3 – 69 + 39 + 86 – 23 – 91 + 99
- Multiplication
23 x 98
487 x 43
9 x 894
56 x 97
- Division
349 / 4
678 / 34
879 / 5
87 / 32
How to find the best Abacus classes online
Well, the mantra is very simple. Go for a good trainer, instead of the brand name of the Abacus school. A good trainer even with a startup organization is a far better decision than to go with an average trainer with a bigger brand. I strongly encourage you to interact with the Abacus trainer before the admission. During this interaction, ask about his experience, what kind of challenges the trainer has faced during his teaching journey so far and how he manages the young kids online when they do not understand the Abacus concepts.
While the experience of every trainer will be different, you will be able to easily gauge if the trainer has a genuine teaching experience in Abacus. Honestly speaking, there are very few good Abacus trainers worldwide but if you do a good research you will surely find a good trainer.
At Mathcruise, we ensure that we proactively provide all the information related to Abacus course (like how much time Abacus will take, course wise curriculum, expectation of regular homework from the child) to the parents before enrollment to ensure transparency. We do not commit overnight results but guarantee good results if the child attends classes regularly and does the homework as prescribed. We do not claim to be best, but surely claim to be one of the best. So if you have not yet found a good trainer, feel free to book a counselling session with us today which is absolutely free of cost.
To conclude, the online Abacus format allows for interactive lessons, immediate feedback, and continuous support, all of which contribute to accelerating the pace of mastering mental math techniques. As a result, participation in online abacus programs lead to significant improvements in speed and confidence when solving mathematical problems mentally.
