Sakamoto Method

Dominique Recommendations maths, Sakamato method

Last week I wrote a post about Abacus. This week I am reviewing another Maths method that is for more advance and complicated as compared to Abacus. This method is more relevant for Singapore Primary Maths as it teaches the child the concepts of how to interpret the questions and breaking it down into smaller and more manageable steps which are easier to solve.

Dr. H. Sakamoto the founder of the method bases his method on 3 simple steps

Grasping the limitation ( Understanding the data in a systematic way through analysis and tabulation)
Diagram ( drawing a pictorial representation of the variables in question simplifies and provides the solution easily)
[This is already currently being taught in all primary/elementary schools]
Writing (providing a systematic way of writing numerical equations to derive at the given answer)
[Also already currently being taught in all primary/elementary schools]

Certain schools in Singapore , like Poi Ching a top notch school in my district, implemented this method as an enrichment class for their P4 students in 2007.

I personally feel that his method is very comprehensive and will definitely aid a student in scoring and excelling in mathematics

June 13, 2008

Abacus for Kids

Dominique Parenting Views, Recommendations abacus, enrichment lessons

Recently a girlfriend of mine has been enquiring about Abacus class for her 4yr old. She was seeking opinions on which centre was better and whether learning the Abacus will confuse her child with learning maths when he enters primary school. To give her a more informed view about the benefits of learning the Abacus I decided on using the topic for a post.

The Abacus has been use as a mathematical tool for calculation since ancient times. The type of Abacus commonly used is the Soroban (Japanese Version) where there is 1 row of beads above the bar and 4 rows below.

To learn how to use the Abacus you can read through the instructions

Advantages of using the Abacus

It helps to strengthen mental calculation- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Improves memory and thinking skills
Sharpens the child’s observations and analytical skills
Is a tool for left brain training
Is a skill you learn for live and you do not need to rely on the calculator to do simple calculations.

I have taught the Abacus to my third year primary(elementary) students in school for three years. It was part of the maths syllabus which, sadly, has been taken out in the most recent revision of the syllabus. I experience how it did help the students calculate faster and more accuarately. Even though we only cover the basic addition and subtractions up to four digits I have seen their progress through the drill & practice sessions that we had.

Are you going to give your child a head start in Mathematics through learning the Abacus?