Ingramcontent Abacus Mind Math Level 1 Workbook 1 of 2: Excel at Mind Math with Soroban, a Japanese Abacus

Very easy and simple to follow and learn with a program to help your journey for several weeks. Answers included. Most of all it has been fun for all involved!

Ce livre est simple pour commencer à compter avec un Soroban. Les explications sont succinctes mais les exercices très progressifs.

Excelente libro con conceptos fáciles de explicar. Ayuda a tu hijo a entender los conceptos del ábaco japonés. Muy buena calidad de impresión y buenos contenidos.

My daughter started Grade III with very low confidence in math. She absolutely hated it and was convinced that "only boys are good at it". This drew my ire! After searching the entire internet for an abacus workbook for children, I found the SAI Math Academy. She recently completed the Level I workbooks and is now working through Level II. I have absolute confidence in these books. In the beginning, she fought tooth and nail every time we sat down to do the exercises. Over time, she fought less and less, and now she (almost) looks forward to doing the exercises. The difference in her confidence and ability is astounding. Before, she hated math. Now, she gets a competitive gleam in her eye when she wants to "show those boys who's better at it". I cannot recommend these workbooks highly enough. Get all three levels (with the Instruction Books!) on the same order. If you buy Level I with the idea of trying them out, I can practically guarantee you'll be buying the next two levels shortly in a few weeks. Save yourself the extra shipping and bother.

I searched the internet high and low for a practical book that would help me teach the Soroban-the search is over! Abacus Mind Math is the best resource I have found, and we use it everyday! Not only is it great on its own, but I had some questions and I called the author (She put her contact info in the book). She is extremely nice and spoke with me until I had all my questions answered. She is currently writing the next book in the series. Regarding content: It is sequential, easy to use, and comes with lots of practice problems. Regarding my method (incase you're new to soroban or are looking for other ideas): We homeschool 2 girls (5 &3). I have my oldest do about 40-50min of practice 4 times a week. I DON'T have her practice 40-50 min straight. I break it up into 3-4 segments throughout the day. The segments are listed below: Segment 1: I have her do 10 problems on her own sitting at the table, good posture, and using proper technique. She reads the problem out of the workbook, keeps her finger on the number she is on, and with her other hand she is moving the beads accordingly. Then she writes the answer in the book. After 10 problems, she is off to play! Segment 2: After a good break for play 20-30 min or so, I start segment 2. This time I hold the book and she is just sitting with her soroban at the table. I read the same problems to her that she had just done (I check her work at this time, too; I also modify the speed I say the numbers-just to keep her on her toes...or fingers in this case!). And she is off to play! Segment 3: Mental math time! Again, I have the book and now she is sitting at the table with no soroban in front of her. I ask her the same problems, only this time she has to do them in her head. We weren't having much progress at first but the author told me to make sure she is pretending like the soroban is right in front of her and that she is pretending to move the beads with her fingers; not boisterously-like in the youtube videos, but just like they normally would if the soroban was right in front of them. It's still a struggle, but she has improved and is definitely getting better. Here are a couple bonus segments that I do: 1) I play a game called BIG friends. I say a number, like 4 and she will say 6 (b/c when you put them together they equal 10) 2) I play a game called SMALL friends. I say a number, like 4 and she will say 1 (b/c when you put them together they equal 5) This skill will be important down the road when we encounter carry problems. 3) Just have them count. 4) Review the place values (each rod corresponds to a place value: ones, tens, thousands, etc) I will also write a number and ask her what place value is each number in. 5) I will roll some dice and just keep adding or start form a real high number and then we will start subtracting. My personal thoughts: I bought Saxton math and their big box of manipulatives and have not touched them. I will eventually use Saxon; however, I have no idea when that will be, because the goal is arithmetic proficiency, and the soroban can handle it all. I have many friends that use Math U See, and I think that it is a better program at this early stage, but again why use all those different manipulatives when you can use one-the soroban. I picture the soroban like a musical instrument- that they will eventually be able to play in their minds. Remember the name of the book: Abacus MIND MATH. Watch some youtube videos of the Japanese or Indian students demonstrating their speed and accuracy with their mental soroban. Stay consistent and keep practicing! Just do a little bit everyday and you will see great results!