Shaylyn Ekins-Mental Math

Shaylyn Ekins Literature Review

Title:  Mental Math

Author:  Marilyn Burns

Source:  http://www.mathsolutions.com/documents/2007_Instr_MentalMath.pdf

Summary:  We use mental math in everyday situations…figuring tax or a tip, estimating the total at a grocery star, how much to pay the babysitter, doubling recipes, etc.

·         We should use mental math regularly in the classroom because it is a life skill.

·         “Hands on the table” math

o        Make this  a class effort, not a test

o        Model my mental math process

o        Debrief as a class and explain solutions

·         Focus on multiple ways to solve problems

·         Money is a good context for mental math

·         Allow students to self-correct

Analysis:  This article struck a chord with me.  As a 5^th grader, I remember my teacher doing a lot of mental math drills and I feel like I learned how to calculate mentally very well.  I plan on adding more opportunities for my students to use and practice their mental math skills, including modeling my thinking when I use mental math.  Mental math is also one of those areas of math that is very useful in the real world.