1. NCTM 2011 Indianapolis, Indiana Julie Maguire-Jones & Patti Schacht
Mental Gymnastics for Your Students: Building Computational Skills and Understanding
NCTM 2011
Indianapolis, Indiana
Julie Maguire-Jones & Patti Schacht

2. Meet Your Presenters from Malden, Massachusetts

3. Guess My Number 6 8 5 7 2 1 3 4 Only Yes or No Questions
Guess in 4 or less questions
YOU WIN!!
Guess in 5 or More questions
WE WIN!! 6 8 5 7 2 1 3 4

4. What is the pattern?
A B A B A B
↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓
A B B A B B A B B

5. Ideas that evolved from
a comprehensive K-5 curriculum from
No need to take notes…
This presentation will be available on the Thinkmath! Website in a few days.

6. Why Mental Math?
It is part of the “infrastructure” and foundation for “playing, learning and doing the game” of mathematics.

7. Mathematics Requires…
Focus
Concentration
Being able to picture things
Manipulate the pictures/representations
Being able to hold two or more ideas, numbers, or pictures
Keep one’s place in the process

8. What Does “Drill and Thrill” Mental Math Look Like?
Making and Keeping Mental Images

10. Logic 6 8 5 7 2 1 3 4 14 16 13 15 10 9 11 12

11. Reaching all modalities for children

12. Learning why it happens

13. Classroom examples 87 − 59 Odd Even Elapsed Time Time Coins Most
Fewest
Functional Skills
Language Based
Talk About It

14. 87
− 59 20 7 1 59 60 80 87
= 28
therefore = 28

15. It can be a silent activity

16. Mental Gymnastics
Make it FUN!!
Keep it Lively!!
Make it REAL!!

17. Saturday, April 16, 2011: 9:30 AM-10:30 AM Sagamore Ballroom 4
Questions?
THANK YOU!!
Julie Maguire-Jones
Patti Schacht
ThinkMath Website
If you enjoyed this please visit:
Teaching without talking: building visual attention, focus, and working memory.
With Samantha Lowe and Kate Sorgi
Saturday, April 16, 2011: 9:30 AM-10:30 AM Sagamore Ballroom 4