ChrissySC Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 (edited) I haven't a problem with using your fingers for math. As a matter of fact, I would drum away with my own invented "abascus" on the desktop and finish my math tests in less time than my classmates. So, we accept the abascus, but we do not accept finger counting? Huh? What? I wonder about the use of manipulatives being exclusive, that is not using fingers for manipulatives. Well, I was wondering around trying to find some reasonable or rather logical stride of thought that would convince me. I found this ..... http://katinaferguson.hubpages.com/hub/The-Soroban I remember seeing a soroban on a keychain that my grandmother carried. :001_smile: Through further research, I would have to wonder which is better? Fingers? Abascus? Soroban? It is a great read nonetheless! Edit: The Mathrack ... neat name right? http://mathfour.com/sets-and-counting/first-grade-math-place-value-practice This will help to teach place value too. Edited November 30, 2011 by ChrissySC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I do it all the time :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissySC Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 I'm still reading and I edited to include ... http://mathfour.com/sets-and-counting/first-grade-math-place-value-practice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I grow up with those thing and BTW, that is Chinese abacus rather than Japanese. Soropan is a Chinese words mean calculator panel. Growing up, soropan is part of math lesson in elementary school. Not sure if they still do that. I never have problem with fingers, actually you can use your finger to count up to 99 and it is quite efficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nono Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Hey, I'm old enough to remember Chisanbop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissySC Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Hey, I'm old enough to remember Chisanbop! OK, this is very familiar to my own invented style of finger counting. Thanks for the read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didadeewiththree Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I actually count on the number itself, with imaginary dots on each one. When I was a kid, my school tried out a new system called Touch math, where you put one dot on one, two on two, etc. Nine has two eyes and a nose and then three rows of two dots on the side. I still see the dots in my head after all these years. I have a problem with kids using their fingers to count, but I can't tell you why! Its the silliest thing! I guess it was something frowned upon when I was a kid so I frown upon it now. Here's a link to touchmath.... http://www.touchmath.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I actually count on the number itself, with imaginary dots on each one. When I was a kid, my school tried out a new system called Touch math, where you put one dot on one, two on two, etc. Nine has two eyes and a nose and then three rows of two dots on the side. I still see the dots in my head after all these years. I have a problem with kids using their fingers to count, but I can't tell you why! Its the silliest thing! I guess it was something frowned upon when I was a kid so I frown upon it now. Here's a link to touchmath.... http://www.touchmath.com/ OMG. I was beginning to think I was the only one who learned this way. I STILL use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didadeewiththree Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 OMG. I was beginning to think I was the only one who learned this way. I STILL use it. That is so cool!! I really did think I was the only one out there to use it. Now I just need to decide if I want to teach my kids that way. If I ever see them using fingers I will! I learned that Touchmath extends the learning dots beyond addition and subtraction, it even teaches multiplication, but I never learned that part that way, I just memorized my times tables. It might be worth looking into for the kiddos, I dunno. I can't decide if I like them to figure stuff out, like by using manipulatives, or if Id rather them know it by rote memorization. I try giving them manipulatives first, then try to do this often enough until it is envisioned in their memory and then they know automatically. It takes awhile though! I think Touch math just makes so much sense, but a few moms Ive described this to, looked at me like I was crazy. I guess since it worked for me, I like to tell everybody about it, but so far I never have run into anyone who has used it, till now:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I actually count on the number itself, with imaginary dots on each one. When I was a kid, my school tried out a new system called Touch math, where you put one dot on one, two on two, etc. Nine has two eyes and a nose and then three rows of two dots on the side. I still see the dots in my head after all these years. I have a problem with kids using their fingers to count, but I can't tell you why! Its the silliest thing! I guess it was something frowned upon when I was a kid so I frown upon it now. Here's a link to touchmath.... http://www.touchmath.com/ When DS was in PS (2007-2009), they used this method. He still taps his numbers with hispencil sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I counted on my fingers all the time when doing math...all the way through college calculus. I think I did it more to check my addition and subtraction but not sure...maybe it was habit. I was always good at math...taught my high school and college calculus roommates stuff they didn't get from the teacher and always got A's. Now my dd counts on her fingers as well and I don't even worry about it. She's plenty fast and it just seems normal to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I actually count on the number itself, with imaginary dots on each one. When I was a kid, my school tried out a new system called Touch math, where you put one dot on one, two on two, etc. Nine has two eyes and a nose and then three rows of two dots on the side. I still see the dots in my head after all these years. I have a problem with kids using their fingers to count, but I can't tell you why! Its the silliest thing! I guess it was something frowned upon when I was a kid so I frown upon it now. Here's a link to touchmath.... http://www.touchmath.com/ That's exactly how I do it! My kids actually called me on it last night and wanted to know how that was different than counting fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissySC Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 I counted on my fingers all the time when doing math...all the way through college calculus. I think I did it more to check my addition and subtraction but not sure...maybe it was habit. I was always good at math...taught my high school and college calculus roommates stuff they didn't get from the teacher and always got A's. Now my dd counts on her fingers as well and I don't even worry about it. She's plenty fast and it just seems normal to me. I am getting ready to "undo" the no-finger-counting rule that we inherited from public school. I just wanted some proof that this would cause some problem with computational skill level. Considering that both you and I have manged higher level math (including college trig and calculus) successfully, where is the draw back? We use all types of manipulatives ... heck the ancients used counting sticks and beads! Please tell me that we can use our fingers. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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