Students in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10 were tested in a two-part investigation of simple and complex mental addition (with college students as a reference point). One session involved a normal reaction time task in which children made true/false judgments about a series of addition examples. The other session involved a verbal protocol interview, the…

The processes and procedures used by expert mental calculators are identified from a literature review. Experts are characterized by knowledge of a variety of methods, ability to recall numerical equivalents, and ability to remember the numbers involved in various stages of calculations. (MNS)

Begins with a definition of mental computation and then provides an overview of its evolution during the twentieth century. Significant benefits from teaching mental computation are highlighted, along with a framework and guidelines for instructing elementary school students. A parallel discussion is also provided for computational estimation. (RH)

Describes how students can compute and estimate, mentally and rapidly, by using appropriate number relationships. (YDS)

Presents a historical overview and summary of research conducted on simple arithmetic in the past 20 years. Presents two seemingly different directions in current research, one on the role of working memory in mental arithmetic and one on the possible cognitive consequences of mathematics anxiety. Contains 108 references. (MKR)

Discusses the efforts of one Japanese company that makes abaci to demonstrate that the abacus continues to be a feasible alternative as a calculator in the elementary school mathematics curriculum. Argues that the abacus improves number sense, mental computation, and mathematics achievement for students who use the abacus. (MDH)

Describes the success, the methods (mental, informal written, standard algorithm) and the strategies of informal written arithmetic to be observed when 300 elementary students worked on six addition and six subtraction problems with three-digit numbers. (Author/MM)

NCTM Past President Cathy L. Seeley shares her messages on today's most relevant topics and issues in education. Based on Cathy L. Seeley's award-winning NCTM President's Messages, and including dozens of new messages, this must-have K-12 resource offers straight talk and common sense about some of today's most important, thought-provoking issues…

A program is given which offers students a chance to practice mental computation and judge the effects of various rules for formating output. (MNS)

Relations among the number and types of strategies used by 89 college students when estimating, quantitative ability, and computational estimation ability were investigated. Students of relatively high quantitative ability were found to be better estimators and used more strategy types. (MP)

A set of three problem-solving programs designed as drills that give practice in mental arithmetic are reviewed. The programs are viewed to have several weaknesses in style, but are noted as worthy of consideration for purchase. The material is designed to motivate students to practice all four basic operations. (MP)

Describes the basic and exceptional calculation abilities of a calculating prodigy whose performances were investigated in single- and multi-digit number multiplication, numerical comparison, raising of powers, and short-term memory tasks. Shows how his highly efficient long-term memory storage and retrieval processes, knowledge of calculation…

This study focuses on the mental processes used during estimation. This research: (1) developed an operational definition of estimation; (2) created an instrument to identify exceptionally good estimators; (3) collected performance level data on 1187 subjects; (4) constructed interview problems and developed protocols to identify the thinking…

This article calls attention to testing as an integral part of teaching mental computation. It begins with an overview of students' performance and is followed by some specific suggestions for testing mental computation skills in the classroom. (Author)

Literature at national and international levels argues the importance of including mental computation in a mathematics curriculum that promotes number sense. However, mental computation does not feature in importance in the current Queensland mathematics syllabus documents. Hopefully, with the writing of a new mathematics syllabus, mental…