3G uses both hands too. It’s true regardless the type of abacus. Once you do mental sums, you are using both left and right brain. The human brain is quite complex, using it to control hands movement, left right hand coordination and performing mental sums, it’s probably all under a different department in the brain.
As for the article… A bit too “cheeem” for me. To me, it doesn’t mean that the Japanese man doesn’t know numbers. He just loses out on logic which he didn’t know. I don’t how many of us who has never learn abacus knows this logic.
Extract from the article…
"The number was 1729.03. I happened to know that a cubic foot contains 1728 cubic inches, so the answer is a tiny bit more than 12. The excess, 1.03 is only one part in nearly 2000, and I had learned in calculus that for small fractions, the cube root’s excess is one-third of the number’s excess. So all I had to do is find the fraction 1/1728, and multiply by 4 (divide by 3 and multiply by 12). "
When we are young, we learn to count. But as we grow up, we don’t count anymore. We add up the numbers using logic and by memory or experience (sum that we have done before numerous times in school). We already know the answers, 1+1=2, 7+3=10, 5+5=10. Our children are still at the growing phase and need to learn counting either through abacus or counting fingers.
Just my views… Sorry, I will stop replying from here.
Latest posts made by abacus_trainer
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RE: CMA Math - Discussion
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RE: CMA Math - Discussion
Hi smurf,
Can’t say which is better. If 3G didn’t have its advantage, mdm chee wouldn’t have brought in the 3G method. If soroban is no good, cma would have close shop long ago and it would not be the most widely used version of abacus around the world.
In my view, It depends on yr purpose of sending yr child to abacus class. If just for simple calculation, to understand the concept of +,-. 3G is sufficient. For more complex sum, faster mental calculation, soroban is still better. Learning abacus is not only for the child to learn to count but also to let them explore more usage of their left and right brain. When a child do abacus with both hands, he is not only practicing his motor skill but also his left and right hand coordination. This is especially important for young children when their brain is still developing. When the child do mental sums, he is learning to visualize the abacus beads, holding the image in his brain and doing calculation. A active brain means better memory, faster in thinking, more efficient in learning.
Recently I have come across a k1 (next year k2) child who still don’t understand the concept of +,-. So she still don’t even know simple +,- sums. We can’t just leave all the learning, teaching to the school. Really have to be more kiasu to prepare our children inorder not to be left behind in class.
Anyway, I am a Cma trainer and I support our method. Not trying to make a sales speech here. -
RE: CMA Math - Discussion
Regarding diff between cma abacus and 3G abacus…
There 3 generation of abacus. 1st gen is invented by china, 2 beads on top, 5 beads below. The 2nd gen (soroban) is invented by the Japanese, 1 bead on top, 4 beads below. The last one is the 3G type, 9 beads in a column.
Cma uses the 2nd gen abacus, it has 34 sets of formula. 3G abacus has 18 sets. 3G require a shorter time to pickup due to lesser formula to learn. If it’s easier to learn then why it did not over take the 2nd gen abacus which is still more widely use in Taiwan, Japan? Parents who have seen both type of abacus would know the 3G abacus is much bigger than the soroban. When the child do mental sum, he needs to visualize the abacus beads to do the calculation. Imagine doing it on a smaller 5 beads abacus vs a 9 beads abacus. It’s harder to do visualize a bigger abacus and slower too. Imagine 999 on the soroban and 999 on the 3G.
Parents with kids in cma, imagine your child doing these sums. 2+6, 1+7, it’s much easier on the soroban, just pinch a 6 or 7 together, compare to adding a whole long string of beads on the 3G. It’s harder for the child to count 6 or 7 on th 3G. The reason why 3G has less formula because it doesn’t have the “5” bead on top, so it does not have the brothers and neighbor formula. The Japanese must have put in “5” bead for a reason.
If you are thinking to enroll your child to 3G abacus class just to learn some basic calculation and not because you want him to calculate faster or calculate more complex sums. Using the 9 beads on 3G is the same as using fingers. Just train him to use his fingers. -
RE: CMA Math - Discussion
violin_lover:
Thanks for your insight. I was told that there is exam for every level. Is it necessary to take all of them?[/quote]there is no need to take exam for all the levels. It's a grading exam meaning you get a cert for the level you take. No need to collect cert for every level. Some people take bcos they want the child they gain some experience, some as a form of motivation, some bcos they are quitting.
Hope your boy is enjoying his classes. There is no fix end or completion of the course. There are 13 levels, level 13 is the lowest, level 1 highest. Beyond that still got duan wei su. I think to reach level 1 takes on average about 4 years. Can be longer or shorter depending on the child's progress. You can talk to your son's teacher to understand what the levels are about and how is it like.abacus_trainer:
[quote=\"violin_lover\"]
Great. I started my kids in CMA about 3 months ago. Usually how long does it take to complete the course? -
RE: CMA Math - Discussion
HappyAvon:
sorry for the late reply.. Busy lah.. If your child is doing 113, then 2 more books after 113 is 112-1 and 111-1. As for long it takes to do 2 books, will depend on your child. 112-1 is a easy book, can do faster. Better to start to memorize times table earlier. Can start with 2 and 5 times table first.abacus_trainer:
Hope your boy is enjoying his classes. There is no fix end or completion of the course. There are 13 levels, level 13 is the lowest, level 1 highest. Beyond that still got duan wei su. I think to reach level 1 takes on average about 4 years. Can be longer or shorter depending on the child's progress. You can talk to your son's teacher to understand what the levels are about and how is it like.
Hi abacus_trainer, my 5 yrs old girl has been with CMA since she was 4..according to the teacher's update yesterday, she will have 2 more books to go and she will start on multiplication..The teacher had given her a list of the multiplication tables and asked her to learn during her free tiime so it will be easier for her when she is tackling the multiplication.....I forgot to ask the teacher how long will the 2 books take before she could proceed to multiplication...Any advise?? I know multiplication starts at grade 10 and does it mean the 2 books she mentioneed will be for grade 12 and 11? Thanks! -
RE: CMA Math - Discussion
violin_lover:
Hope your boy is enjoying his classes. There is no fix end or completion of the course. There are 13 levels, level 13 is the lowest, level 1 highest. Beyond that still got duan wei su. I think to reach level 1 takes on average about 4 years. Can be longer or shorter depending on the child's progress. You can talk to your son's teacher to understand what the levels are about and how is it like.abacus_trainer:
Yes, I am. I like my job.
Great. I started my kids in CMA about 3 months ago. Usually how long does it take to complete the course? -
RE: CMA Math - Discussion
Please don’t get me wrong. You are misinterpreting what I am trying to say. I am not saying it’s the child’s problem. I am just saying, at least she tries to do something about it and not just leaves the child alone.
I am not sure about your girl’s teacher. The most basic requirement of being a trainer is patience and passion to teach. We want our students to bring back something that benefits them now and in future. We don’t just deliver.
Anyway, I don’t know your girl’s teacher. Pardon me for being nosy in the first place. -
RE: CMA Math - Discussion
Sorry to hear about Onyva’s experience. I guess the teacher was eager to show results, thus neglecting the fact that she maybe giving the child too much stress. From my own standard, the amount of home work describe by Onyva is indeed too much for a 5yo. Sometimes one method may work well for one child, may not work well for another child. Teaching children, we just have to try different approach. Sometimes be firm with them, sometimes be softer with them.
Looking from a different angle, at least the teacher tries to do something rather than just leave the child alone. Whether you learn or not it’s your own problem.
For parents whose child is with CMA, I think there is no need to over worry. It’s your child, you make the call. You can decide whether you want more or less homework, just tell the teacher. It’s not about what the teacher wants, it’s what the parents want.
As for boonlaysg’s comments… Indeed MOE’s syllabus is not only about +,-,x and /. But mastering +,-,x and / will provide a firm foundation for children to deal with the problem sums they need to tackle. Not all K2 are able to do P1 or P2 maths, some P1 can’t even do P1 questions.
Learning abacus is not only about +,-,x and /, it’s also for total brain development. Learning mental arithmetic trains the child to visualise and utilise their right brain. Problem sums trains the left brain (logic), mental arithmetic trains the right brain (creativity, arts and craft). -
RE: All About Abacus Training
pokemon:
Oic.. Yah, I can imagine the amount of work he has done to attain level 1. I thought if you intend to let him continue practising at home. No harm sending him to class and let him practice 1.5 hrs a week with the correct material n supervision from the teachers. You can even tell the teacher not to give your boy homework at all. But of course there is also the hassle n time needed to bring him for classes. I understand.. Most kids has alot of work n activities these days.
Actually its not about the cost, its i find it nt necessary to get to that level, mayb more for challenging the brain, even if slow down the pace still hv to do the work. For the past year, he is constantly surrounded by cma work, it really took up alot of his time. My ds very good with +-X divide but when need to apply to problem sum, he still need pract, so need to expose him to another type of math enrichment.
Btw, i dont need duan wei books, just some books on +-X divide question to exercise his brain. Any idea where to get?
I am not sure where you can get duan wei books. Someone once told me can purchase online, I tried looking but cannot find. Maybe if you have friends going Taiwan, you can ask them to help you look for it there. I heard from a sporen parent who was working there for a few years, she say in Taiwan learning abacus it's a big thing. Every parent send their children to abacus classes.