Brief Description of the Teaching Mental and Written Computation CDROM
This resource has been designed for teacher education students and practising teachers. It aims to show the importance of mental computation in the school curriculum and sets out goals for balancing mental, written and calculator computation.
Mental methods used by children are described and some common errors and misconceptions are revealed. Targetted teaching strategies are suggested and class worksheets and diagnostic tests are also provided.
| This resource contains |
 |
detailed descriptions of mental methods used by children |
|
QuickTime movies which demonstrate children's mathematical thinking |
|
explanations of common errors made by children |
|
strategies for teaching written and mental computation |
|
mental method classification activities for teachers |
|
activities for teacher education students |
|
completed diagnostic tests from 'example' children, for teachers |
|
class worksheets and diagnostic tests for children |
How does the online sample differ to the complete CDROM?
The table below broadly illustrates the difference in content of the online sample website to the complete CDROM.
CDROM |
Online sample |
| GENERAL COMPUTATION |
|
| Outline, aims and rationale for this resource |
Outline, aims and rationale for this resource |
| General principles of mental computation |
General principles of mental computation |
| Teaching computation in the calculator era |
Teaching computation in the calculator era |
| References |
References |
| Reference summaries |
Reference summaries |
| Technical and navigation help |
Technical and navigation help |
| |
|
100% |
100% |
| SUBTRACTION |
|
| Survey of mental methods used by children |
Survey of mental methods used by children |
| Activity: Classifying mental subtractions |
Activity: Classifying mental subtractions |
Class worksheets for mental computation
- Yrs 3-6
- Yrs 5-8
|
|
| Teaching algorithms for subtraction |
|
| Activity: common errors in subtraction |
|
Diagnostic tests for written computation
- blank subtraction test
- completed subtraction tests by 6 example children |
|
100% |
20% |
| MULTIPLICATION |
|
| Survey of mental methods used by children |
|
| Activity: Classifying mental multiplications |
|
Class worksheets for mental computation
- Yrs 3-6
- Yrs 5-8 |
|
| Teaching algorithms for multiplication |
Teaching algorithms for multiplication |
| Activity: common errors in multiplication |
|
Diagnostic tests for written computation
- blank multiplication test
- completed multiplication tests by 5 example children
|
|
100% |
15% |
How to order the Teaching Mental and Written Computation CDROM
The Teaching Mental and Written Computation CDROM can be ordered at the University "eshowcase".
First, go to http://eshowcase.unimelb.edu.au/eshowcase/, then select "catalogue", then "search by category" by selecting Education-Mathematics. The mathematics education products can then be selected individually or together.
Melbourne University students can purchase the CDROM on the Parkville campus at Bullwinkles and the Bookroom.
