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Abstract Thinking

Paddy

Hello everyone, I have been trying to improve my basic maths skills recently, and, quite independently (I was never really educationally assessed for my difficulties in school, other than general tests), I have come to realise that I have problems with abstract thinking, especially in maths. When trying to do basic mental arithmetic in my head I get hopelessly lost with anything over double-digit numbers, and yet, using a Chinese abacus for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, I can work out things that I could never work out in my head. Can anyone else relate to this? I only wish that the asian forms of abacus were more widely available when I was a child, because I think I could have developed far more numeracy coping strategies at a young age than I was able to.

Thanks for any and all posts in advance.

  • "I get hopelessly lost with anything over double-digit numbers"

    Well, most NTs cant either and will ask for a calculator or a paper and a pen.

  • I must admit that in school I didn't voluntarily learn as much as I should, no. I was taught to read properly in a remedial class in junior school and then largely taught myself, I would say. I agree that putting the fear of God into students is a bad thing. I just wish that people in general could acquire a love of knowledge, but, everyone's different I guess. In school I despised maths because I believe I was taught it in ways that weren't easy for me to understand. I know school life has to be standardised, but everyone learns in different ways, I believe.

  • Hi Paddy,

    I saw a good programme on Tv about  chinese education versus UK education recently and the end result was they are better at maths than we are. Or at least that was the editors assessment.

    The fear facter in education is important I think. My maths teacher terrified us all by his aggressive nature  and dictatorial style but at the end of the term he relaxed and taught us some useful tricks of the trade. We all left admiring him for what he had taught us.

    Kids need to learn ........... and not many of us do that voluntarily. I did'nt. Did you?

    Take care Laddie.