JAMS - The Japanes Abacus Math School
A Message from Sensei Miwako Sakabayashi
Soroban Abacus Math Teacher
I
believe that every child has abilities… many of which
may be hidden. The reasons these abilities remain hidden lie in
the advent of technology – specifically, calculators.
By becoming overly dependent on calculators and computers
children never learn the critical ability of mental problem solving.
This skill – which is inside everyone – becomes dormant.
In most cases schools do a wonderful job of educating
our children. However, calculators have become standard
equipment, with children using them as early as first
and second grade. This time in their lives is critical in the development
of their ability to solve problems. By providing an ‘artificial crutch’
such as a calculator, those life skills are left undeveloped.
Fewer
and fewer teachers are skilled in the area of teaching
children how to mentally calculate and solve problems,
because they themselves were raised in the ‘calculator culture.’
Children,
specifically at an early age, need to be trained
to utilize and activate their senses. Learning Abacus
teaches children to use senses: their eyes to see, ears to listen and
fingers to move Abacus beads for calculation. This training cultivates
concentration skills, and their brain becomes more capable to calculate
with no help of calculators. Although they are convenient and inexpensive,
it is no exaggeration to say that use of calculators hinders recovery
and improvement of children's hidden abilities.
Come see for yourself
the difference that learning the Abacus can make
for your child. I’d like to extend an open invitation
for you to call and schedule a no obligation classroom visit. I’m confident
that when you witness for yourself the remarkable skills that we develop
in our students, you’ll want to provide the same advantage for your
child or children. At JAMS, we believe that when your child is engaged
in learning the Japanese Abacus, their success will really add up!

Miwako Sakabayashi
Japanese Abacus Math School