Everyday, people face situations that call for adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing, and at least half of the time, these calculations are accomplished without the use of pen, paper, or calculators. Because figuring "in your head" is such an important life skill, it should have a regular role in classroom math teaching. This article…

In working out exercises in addition the author became convinced of the importance of the ones place of the mind and fashioned a carefully worked technique in order to free the student from having to think about technique. (Author/RK)

Describes the common causes of learning difficulties in math and offers a few suggestions for dealing with them. (RB)

Index cards, masking tape, pizza shells, golf tees, and empty soda bottles can be used to make manipulative objects to be used in children's mathematics games. Twenty-two games that provide practice in number drills and problem solving are described, along with instructions for making objects needed for the games. (PP)

Students who can compute mathematical problems in their heads have learned a skill that is important for estimating and for understanding the number system. Practice activities that can help students master mental computation skills are described. (PP)

Three lessons are outlined which employ "scholar dollars," pretend bills and coins of different denominations that students can make and use to help solve subtraction, division, and decimal problems. The technique clarifies difficult mathematical concepts by making them less abstract. (PP)