Abacus serves as one of the most educational learning tools that helps in the intellectual development of children. It helps children overcome many developmental challenges. Abacus education is a wonderful strategy that renders a tangible and visual way of providing knowledge on teaching concepts. Moreover, the hands-on nature of this form of education has turned out to be immensely effective for learners. Especially the ones who possess diverse learning needs. In this blog, there will be a discussion on some of the ways by which the usage of the learning tool abacus can become smooth for mentally challenged students.
Provides visual and tactile learning
For children who learn with movement and touch, the abacus is a tactile mode of education. The beads on the instrument serve as a means of visual representation, making it much easier for learners with special abilities to become acquainted with mathematical concepts.
Renders sequential learning
Students or learners who have special needs are often found to benefit from structured as well as sequential learning. Abacus, as an instrument gives allowance for an approach that is step-by-step for the learning of mathematical concepts. It is the linear arrangement of the beads that facilitates organizing as well as understanding the sequence of the numbers.
Basic mathematic skills and counting
As known, the tool or instrument of the abacus is a wonderful one for rendering proper and basic knowledge of basic numerical operations. This includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This leads to the development of a very concrete knowledge and understanding of mathematical operations. This is facilitated by the moving of beads physically to make a proper representation of numbers.
Development of fine motor skills
When learners are taught to manipulate the beads on the abacus, it helps in aiding the development of motor skills that are fine. When children with challenges in the development of motor skills are given to learn abacus, it can serve as an activity of a therapeutic nature and also as a skill-building activity.
Customized designs of abacus
For children who have special challenges, it is recommended to deploy an abacus with larger beads. Else, beads with various materials that are suitable for sensory-sensitive children are useful. Abacus instruments made of bright colors can be used for learning which can lead to attraction of their attention. This makes learning more interesting for kids with special challenges.
This leads to visual tracking as well as focus.
If the movement of beads on the abacus is properly taught to students with special challenges, it helps in the enhancement of their visual tracking skills. This way, the abacus can become especially helpful for students who need to bring about improvement in concentration as well as focus.
Incorporation of multi-sensory techniques
The educators providing educational learning of abacus to students may make use of multi-sensory approaches. This can be done by using a combination of some auditory cues. It includes teaching counting loudly along with the visual as well as tactile elements of the abacus instrument. For students with special mental challenges, learning of abacus can be made a lot more interesting by using multiple senses.
Providing individualized instructions
With the help of abacus education, students with mental challenges can be provided the education of tailoring the usage of abacus education. This can be done according to the individual needs as well as the learning style of each student. One-on-one guidance to students can be rendered along with support, which would guide the children to adapt to the pace as well as the complexity of all the activities that are needed.
Reinforcement and repetition
Learning to students with special learning abilities can be reinforced through various activities as well as games that are involved with the instrument. On the other hand, learning can be repeated which will serve as a prime strategy for these students to acquire the knowledge of the abacus. Abacus learning will provide scope for repeated learning of the concepts of mathematics in a manner that is quite structured.
Patience and positive reinforcement
Educators and instructors should be positive as well as patient while handling students with special abilities learning abacus. The small achievements of the student should be celebrated. The tool of abacus should be used as a means of progress so that confidence and a positive attitude can be built in the student.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the abacus can be a potential learning aid to facilitate positive development and progress for students with special needs and abilities. Therefore, the parents of such children should emphasize the importance of learning this instrument. Our educational institute provides comprehensive courses in abacus learning for all kinds of students. The teachers of our institute are very patient and well-experienced in handling kids with care. Therefore, do not delay and get your child enrolled in our classes for a better future.
