Over the past five years I’ve worked as a para-educator for 4th graders in two different schools, one serving minority students and the other serving non-minority students. I developed the concept of Math on a Roll because I was noticing the numbers of children that did not know their multiplication facts. Many would guess wrongly, ask other students for the facts, or - at the teacher’s direction - look up answers on the wall where there was a multiplication table. Every student that had a multiplication table in their notebook failed to open it and use it. When I provided a copy of the table, one child had great difficulty finding the answer over and over again when doing operations like 2,783 x 7, and 9 divided into 4,762. I came to realize that the graphic layout of the multiplication table was part of the problem.
Another reason for the creation of the Math on a Roll aid was influenced by how some students rushed to do the calculations of a problem in order to keep up with their fellow classmates, but answered incorrectly because they mistook the concept, steps, or math facts. Because math today is about ultimately solving practical word problems, students’ attention must first and foremost be focused on understanding the math concept at play. Once that understanding is established, then the set-up steps necessary to solving the problem can be laid out to ultimately complete the calculations. With the aid of Math on a Roll, challenged students can reduce stress that comes with solving calculations, knowing the aid with help get them through that part with ease. With their newfound knowledge and confidence, they no longer have to rush, instead focusing on grasping the concept and steps of the problems. That is the beauty of Math on a Roll aid. It reduces calculation anxiety and builds math confidence in that area. In today’s fast paced world where math word problems are being introduced at an earlier age than the generations before, psychological math aids can help relieve the added stress to some young minds.
My recommendation for any struggling math student is to use the Math on a Roll aid, beginning in 3rd to 5th grade, to help remember math facts. After building their confidence making calculations correctly, they can then shift their focus and energy to understanding the concepts and procedure steps, eventually to the degree that they can explain the math problem and solution to others. Using Math on a Roll over time, students will learn math facts through continuous use, ultimately leading to their memorization. The Math on a Role aid can be passed on to others who would needlessly struggle at gaining comfort with multiplication.
Mark Wilson, Founder of “Math on a Roll”
Another reason for the creation of the Math on a Roll aid was influenced by how some students rushed to do the calculations of a problem in order to keep up with their fellow classmates, but answered incorrectly because they mistook the concept, steps, or math facts. Because math today is about ultimately solving practical word problems, students’ attention must first and foremost be focused on understanding the math concept at play. Once that understanding is established, then the set-up steps necessary to solving the problem can be laid out to ultimately complete the calculations. With the aid of Math on a Roll, challenged students can reduce stress that comes with solving calculations, knowing the aid with help get them through that part with ease. With their newfound knowledge and confidence, they no longer have to rush, instead focusing on grasping the concept and steps of the problems. That is the beauty of Math on a Roll aid. It reduces calculation anxiety and builds math confidence in that area. In today’s fast paced world where math word problems are being introduced at an earlier age than the generations before, psychological math aids can help relieve the added stress to some young minds.
My recommendation for any struggling math student is to use the Math on a Roll aid, beginning in 3rd to 5th grade, to help remember math facts. After building their confidence making calculations correctly, they can then shift their focus and energy to understanding the concepts and procedure steps, eventually to the degree that they can explain the math problem and solution to others. Using Math on a Roll over time, students will learn math facts through continuous use, ultimately leading to their memorization. The Math on a Role aid can be passed on to others who would needlessly struggle at gaining comfort with multiplication.
Mark Wilson, Founder of “Math on a Roll”