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Jenny
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| Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 10:24pm | IP Logged
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Is this a bad habit or a developmental stage for a 3rd and 1st?
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Jenny
Chris' wife and momma of 7. My blog: The Littlest Way--Bible Journaling, Inspiring Bible Quotes, Daily Affirmations, Prayer Journaling & photography
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 11:20pm | IP Logged
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A bad habit, I'm sure, cause I still habitually tap on my checkbook when checking it. 
Of course, that's the very reason I don't worry about my children using their fingers, and hope upon hope that someone sends proof it is a developmental stage all the way from age 6 to 40. 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
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Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Paula in MN
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Uh, Cay, I'm 45 and still do it!!!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 29 2007 at 12:54am | IP Logged
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I did it as a Math major until I started teaching my children. I guess the repetition and realizing some mental math techniques helped. it can be overcome after age 40  .
Janet
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hylabrook1
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I think after a while they will figure out that they can do the problems faster if they just shoot straight the answer (the answer/fact becomes a reflexive response). But a lot of times these other techniques help the math facts to get into their heads. They're part of the process of internalizing the information. My dc weren't *finger-counters*, but they relied heavily on colored plastic chips for doing simple arithmetic; one of my dd who didn't enjoy the chips used large plastic "jewels" that I got from the craft store. As to the age/grade level they should no longer need the manipulatives, that really varies from child to child. Even some of the children who really do know the facts just appreciate the security of having some sort of manipulative available -- and fingers are the ultimate portable, always available manipulative 
Peace,
Nancy
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Denise in IL
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4mothermary wrote:
| Is this a bad habit or a developmental stage for a 3rd and 1st? |
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For 1st grade, I would say that it's an important part of internalizing the numbers. By 3rd grade, it sounds like a habit. Some people think it's a bad habit and try to stomp it out--but as you've heard, it doesn't keep anyone from learning math. I, too, count on my fingers at times, especially if I'm too distracted by other things to trust my mental math skills.
On the other hand (fingers?), it may be slowing your 3rd grader down more than helping. As calculations get more complex, it really helps to know those math facts automatically. I wouldn't forbid the finger-counting, but I suggest you try to wean it away a bit. Do you do any math fact drill? I don't like timed, high-pressure drill, but simply practicing the facts can be helpful. Perhaps quiz each other back and forth (let the student quiz you, too!) or play math games.
I have a math games post on my blog that you might find useful:
The game that is worth 1,000 worksheets
In His grace,
Denise
http://letsplaymath.wordpress.com/
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Leonie
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I find it can be helpful but, like Denise says, can also slow a child down .
Mental maths games in the car have sometimes helped us "get rid of finger counting" and also playing Dominoes and using a hundred board - the dc start to see patterns in numbers,
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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4Real Forums : Living and Loving Numbers
Topic: Counting on Fingers
