The storage and distribution of manipulatives is an important consideration for the classroom teacher. Many excellent suggestions can be found in various teacher resources. Mental Calculation Mental calculation is a life skill that assists in solving many mathematically-related problems. Mental calculation is also the cornerstone to all estimation. This mental ability develops the confidence that assures students that they have the skills to solve basic mathematical problems quickly.
Mental calculation forces students to think about numbers and number relationships.
Estimation Mathematics is a discipline that we often characterize by its precision in common usage. However, we do not always need, nor are we sometimes able, to attain a high degree of accuracy in our calculations. Whether to produce a rough estimate, a fine estimate, or an exact answer depends on the ultimate use of the estimate. Most often, practical situations involve estimations rather than exact numbers. Approximate numbers are often easier to comprehend and they can also help to develop consistency.