Computation

Many students, despite a good understanding of mathematical concepts, are inconsistent at computing. They make errors because they may misread signs, carry numbers incorrectly, or not write numerals clearly enough or in the correct column. These students often struggle — especially in primary school, where basic computation and correct answers are stressed — they often end up in remedial classes, even though they might have a high level of potential for higher-level mathematical thinking. A student with a deficiency in this skill may:





* have difficulties with handwriting that slow down written work or make it hard to read later
* have difficulty remembering previously encountered patterns
* forget what he or she is doing in the middle of a math problem (this may also indicate an attention problem)
* have difficulties sequencing multiple steps
* lose appreciation of the final goal and overemphasize individual elements of a problem
* feel overloaded when faced with a worksheet full of math exercises
* not be able to copy problems correctly