Stern Structural Arithmetic

A Complete Preschool through Fourth Grade Program

Structural Arithmetic is an entire math program for building number concepts in the primary grades. Pupils experiment with colorful blocks that fit into boxes and grooves. The approach is based on reasoning and insight into mathematical relationships, not on rote learning and counting. Children are able to correct their own errors. They can see what is wrong with their mistakes e.g. the 5-block plus the 6-block is too long to fit in the 10-box, and thereby recognize that the solution is in the direction of selecting a smaller block to discover for themselves that five plus five makes ten. Rather than be distracted and possibly embarrassed by being told they are wrong, they can keep their attention on the problem at hand.

The organization of the math program is clear and logically developed through a step by step plan of experimentation, practice, and review that leads pupils from simple number concepts to a mastery of computation and problem solving. A Teacher's Guide at each level describes the purpose and materials for each workbook page. Illustrations depict the experiments and games to be performed by the pupils. An effective testing program is included to gauge comprehension of each new concept. Children emerge from this program with competence and confidence in their mathematical ability and with a love of math.

Remedial Program

Structural Arithmetic has resulted in success for children with learning difficulties, children with language processing difficulties and children whose first language is not English. This is because the dependence on verbal understanding of abstract concepts is kept to a minimum and most of the learning is done through direct experience. The teacher is provided with a wealth of different experiments and games from which he or she can choose according to the individual needs of the children. It is a perfect program for helping underachievers make the transition into the main stream of mathematics.