Math is everywhere! Students not only need it for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), but also in everyday life. From cooking and going out to eat to budgeting, building, and traveling, real-world math skills are essential to ensure your project or trip is successful.
Since 2001, educators nationwide have placed a growing emphasis on intentional instruction to prepare students for STEM careers. However, strong math skills benefit all learners, regardless of their career goals.
To highlight the need for students to become skilled in mathematics, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) created the APH Abacus Bee in 2022. Regional competitions are held in several states each year, including Michigan. Competitors solve standard math problems with mental math and abaci, rather than calculators.
Why focus on these methods? Research indicates that students solve math problems faster and more accurately using mental math or an abacus than by using a calculator or paper and pencil methods. In the 1960s, the Tennessee School for the Blind held an abacus bee to prove that students who used the abacus were as fast (or faster) than their sighted peers in solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Help Your Students Practice
Now that you know the benefits of mental math and using an abacus, you can help your students hone their skills. Here are some resources to get started:
Sign Up: Michigan Abacus Bee
On November 22, 2025, we will host our second annual mathematics competition in collaboration with APH. Join us for this fun-filled day to demonstrate your math skills and celebrate the role math plays in our everyday lives.
Learn more and register: Michigan Regional Abacus Bee: Math in Motion!