Parents' Column | Soroban
Why Soroban Helps Children
Who Struggle with Math
“Still counting on fingers when carrying.” “So many calculation mistakes.” “Hates math class.” Most of the math struggles we see in elementary school come from one thing: the child does not yet feel numbers as amounts. Here is why the soroban (Japanese abacus) helps, what it does not help with, and when to start, from our classroom experience.
What is happening to children who struggle with math
We have seen many children in our classrooms who struggle with math. What they have in common is that numbers have become mere “symbols”. When they see “8,” they can’t picture 8 things. So “8 + 7” can only be solved by a memorized procedure, and if the procedure goes wrong, they don’t notice even when the answer is wildly off.
- Still using their fingers for carrying and borrowing
- Can do “10 − 3” but get stuck on “13 − 3” or “10 − 7”
- Make many calculation mistakes and don’t notice them even when checking
- Can’t tell whether to add or subtract, so they freeze on word problems
- Lose their energy when it’s time for math
None of this means a child is “not smart.” Their sense of numbers as amounts simply hasn’t developed yet. That sense grows through hands-on experience with numbers. School lessons move fast, so many children are moved on to the next unit before they have had enough of that experience.
Why soroban helps (3 reasons)
① Numbers become visible “shapes”
On the soroban, 7 is a shape: one 5-bead and two 1-beads. 10 is a movement: clear all the beads and push one bead up in the next column. Numbers stop being symbols and become amounts you can see. For “8 + 7,” the child tries to add 7 to the 8 beads, finds there aren’t enough, and so “takes away the friend of 10 (3) and pushes up one 10.” The meaning of carrying is understood through the hands.
② The “friends” of 5 and 10 go into the body
The foundation of carrying and borrowing is knowing “5 is made of what and what” and “10 is made of what and what.” On the soroban, children use these complements (we call them the “friends” of 5 and 10) hundreds and thousands of times. Because they learn them with their hands, not by memorizing, they come to use them naturally in school math too.
③ There is an “I did it!” every lesson
Children who struggle with math have piled up one “I can’t” experience after another. In soroban, each child gets tasks that fit their own pace, and the teacher marks them right there. Every lesson ends with something they could do. This piling-up turns “I hate math” into “Maybe I can do math a little.”
Struggles it helps, struggles it doesn’t
| Soroban helps | Using fingers for carrying and borrowing / many calculation mistakes / slow calculation / can’t do mental math (anzan) / weak sense of which number is bigger / no confidence in math |
|---|---|
| Needs other practice | Reading word problems (a language skill) / shapes, area, angles / converting units / reading clocks and telling time (number sense helps, but the direct practice is separate) |
“Struggles with math” can mean many different things. If the struggle is with calculation and number sense, soroban is a good fit. If it is mainly word problems or geometry, soroban alone is not enough. At the trial lesson, the teacher will watch your child and tell you honestly.
What grade to start? How long until it changes?
Math struggles usually become visible from the second half of Grade 1 to Grade 3 (carrying, borrowing, the multiplication table, division). Most children start at this stage, and the effect shows most easily. Starting in the upper grades is not too late, either. Older children understand faster and catch up with the younger ones in about a year.
| 1–3 months | Learn to move the beads. The “friends of 10” start coming out of their mouth. They concentrate for a little longer each time |
|---|---|
| 6 months–1 year | Fewer calculation mistakes. More school tests where “the calculations were right.” First kyu exam |
| 1–2 years | Mental math begins. They raise their hand in math class. They start saying “I don’t hate math” |
This is not an activity where grades go up right away. But turning “I hate math” into “maybe I can do it a little” takes this much time.
What you can do at home
- Show numbers as things: sharing snacks, paying with coins, counting to 10 in the bath. Give more experiences of numbers as amounts.
- Don’t scold mistakes: ask “Where did you get lost?” Mistakes show you where the stumbling block is.
- Connect school math and soroban: “That’s the one you did on the soroban, isn’t it?” When it connects inside the child, both improve.
- Celebrate small “I did it!” moments together: a kyu passed, a calculation they can now do. This is where confidence grows.
FAQ
My child still struggles with math. Can they keep up in soroban?
Yes. Unlike school math, soroban starts from “what they can do.” Some elementary students begin with the easy materials made for kindergarten children.
The method is different from written calculation at school. Won’t that confuse them more?
Some children are confused for the first 2–3 months. The teacher tells them “the school’s way is correct too” and helps them learn to use both.
Can a child with developmental concerns attend?
Please talk to us. Our teachers also learn about child development in their training. The head office and the teacher will think together about an approach that suits your child.
What should we do first?
Come to a free trial lesson (about 20 minutes). Just bring writing supplies. The teacher will watch your child move the beads and tell you honestly whether it seems a good fit or whether it may still be a little early.
“I did it!” moments add up, one at a time.
About the author
Taito MoritaFounder & principal of Kodomo School (Morita Group Co., Ltd.)
He carries on the Morita Juku founded in Toyohashi in 1972. Through soroban, calligraphy and art at about 90 classrooms in Aichi and Shizuoka and at our Hanoi school in Vietnam, he helps children build the strength to believe in themselves. He also gives talks and seminars on education.
Message from our founderTalks & seminarsUpdated: October 8, 2026
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Soroban and calligraphy trial lessons are free (about 20 minutes; just bring something to write with). The art trial lesson is 40 minutes and costs ¥1,000 (nothing to bring). Come with your child and see the feel of the classroom and how well the teacher suits your child.