Math calculations engage a completely separate processing zone in the mind from the areas used for language processing.
For many people, the tasks of adding, multiplying and dividing come quite easily. These individuals find math to be dependable, governed by rules that do not change. In this way math differs from reading and writing, where for every rule there seems to be an exception.
There are plenty of individuals, though, who become frustrated and confused with these same math concepts. For these people, math seems to be a random set of facts to memorize. They do not see the patterns that emerge from the various math families.
Mastering math requires vivid imagery. The ability to visualize numbers and quantities enables students to organize their thoughts during the math processes. With strong images students smoothly calculate the answers to problems even when they require multiple steps.
