Courses

ciaoMath! does not provide an app or tablet/digital based coursework. In our experience, and from existing research, the physical action of taking pencil to paper and manually working out the problems to find a solution aids in developing the student's problem solving capabilities, improves retention of material and creates the mind-body connection that helps in developing a keen intellect (1-4).

 

You may have heard about being "in the zone", this is a mental state called flowstate. It is a stste in which someone is fully focused and deeply involved in what they’re doing. Flowstate was first introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and it describes a time of peak performance and deep concentration. When a person is in flow, they become focused on the task and their skills match the difficulty of the activity, which in turn, creates a smooth, almost effortless experience. This often leads to a strong feeling of enjoyment, motivation, and personal satisfaction.

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Current research shows that the slower pace, deeper mental processing, and reduced distractions associated with handwriting contribute to a more mindful approach to a task. This mindfullness aligns well with the principles of flowstate. In fact, research indicates that the act of handwriting offers cognitive and psychological benefits that can increase the likelihood of achieving flowstate, particularly in activities that require deep focus and creative engagement. 

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As such, ciaoMath provides our worksheets in a printable format to use as often as you wish and develop your aptitude in math. It is hoped that in this way, the student will begin to see math not as a chore, but as a beautiful tool that can be used to solve myriad problems. 

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1. Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014, April 24). The pen is mightier than the keyboard: Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking. Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581

2. Ihara, A., Yamaoka, A., Mitsuhashi, T., & Sakamoto, S. (2021, July 2). Handwriting on paper activates the brain more than typing: A multimodal neuroimaging study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.679191

3. Longcamp, M., Boucard, C., Gilhodes, J. C., & Velay, J. L. (2005, May 9). Remembering the letters: Activity in the sensorimotor network during learning by handwriting vs. typing. Neuropsychologia, 44(5), 712–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.07.015

4. National Handwriting Association. (n.d.). Handwritten notes versus keyboard notes: The effect on assessment of conceptual understanding. https://nha-handwriting.org.uk/handwriting/articles/handwritten-notes-versus-keyboard-notes-the-effect-on-assessment-of-conceptual-understanding/