Laskentatavassa

Laskentatavassa is a term used in Finnish mathematics education to describe a flexible counting method designed to support mental arithmetic and number sense. The word combines laskenta (calculation) and tavassa, a form meaning “in the manner of” or “in the approach of.”

Overview: The method emphasizes decomposing numbers into easier parts and using base-10 partitions to perform calculations. Students may use visual aids such as number lines, ten-frames, or simple verbal explanations to reason through problems. The aim is to build fluency and flexibility, not just to memorize procedures.

Applications: It is commonly applied in early elementary classrooms for addition, subtraction, and simple multiplication, as a complement to standard algorithms. Teachers model multiple strategies, encourage students to articulate reasoning, and compare different paths to a solution.

Example: To add 27 and 46, a student might view 27 as 20+7 and 46 as 40+6, add tens (20+40 = 60) and units (7+6 = 13), then total 60+13 = 73.

History and reception: Laskentatavassa appears in Finnish-language educational discussions and classroom resources as one of several mental-math approaches. Its use varies by school and teacher and is often presented alongside traditional algorithms to foster number sense.

See also:

- Base-10 number system

- Mental math

- Finnish mathematics education

- Decomposition (arithmetic)