Group activities can make a big difference in how Year 8 students use mental math. They help students work together, stay interested, and solve problems better. Research shows that when students learn cooperatively, they can improve their performance by 20% (Johnson & Johnson, 2013). Here are some key benefits of group activities for mental math:

1. Learning from Each Other

• Sharing Different Techniques: Students can show each other different methods for doing mental math. For example, if someone needs to figure out $24 \times 5$, one student might say to first do $24 \times 10 = 240$ and then divide that by 2 to get $120$.
• Clearing Up Confusion: Friends can help explain ideas that might be hard for someone, which helps everyone understand better and feel more confident.

2. Improving Skills Through Chatting

• Solving Problems Together: When working in groups, students can talk about different ways to do mental math, like rounding numbers or spotting patterns.
• Getting Quick Feedback: Being in a group gives students immediate feedback on their math strategies, which helps them learn faster.

3. Boosting Motivation and Interest

• Fun Learning Environment: Group activities make math more fun. They show that math is not just about numbers but also about working together and communicating.
• More Involvement: Studies from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) show that students are more likely to join in activities when they work in teams, making learning more lively.

4. Building Critical Thinking Skills

• Challenging Each Other: Students can challenge their classmates with tricky math problems, which makes them think deeper. For instance, in a group of four, each person can share a different mental math trick for solving the same kind of problem.
• Exploring Different Ways to Solve Problems: Groups often come up with a variety of solutions, whether using drawings, number lines, or algebra.

5. Improving Grades and Performance

• Faster and More Accurate Calculations: Research shows that students who often do math in groups can do mental calculations faster—up to 30% quicker—and more accurately, by 25%, compared to doing math alone (Hattie, 2009).
• Getting Ready for Tests: Better mental math skills help students do well on tests that need quick calculations.

In summary, group activities can greatly improve the learning experience in Year 8 Mathematics. They engage students, allow for peer learning, and develop important mental math skills that will help them tackle future math challenges.