ONLINE ABACUS CLASSES

Others may be living in fear and not doing much during the coronavirus pandemic, but that’s not JAMS.

We are working hard to make sure the learning does not stop with our online Abacus Classes!

Now is not the time to stop classes. Now is the time to keep your child engaged in academics and Abacus, and help your child get ahead of the game when things return to normal.

This Q&A will answer your questions about online Abacus classes and the changes we’ve made to ensure the Spring term will be awesome!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How long will JAMS be offering online abacus classes?
  Online abacus classes are proven to be effective and will be part of our permanent JAMS curriculum. Live classes will be open back again once schools resume. We will continue to follow the Beaverton School District school calendar.  At that time, we will create hybrid classes and new options for parents who are driving long distances to come to our school.
• Do I need to schedule an assessment before enrolling my child as a new student?
  Assessments with our leading Sensei are required. The assessment is to make sure a child (5+ years) is ready and will make the most out of our JAMS Abacus learning experience.
• My child has a learning disability. Will my child qualify?
  Yes. In Japan, there are several studies that proved Abacus to be an effective tool for children with learning disabilities. Please make sure to mention it to our leading Sensei during your free assessment. Your child will be entered into a different class structure and module of learning.
• Do I need to schedule an assessment before enrolling my child as a new student?
  Students will have a combination of online personal time and app homework time:
• • Beginner: 30 minutes online and 30 minutes of Abacutor App
  • Intermediate: 45 minutes online and 45 minutes of Abacutor App
  • Pre-Advanced: 50 minutes online and 55 minutes of Abacutor App
  • Advanced: 1 hour online and 1 hour of Abacutor App

  Continue reading for specific questions about the Abacutor app

• My child is not familiar with the Abacus. This is our first time at JAMS. How will you teach him how to handle the Abacus through a computer screen?
  First-time students will receive one (or two if needed) individual online classes. The purpose is to help the first-time students master the most basic concepts of Abacus before starting on workbooks
• How many students per class?
  Online abacus classes with our teachers will have 3-6 students rather than the 20-30 students that used to be in one classroom.
• What do I need in order to participate in the classes?
  You must have a computer with a camera. You will access the classes via a Webinar (Zoom) invitation.
• What is the Abacutor app?
  This is a new homework management tool for students taking online abacus classes. The app provides teachers with instant analytics about your child’s development. Teachers can use that data to customize the workload that will optimize your child’s progress.The Abacutor app requires a tablet with iOS or Android app. Phones and computers are not supported. For iOS tablets, the minimum iOS version required is v10. For Android tablets, the minimum Android version required is v8. Any Android tablet 8″ and above and all iPads are supported.
• Will all my children’s work be on the Abacutor app?
  No. Children will work from their books and also the app.
• How do I get the Abacutor app?
  Go to Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store, search for Abacutor and install the app on your iPad or Android tablet.
• What does the Abacutor app cost?
  Due to the current situation with COVID-19, JAMS will cover the cost of the app and subscription for JAMS parents during this time.
• What about login credentials for the Abacutor App?
  We will email the information your child needs to log in to the app.
• Is it mandatory that my child has a tablet/iPad for the Abacutor app?
  Yes. The app lessons will be released by the teacher and customized for each child.
• I do not own any tablet. What do we do?
  You can borrow one from JAMS with a $20 deposit. Please include this information when you email us the photo of your child’s last completed page of the workbook. We will include the iPad in the “touchless delivery” of materials to your home. Please let us know as soon as possible.
• When will I receive the webinar invitation?
  You will receive an email invitation with a link as soon as you enroll your child. If you haven’t received 2 days before your class time, please contact our school.
• When is my child’s class?
  Class schedules will not change from the originally posted times.We will try to accommodate current students in their original timeslot, but your child’s online class time may differ from the physical class that you registered for. Please note that class times are shorter to allow children to work independently on the Abacutor app. You can read more about this app below.
• What if my child can’t participate in the assigned class?
  Please reschedule before your first class if there is an issue.
• What if my child can’t make it to one of the classes?
  Just as in the past, if you are unable to make a class, you need to notify us at least two hours before the scheduled class. We will send an email where you can sign up for a makeup class during the makeup week (12 weeks). Each student can have up to three makeup classes per term.
• Are you sending books and materials?
  Yes, we are working with a private delivery service to get materials to you. Please email us at info@jamsportland.com by Wednesday, March 25. Put your child’s name in the subject line and include a picture of the last page that your child worked on in their Abacus book. We will use “touchless delivery” to get the right materials to your home based on the image.
• Will my child receive homework?
  We are taking advantage of technology to improve homework. Students will complete homework in the Abacutor app. Teachers at JAMS will have instant access to their submitted work and will follow their progress closely. An added plus is parents will not have to monitor their children’s work.
• My kids are in the same online class, and we have only one computer and one tablet. How can they attend class at the same time?
  If you see yourself in this situation, please communicate with us and we will gladly accommodate different class schedules. Please let us know as soon as possible.
• Will you conduct exams while you have online classes?
  We hope that we will be able to have a physical class for the end-of-term exam in June. For beginner students Abacus level 11-9, we will conduct an exam online if it becomes necessary.
• How do you know online Abacus classes are effective?
  Many Soroban League schools have successfully offered online classes for years. These schools shared critical information and helped us implement our online classes modules. Our teachers have been trained in online instruction and are extremely comfortable in their ability to teach with the new model. We are excited to offer this innovative model!