[NFBNJ] 1st Annual New Jersey Regional Abacus Bee

[Linda Melendez]

1st Annual New Jersey Regional Abacus Bee
October 14, 2023

1 pm - 6 pm

Princeton University

Hosted by VISTAS Education Partners and Independence Science



Frequently Asked Questions

Who is invited?
● K-12+ blind and low vision students who use an abacus, mental math,
finger math, counting cubes/manipulatives. Contest is offered in large
print, Nemeth, and UEB
● Parents and family members
● TVIs, teachers, and friends

What skills do students need to participate in the Abacus Bee?
● Read addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or math problems in large
print or braille (type of problem depends on student level). Record their
answers in print or braille.
● Write or braille their first/last name, category name and round at the
top of each page (if they can only spell their name, that’s fine, we can
work with them).
● Write or braille an itemized list (problem letters a, b, c, d, etc.) and
answer next to the problem letter.
● For the optional dictation round, listen to a string of numbers and
operations and have to mentally calculate the answer or solve on the abacus
and record their answers in the same manner as above.
● Mental math can be used.

How does the Abacus Bee work?

Students are grouped in six competition levels that complete three or four
rounds of 20- to 30-minute contests. There is an optional, dictation round
that is held with parents and other audience members watching. Rovers,
participants attending and participating for exposure to the contest, are
provided testing materials but are not a part of the competition for Finals.




A student’s competition level is determined by a placement test or the
recommendation of their TVI. Students may use an abacus, mental math, or
counting manipulatives to solve the problems. They must use a manual
brailler, or paper and pen/marker to record their answers. Calculators and
written computations are not allowed.

What else is included in the Abacus Bee?
● Complimentary lunch/social hour from 12-12:45
● Hands-on 3d printed, makerspace activities
● ISLAND 2023 Conference activities
● T-shirts and prizes



How can students prepare for the Abacus Bee?
● Watch APH “Oreos and Abaci” ExCEL Summer Camp Webinars
<https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUj6DcM1nN3Ex6vex3FeoCLHV6kryG228>
● Use a practice contest/s. Email info at vistaseducation.com to request
practice contests in digital format.
● Keep their mental math skills sharp with real life practice every day.

How do we register for the Abacus Bee?
● To register, complete and submit the registration form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aNHqysK6dzad4pL9mU-9j6Q_RnyQgULz8bYDakOb0eM/edit>
 by September 27, 2023. Note: one section has questions to be answered by
the student’s TVI.
● To determine a student’s contest level, a TVI/teacher can administer a
placement test. The problems on the placement test reflect the type of
problems students will solve in the Abacus Bee contests.
○ Placement Test Directions
<https://hillsborough.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FIMC-VI_ProfDev/Edwg6sSc2AJBvYIMxpz8u2QB6ssCqsw0ERVtDaMgG3nVbg?e=crF4Zw>
 for teacher
Placement Test Answers
<https://hillsborough.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FIMC-VI_ProfDev/EYZTqZwH5exHjiTtF5KHzHgBOTjwW3qlcYBI1O0Jec1U8Q?e=Ez9Q7P>
 for teacher
○ Placement Test: Print
<https://hillsborough.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FIMC-VI_ProfDev/ESJqJ8QRrchAgSNxLvbOYMABPPvsjb5WNNSPi_4g2jR4PQ?e=8hbALM>
 | Nemeth
<https://hillsborough.sharepoint.com/:u:/s/FIMC-VI_ProfDev/EVkO6ePl4dRPke7VLaIszosB64a54NRYO0FrJ5m50pL0uQ?e=2GC9CU>
 | UEB
<https://hillsborough.sharepoint.com/:u:/s/FIMC-VI_ProfDev/ERfiTRsyj6lJvCxr_5kuamAB-7ZeHad4YHFXix3sLG4arg?e=c6yove>
 to print or emboss for students

Questions? Email info at vistaseducation.com or call 732-835-6672.
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