�鶹������ý

Spatial skills refer to abilities that involve visualizing and mentally manipulating objects, shapes, and locations. We use spatial skills in everyday life, whether following a diagram to put together a piece of furniture, doing a jigsaw puzzle, interpreting a graph in a news article, or navigating through buildings and neighborhoods.

Spatial skills are also tightly linked to students’ achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In preschool, .

Spatial skills are important for several reasons: They help students visualize math problems that are new to them (e.g., imagining three apples and two apples to solve 3+2), developing an accurate mental number line, using  a “mental sketchpad” for arithmetic, visualizing dynamic scientific processes, and interpreting maps, graphs, and diagrams.

Importantly, all students can improve their spatial skills through practice. In school-age students, training them in spatial skills gives a —students improve their spatial skills and numerical skills at the same time. Improving students’ spatial skills improves their math achievement right away and sets them up for success in STEM coursework later on.

To continue reading, see published March 2, 2022 in .

Enjoy what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on what’s new in Education Policy!