Dyscalculia

Hook

Objectives

• Define dyscalculia
• Describe common traits of students with dyscalculia
• Identify classroom strategies to help students with dyscalculia

dyscalculia

a specific learning disability that affects mathematics

Causes

• Congenital or genetic
• Anything that can affect a person neurologically can contribute to dyscalculia: fetal exposure to drugs/alcohol, anoxia, traumatic brain injury, etc.

Common Difficulties

• math fact fluency
• problem solving
• generalizing concepts
• remembering math procedures
• visuospatial tasks
• telling time

IDEA and Dyscalculia

• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
• In 2015, almost 2.3 million students qualified for special education services under SLD (38.8% of students who qualified for services)
• Dyscalculia occurs in 3-6.5% of the school age population
• To qualify for a specific learning disability, there must be an educational impact

Relationship to Reading Difficulties

Classroom Strategies

"To teach mathematics with high expectations means that teachers... recognize that each and
every student, from prekindergarten through college, is able to solve challenging mathematical
tasks successfully..." (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 2016).

Effective Math Instruction

• Begins with the learning target, includes formative assessment, and ends with students identifying what they learned
• Includes multiple ways for students to approach problems and demonstrate their learning
• Integrates qualitative (big picture) and quantitative (details/sequences) approaches

Effective Math Instruction (continued)

• Emphasizes practical skills and concepts
• Focuses on cooperation rather than competition

Multisensory Instruction

• Manipulatives
• Have students trace or highlight numbers, symbols, or other important information in problems
• Touch math
• Visual models and anchor charts

Math Fact Fluency

• Model
• Give immediate feedback
• Mix known and unknown facts (9:1 ratio recommended)
• Focus on accuracy first, then speed
• Individualize for best results
• Recommend practicing math facts 3-4 times a week for 5-10 minutes

Tools for Math Fact Fluency

• Cover Copy Compare (CCC) Model
• Flash cards with answers on the back
• Computer programs (FASST Math, First in Math)
• Music or rhymes

Problem Solving

• Read word problems aloud if needed (text-to-speech accommodation)
• Discuss the problem before students attempt to solve it
• Mark it up
• Make a plan
• "Does this make sense?"

Other Accommodations

• Allow calculator use
• Use grid paper/lined paper to line up digits
• Break down assignments into smaller chunks
• Extended time on assignments and assessments
• Repeat, repeat, repeat

Reflect

Family Resources

• https://www.understood.org
• http://www.aboutdyscalculia.org
• https://www.ncld.org/

assess your learning

References