Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects a person's ability to do math problems. It can involve the following:
Signs of Dyscalculia
What specific strategies can help?
- Difficulties with basic operations-adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing
- Problems with math concepts using pictures, diagrams, or manipulatives
- Difficulties with remembering math symbols and terms
- Poor writing of math symbols and terms
- Difficulty understanding math concepts
Signs of Dyscalculia
- Poor mental math, difficulty handling money, making change etc.
- Fails to notice math signs and symbols: (+), (-), (÷), (x)
- Can get problems right, but doesn't understand why, so can't transfer the knowledge to new problems
- Doesn't remember the basic math facts- addition or multiplication tables etc.
- Poor sense of direction, trouble reading maps, telling time, understanding schedules
- Mistakes in working with numbers-reversals, substituting other numbers and leaving numbers out
- May have trouble learning musical concepts or following directions
What specific strategies can help?
- Teach math using concrete objects or manipulatives; then progress to pictures, diagrams, & other visuals. Later present abstract concepts
- Teach the basic math facts thoroughly, instead of covering a lot of information too briefly
- Explain how new skills relate to other skills they already know
- Review concepts regularly
- Observe learners to find out where they usually make mistakes & and work on these areas
- Provide opportunities for success, so learners can conquer math anxiety
- Play math games
- Teach math through real-life activities- cooking, reading maps & measuring distances, making & following simple budgets
- Use word problems that reflect real-life situations in learners' environment
- Make photocopies of problems, so learners don't have to copy them from a text
- Teach learners to show their work beside each problem-use post-it notes
- Post math symbols and numerals on the wall & provide handouts for the learners
- Use graph paper to help line up the numbers on the page
- Encourage learners to use calculators