Dyscalculia, or a math learning disability is important to identify because formal identification can qualify a student for accommodations both in the classroom and for high stakes tests. It can co-occur with dyslexia and it is under-recognized. We previously reviewed...
![Doing Math : Inchworms vs. Grasshoppers [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/maths-our-shutterstock-scaled.jpg)
‘If a child does not learn the way you teach then teach him the way he learns.’ Two American school teachers noticed that their students tended to prefer one of the two ways their teachers explained math. The inchworm style was part-to-whole, dutifully performing incremental step-by-step pencil work, following the solving of math problems more like a recipe than an intuitive leap. The grasshopper, on the other hand, was the big picture leaper, more likely to subtitute numbers (rounding up or down), use mental math strategies, working backwards from an example solved question. What strategy to most dyslexic students prefer? The answer seems to vary. In UK research (Chinn et al., 2001), dyslexic inchworms seemed to outnumber grasshoppers, but Miles and Miles (also in the […]
![Your Brain on Math Anxiety [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/shutterstock_331750409.jpg)
This is your brain with math anxiety. In children as young as 7 years old, researchers found that activation in areas such as the amygdala and hippocampus were seen in children who had high math anxiety. The amydala and hippocampus are areas of the brain associated with fear condition and negative emotions. The children were given simple and complex arithmetic problems and asked to determine whether the answers given were right or wrong. The children in the high and low anxiety group were matched for IQ, working memory, reading and math performance, and general trait anxiety. As a double burden, the high math anxiety group (HMA) in the figure showed lower brain fMRI activation in areas associated with math processing. So anxiety could be acting […]
![What is Dyscalculia? – Fast Facts [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/shutterstock_172115972-math.jpg)
“There is nothing in the IDEA that would prohibit the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in IDEA evaluation, eligibility determinations, or IEP documents.” – Michael Yudin, Department of Education “Dyscalculia is not assessed in our schools.” – school professional Fast Facts about Dyscalculia What Is Dyscalculia? Dyscalculia is usually defined as a difficulty with calculations or arithmetic skills that is not explained by low intelligence or inadequate schooling. How Common? 3-10% of people, 40% of dyslexics What Ages? Dyscalculia is lifelong, although many helpful strategies can improve math achievement. When adults with dyscalculia have calculator accommodations, they can perform at high levels in even mathematics-intense disciplines. From We Are Teachers How Do You Assess Dyscalculia? Typically dyscalculia is assessed by calculating the […]
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Despite the suggestion that dyslexic students who are strong in math use a different approach for doing basic mathematical operations, it’s surprising how little formal research has been done to figure out how math-gifted dyslexic individuals do what they do. At Georgetown University, neuroscience researchers were surprised to find
1. CARD GAMES With a little twist, card games like War and Go Fish can be used to help kids hold onto math facts and math manipulations over the summer. If War (higher card win) is too simple, then Subtraction War (figuring out the difference between two cards) might...
![MATH: What Errors are Due to Dyslexia? [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Screen-Shot-2019-08-30-at-10.06.28-AM.jpg)
Since Henry Winkler sat for a Geometry exam 8 TIMES before passing, one would hope that more progress has been made in understanding and anticipating what math difficulties arise with math problem solving, but few teachers (and perhaps fewer students!) receive explicit instruction in this area. Some of the math difficulties are due to language, but others are due to calculation errors, reversals, sequence, and direction, place value, as well as errors of verbal labeling and working memory which impact regrouping or carrying numbers. Miles and Miles have pointed out the confusion that results when dyslexic students are introduced to algebra. Math language is different from standard or conversational language. Ambiguous terms and symbols are best taught explicitly. For instance, Miles and Miles recommend explicitly […]
Math Tips for Dyslexia: Some students have difficulty using a number line because of right-left difficulties and the fact that there are some counter-intuitive principles when dealing with positive and negative numbers (the negative of a negative number is a...
There have been many famous dyslexic mathematicians throughout history. Today, math-gifted dyslexic students might find their outlet for numbers in careers such as finance and investing, or engineering in some aspect of computer technology. Norbert Wiener of MIT was a...
A teacher writes, "I have a new student who transferred from a public charter school. She has an IEP accommodation for a calculator use for anything involving math calculations. But I'm wondering whether providing a calculator is changing standards? Is she learning...
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Additional Premium Resources February 2018 Issue 26. You must be logged into your account to access: False Memories, Verbatim vs. Gist Recall, Persistence and Transcience of Memory, and Visual Perceptual and Handwriting Skills of Student with Dyspraxia (DCD). False memory for orthographically vs semantically similar words in adolescents with dyslexia. Verbatim and Gist Recall of Sentences by Dyslexia and Non-Dyslexic Adults The Persistence and Transience of Memory Visual perceptual and Handwriting Skills in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder
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Some 60% of dyslexic students have problems with math (10% excel at math). Reasons for math difficulties include math facts retrieval, difficulty remembering formula and multi-stepped procedures, sequencing issues, symbol confusion, and difficulty with the language of math. These problems, in addition to timed tests and impossible-to-complete homework assignments, contribute to math anxiety and frustration. In a collaborative study from the University of Houstin, University of Texas, and Vanderbilt University (Raghubar et al., 2009), researchers looked at the different categories of math mistakes in 3rd and 4th grade children with or without math and reading disabilities. On the following page, look at the 4 types of math errors that they examined. Studies of this type are valuable because they also identify which types of errors are […]
