Teaching Tips: Math Disability
Students with a specific learning disability in the area of math require some special understanding and management. While these students typically have a normal intellect, they continue to fall behind in the area of math because of difficulties in processing the information.
Students with a specific learning disability may act out as they try to hide their weaknesses from their peers. The following tips may help teachers as they work with a group of students in an inclusion classroom.
Provide Extra Time:
Students with a math disability will struggle to remember concepts they have already learned and may become easily confused by the numbers and symbols. It is essential, therefore, to provide extra time for the student to process the information and work with the numbers.
Modify Student Work:
Reducing the number of problems that students are required to complete, or assigning something easier may be helpful. The appropriate modifications depend on the particular IEP goals, something that the special education teacher should have, and can share with the inclusion teacher. A student with a math disability may also be allowed to use a calculator or a multiplication chart for reference during class.
Key points to remember:
- Wrong answers are not necessarily the result of a lack of attention or focus.
- Students with a math disability will take a long time to answer questions.
- Use all available manipulatives when teaching.
- Ask a few simple questions each class in order to involve all students.
