Dyscalculia

What is dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects a person's ability to do math
problems. It can involve the following:

• Difficulties remembering math symbols and terms
• Problems with basic operations – adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing
• Problems with math concepts using pictures, diagrams or manipulatives
• Poor writing of math symbols and terms
• Difficulty understanding math concepts

Problems with math can be due to other factors, which make dyscalculia hard to diagnose:

• lack of experience and background knowledge in math
• math instruction in the past has not matched the learner's learning style
• lack of motivation
• below average intelligence
• math anxiety
• doesn't see mathematics as useful
• non-mathematical learning disabilities

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 and multiplication tables, etc.
• Poor sense of direction, trouble reading maps, telling time, understanding schedules
• Mistakes in working with numbers – reversals, substituting other numbers & leaving numbers out
• May have trouble learning musical concepts or following directions in sports

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& 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 the 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 and provide handouts for the learners.
• Use graph paper to help line up the numbers on the page.
• Encourage learners to use calculators.

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