INTENTIONAL INSTRUCTION DRSPBROWN.COM
  • The Intentional Instruction Blog
  • I-TEAM Store
  • PODCAST
  • About Dr. SP Brown

math and the special needs learner

11/12/2018

 
     Daisy was the highest reader in Mr. Thompson's 3rd grade class. She had excellent comprehension and the work that she produced during Writer's Workshop showed a strong correlation between both reading and writing. During the reading block, Daisy was actively engaged in the lessons and even helped students who struggled in reading. However, math time was just the opposite. Daisy's grades were well below average. She failed to make sense of multi-step problems and often times mixed up operations (ex: she added instead of subtracting, etc.) Even with visual models and hands on math materials, Daisy could not explain patterns that she noted when skip counting by 2's, 5's, or even 10's. This really concerned Mr. Thompson. In speaking with Daisy's parents they also expressed their concerns about her struggles in Math. They also admitted that Daisy becomes very irritable and tries to avoid doing her math homework. Her parents also stated that she cries and says she hates math because it's too hard.
     In an article by Kate Garnett (2018), approximately 6% of school-aged children have significant  math deficits and among students classified as learning disabled, arithmetic difficulties are as pervasive as reading problems. Math failure during school years certainly affect a person's life as an adult. Just as reading is a life skill, math concepts such as mathematical reasoning play a critical role in an adults ability to function in society.
     Math disabilities are persistent and just like reading disabilities they range from mild to severe. Some of the most common challenges for students include an inability to master basic number facts, confusion between math symbols and hands-on materials (ex: as in the case of Daisy in the opening scenario), and specific vocabulary or math terminology that students have a hard time interpreting. This topic is part of a two part blog series on students with learning disabilities in math. In next week's blog I will share an interview that I did with a Phase II teacher who works directly with special needs learners in a self-contained classroom. She will offer insight along with ways that she differentiates instruction with the various academic learners in her classroom on a daily basis. Under this week's Intentional Toolkit, I have provided a few articles that provide insight on ways to identify as well as support students who struggle in math. As we advocate for our students let's continue to use best practices that are research based and yield positive results. This ultimately places our students on a path towards success! Until next time, go out there and be GREAT!






​
​
Picture
study.com/academy/lesson/math-strategies-for-students-with-learning-disabilities.html

www.iser.com/resources/teaching-math.html
​

​www.edutopia.org/blog/ways-help-students-understand-math-matthew-beyranevand

Comments are closed.

      Intentional Instruction Newsletter

    Subscribe to Newsletter
    Picture

    Archives

    August 2024
    May 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

    Categories
    Teaching and Learning

    All

    RSS Feed

    Copyright © 2024 Intentional Instruction LLC. All Rights Reserved.

What I-Team supporters are saying...

"Dr. Brown does an excellent job inspiring others and breaking it down so the readers can comprehend...Good job!"  --J. Jefferson

"The Intentional Instruction Podcast is awesome! I'm so proud of Dr. Brown!"
                                                                                                             --E. Clark

"Dr. Brown is so gifted. Her items in the I-Team Store are perfect for 
  anybody, not just educators." --L. Nevels

Picture