10 easy tips to help dyslexic kids with math
July 29th, 2008
There is a big difference between mathematics and arithmetic.
Dyslexics are generally good at mathematics, if taught properly, but not always good at arithmetic.
Arithmetic involves calculating sums.
It is the act of adding, subtracting, multiplication or division. Mathematics involves arithmetic and problem solving.
Albert Einstein, who worked out the theory of relativity that unified space and time, is generally thought to be one of the best mathematicians of all time, but his wife would help him with the arithmetic.
Primary schools tend to focus on arithmetic rather than math and dyslexics often go onto High School believing that they are no good at math, when it is most probably the arithmetic that is holding them back.
So tip …
1 is try to focus on math or problem solving and not merely arithmetic.
Dyslexics learn best by working out, so if a problem is given that involves the student having to work out HOW to solve it, then they remember how they did it rather than what they have been told.
However …
I do not consider sum sentences, which go a bit like …
…”Margaret and Jasmine each bought 4 sweets. How many did they have altogether?” as real problem solving because for a start the dyslexic may not be able read “Margaret” and so will be unable to do the sum. Also many dyslexics that I have worked with find the reading of these questions hard and then refuse to believe that the sum only involves adding 4 and 4 together so look for something difficult and get confused.
2 Try to keep reading to a minimum in work sheets.
At best the dyslexic will get eyestrain and headaches from all the reading and at worst s/he will be unable to read it correctly. Always check to see that your dyslexic can read ALL of the worksheet. If there is a problem with the reading then try to place the dyslexic pupil next to a good reader who can help.
3 Try not to merely explain a new process orally.
Most dyslexics have some Auditory Processing problems so will be unable to remember the instructions. Then they will get confused and may never learn the concept properly.
Always illustrate the method with workings out and show an example that can be kept for reference. Use as many concrete materials as possible so that the dyslexic can work out how to get the answer for her/himself. Children remember best what they have worked out for themselves.
4 Teach only one kind of math sum at a time.
Use this rule also when revising. So many worksheets chop from one type of sum to another throughout the sheet. Dyslexics find this very difficult because our brains process new information more slowly that other people. However we do process new information better than other people. So once your dyslexic has learned something properly then s/he will remember it forever.
5 Encourage any pupil who does not remember his/her number bonds to dock on and off using fingers.
Blocks are used merely to teach the concepts and, with dyslexics, there will be a big gap between understanding the concepts and remembering the number bonds. Sometimes this gap will last a lifetime. I have known university professors who still dock off using their fingers. For more details about docking off see chapter 17 in Dyslexia – How to Win by Dawn Matthews.
Please encourage fingers, rather than a ruler, for docking on and off with because the child will always have his/her fingers on him/her. It seems silly to teach them to add and take away with a ruler because then they have to spend the rest of their lives carrying a ruler with them everywhere.
6 Allow any pupil who does not remember their times tables to use a times table sheet or calculator for multiplication or division sums.
If you do not know your times tables then it is near impossible to do long multiplication or long division without the use of an aid. And remember calculators are here to stay. They even put them on mobile phones. There is a times table square available as a freebie on this site. See this for instructions as to when to let a student use one of these aids.
7 Teach by exploring and doing rather than by observing.
Keep everything as practical as possible. Encourage the pupil to find out for him/herself rather than being told. Dyslexics are good at this.
Sir Richard Branson said that math make no sense at all until he ran his own business and then it became very simple. And believe me there is a LOT of math involved in running a business.
8 Print math worksheets on blue or green paper.
This makes it easier for most dyslexics to read but some dyslexics find yellow or red paper easier. If the pupil has been tested for this then encourage him/her to use the overlay or tinted glasses s/he has been given.
9 To find out if the pupil has learnt a new concept or process completely test a week after it has been taught.
If a thing has been properly learned and understood then it will be in the long-term memory and will still be there a week after it has been learned. Testing immediately after a process is taught only establishes that it is in the short-term memory and it can then be forgotten again. This is what happens with many dyslexics.
10 For a dyslexic harder can actually be easier.
We dyslexics think and learn differently from other people. What we find hard is often very easy for other people. And often what we find easy is hard for other people. If a pupil cannot complete a task do not assume that s/he has to be given easier tasks. Often something more difficult, involving more actual math and less arithmetic, can be easier. Just look at Albert Einstein and Sir Richard Branson.
Entry Filed under: Dyslexia,Freebie Tips,General,Maths
15 Comments Add your own
1. karen reardon | September 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I am enquiring about the testing available in Gordon Sydney if you could please send me the phone number
2. Katie | October 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Could someone please contact me asap on 34822822
I would like to get my daughter tested for dyslexia
Thank You
3. Rochelle Phelps | October 22nd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Dyslexia runs in my family with myself and three brothers haveing dyslexia with all different shades in glasses. Ive noticed alot of my traits coming out in my daughter, she had gone to a reading recovery class for reading and im just alittle concerned and would like to get her tested. If i remember correclty i thought i was tested at a place in South Perth Western Australia. If you could forward me anu information on where i could be ge my daughter tested, would be great. Thank you.
Rochelle
4. karen | July 17th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Hi my son has Dyslexia, and i am wondering if anyone has heard of the RAD Prism glasses that are from America and if so are they good.
5. admin | July 20th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Hi,
Most of the dyslexic kids I work with have particular eye sight problems that involve the use of prisms to correct. These problems are in tracking and eye dominance etc.
But the child has to undergo a lot of different tests to determine the exact nature of the problems in each case and glasses are made to exact prescriptions that then help correct the problem in each child. We at Dyslexic centre Australia http://www.dyslexiccentreaustralia.org.au have our own developmental optometrist who is fore front in this area and who helps thousands of dyslexics each year.
Some of the kids he helps were unable to “see” the spaces between the words and even the lines before he gave them corrective glasses.
There is no generic glasses with prisms that wold sort every child.
But do visit a Developmental optometrist and see if if s/he can help your child.
6. Marcia | August 24th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
My daughter is aged 11 and was diagnosed with dyslexia. She has received extra help at school. Her reading and writing has really improved. However she is really stuggling with maths. Does anyone of any suggestions on how I can help build her confidence and help her to understand maths?
Please reply asap
7. Dawn | August 31st, 2009 at 10:23 am
Hi,
I am so glad that your daughter has improved.
There is a section on how to help with ,maths for dyslexic kids in my book Dyslexia -How to win. This begins with ways of finding out exactly why your kid is failing and starts with absolute basics. Please start at the beginning and do not assume that she understands anything till tested. Often the reason a kid is failing is that s/he has misunderstood very basic concepts. I do make lots of suggestions as to how to help and what to do. I am trying to write a maths book for dyslexics but unfortunately I am only one person and first i have to finalize my complete literacy program and setup schools.
cheers
Dawn
8. Susan Bennet | September 25th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Hi,
I came across this site today researching for “Kumon” and help with Maths/English. I cannot believe how the learning difficulties my 7, nearly 8 year old son is experiencing reflect what you have written about on Dyslexia.
For example, he has been in the lower 30% of his class in both maths and reading since Kindy and is nearly finished Yr 2. His spelling is shocking, although his reading is coming along and only a few levels below where he should be. His teachers have always praised what a lovely boy he is, a good drawer and never any trouble. BUT, unfortunately for him that has meant he is easily swept under the carpet. Not low enough for special needs help, and not naughty or demanding, nor a gifted child that needs additional help. No wonder the teachers love him.
I am desperate to get him the resources he needs just to get him to where I know he is capable of being and mostly so he can function happily with the world with his esteem fully intact. He is capable, but afraid to take on anything new. He still gets his letters backwords ie b and d, q and g, z etc or numbers 2, 3, 5; he skips words when reading or makes up new ones; he finds maths fun sometimes if he can do it and difficult at others saying ” I don’t get it mummy!”. This doesn’t create a positive learning environment at home at all times, especially with the amount of homework given and the conflict I also feel with letting them just be kids for now.
So after reading this site and before I embark on any new tutoring work, I think I ought to have him assessed officially.
Could you please recommend somewhere close, that is as informed as you are on a broad range of “learning problems”, that can test him and see if indeed he has learning difficulties (or not) and can recommend how we can positively make change or find a learning program suitable for his level.
We live in Allambie Heights, close to Manly in Sydney.
Thank you
Sue
9. Kate Spragg | October 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Numicon is a fantastic multisensory maths programme for dyslexic kids check it out. http://www.numicon.com/
10. Antonia Canaris | November 10th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hi
There should be some people who can help near you. Ring Speld NSW on 94519477 10-2 mon – thurs during term time and various times in school hols. Remember to let them know exactly where you are in case they send you to a far off location!
11. roy castillo | November 15th, 2009 at 7:18 am
my child is dyslexic in 8th and 14 in a texas school . she is in a program called 504 with accommodations one is use of a calculator they say she cant use it. but it one on the form .another modifying test school say they can do that . and i am not talking about a state task test i understand that one another one is modifying homework same thing . they say she has extend time like they want me to pick one or the other. does this sound right to any one . i feel they dont want to do extra work .i said well doesnt the school dist. get funded by the state for this extra help . they told me no . they dont get funded for the 504 program. but i dont believe that at all can some one give me some advice . and i am wondering how many other kids are falling thur the cracks cuz of this thinking
12. roy castillo | November 15th, 2009 at 7:20 am
will a calculator help my child out or will it hurt her in the future she in 8th 14 yrs old
13. mbt shoes | March 22nd, 2010 at 4:56 pm
i have checked it’s really great
14. Julie | March 22nd, 2010 at 9:17 pm
My 3 children are dyslexia even though they are above average with school work. We have had amazing results using colored lenses from the Irlen Dyslexia Centre. total transformation of attitude, eye strain and difficulties. I am a teacher and have now done the screening process. I recommend anyone with dyslexia concerns to check out http://www.dyslexiaservices.com.au
15. sarina | May 24th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Dawn mentioned that our daughter needed coloured paper to be able to read more effectively. Our optomotretist later told us about Irlen syndrome which is a sub type of dyslexia. There are two places you can be tested in Perth, there are only three places in the world where the filtered lenses are made and one of them is here in Perth WA. Irlen testing identifies what colour/s are needed to assist with reading and comprehension. I only know the phone number for the Bunbury clinic – 08 9791 8714, but she will be able to give you the number for the clinic closer to the city.
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed