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Living With Dyscalculia (It’s Not Just "Number Dyslexia")

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What is Dyscalculia - National Center for Learning Disabilities

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What is Dyscalculia - National Center for Learning Disabilities

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National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

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How Can Teachers Help Student with Dyscalculia

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How Can Teachers Help Student with Dyscalculia

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Third grader Liam dreads math class. He always has. In preschool, he had trouble counting to 10 and sorting blocks by shape and color. In first grade, memorizing addition and subtraction facts seemed impossible, no matter how many times he and his dad went through the flashcards each night. The kids in his class are now working on multiplication and division, while he's still struggling to understand if 35 is greater than or less than 24.

His dad says he's not trying hard enough, and his teacher just assigns more homework and recommends more practice. "Why can't I understand simple math? " Liam wonders. The answer is a long word he's never heard, and one his parents and teachers probably haven't either: dyscalculia. Take a look at our video here.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUlJyIMz134[/embedyt]

What is dyscalculia?
Excerpt from the Dyscalculia Fact Sheet, via Understood.org. Get the full printable fact sheet.
Dyscalculia (pronounce dis-cal-KYOOL-ee-ah) is a math learning disorder (sometimes called math dyslexia, though that's a misleading name). Unlike dyslexia, it's not nearly as recognized or understood, and people who have it may struggle for years or their entire lives without getting the assistance they need. In much the same way people with dyslexia simply don't see letters and words in the same way as folks without, those with dyscalculia have trouble with "number sense."

For them, the concept of "7 = seven" is confusing. They have difficulties putting numbers in order or understanding the idea of "greater than or less than" (made even worse when shorthand symbols like ">" or "<" come into play). Memorization isn't just a matter of time and practice for them-it may be nearly impossible.

No one is sure how many people have dyscalculia, though estimates run at 3-6 percent of the population. It often seems to coincide with other learning disorders (researchers estimate that 40-60 percent of kids with math disabilities also have reading disabilities) and ADHD. Whatever the case, teachers are often the first to notice and help identify this and other learning disorders, so it's important for them to know what to look for in and out of the classroom.

Learn how to recognize dyscalculia signs.
Image credit: TES Resources
Teachers know that every classroom contains kids with a variety of skill levels who learn at different rates. Given that, how can you know whether your student is dealing with a learning disorder rather than just not applying themselves? Here are some typical dyscalculia signs to look for at various ages.

Pre-K

Dyscalculic kids at this age have trouble counting to ten, even after much practice. They don't seem to understand what numbers represent-you may ask them for three crayons, and they hand you a whole pile. They may also fail to understand patterns and sorting. Learn more about the ways Pre-K students are affected.

Elementary School

This is the age where math learning disorders are most likely to make themselves known. These are the kids still counting on their fingers when everyone else has memorized their basic addition and subtraction facts. They may not make the connection that "+" means "plus," or that it's used in addition. Mental math is especially difficult for them, as are word problems. They'll actively avoid games that require any type of math or counting, like Monopoly or Chutes & Ladders. Learn more about the ways elementary students are affected.

Middle and High School

Beyond basic math challenges, kids with dyscalculia find it hard to understand concepts like the commutative property (3 + 5 = 5 + 3) or substitution (x = 11). They'll continue to have trouble memorizing facts involving numbers, like formulas, which can affect them in other subjects like chemistry. Learn more about ways that middle school and high school students are affected.

Other Dyscalculia Challenges

Even outside the classroom, dyscalculic kids face challenges using math in many everyday activities. They'll have trouble budgeting their allowance, frequently running out of money long before they mean to. They'll struggle to keep score when watching or playing games. They constantly run late and are challenged by time management, because they have difficulty telling time and judging how long it takes to do something. Kids with dyscalculia get lost more often, even in familiar situations, and may confuse left and right. Basic math makes an appearance in our daily lives more often than you'd think, and these kids know it.

Support students with dyscalculia.
Image Credit: SciTech Daily
So, how can a teacher help? First, as with any learning disorder, make sure your student is evaluated so a proper plan can be put into place. Then, be ready to do some things differently to help them succeed. Many people with dyscalculia can actually do very well at math when given a few accommodations; some even go on to careers in advanced-math fields. Do some research and be ready to experiment with some or all of the following:

More time: Take the pressure off and let your student work their way to the answer in their own time. This can include allowing more time for tests. Prioritize and praise correct answers over quick ones.

Less homework: It may seem counterintuitive, but because it takes them longer, dyscalculic students can actually benefit from fewer homework problems. Chances are they can practice the same concepts with five problems instead of 10, with less frustration. Learn more about giving meaningful homework here.

Moderate memorization: We commonly expect every kid to know their basic-math facts by a certain age, but when it comes to those with dyscalculia, that's just not reasonable. Rote memorization and flashcards don't work for them. Explore other methods, like fact fluency, instead.

Allow aids: When possible, allow students to use a calculator or take an open-book test, especially if the concepts you're testing don't rely on those basic-math facts. Focus more on understanding the ideas rather than memorization and recall. (See: Why It's Important to Honor All Math Strategies)

Employ many methods: All kids benefit from a variety of teaching and learning methods. Try number lines, math manipulatives, color coding, and interactive games. When a student has difficulty understanding material presented one way, look for other ways to teach the concept. (See: 11 Essential Strategies in Teaching Math)

Find a tutor: Kids with dyscalculia can benefit from a tutor, but it's best to find one who understands and has worked with students with learning disorders. Classroom teachers can work with tutors to apply methods that work, both in the classroom and beyond.

Get dyscalculia resources.

The best way to help a student with dyscalculia is to learn more about it. Start with these resources.
Online: Books: Have you had a student with dyscalculia? Come share your experience with us in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Plus, what teachers need to know about dyslexia.

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What Teachers Need to Know About Dyscalculia

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Third grader Liam dreads math class. He always has. In preschool, he had trouble counting to 10 and sorting blocks by shape and color. In first grade, memorizing addition and subtraction facts seemed impossible, no matter how many times he and his dad went through the flashcards each night.

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Virtual Manipulatives for Math to help students with Dyscalculia, Autism and other visual learners

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Virtual Manipulatives for Math to help students with Dyscalculia, Autism and other visual learners

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Hands-On Math Goes Digital In and Beyond the Classroom!

Explore Our Collection of FREE Virtual Manipulatives

From Number Lines to Base Ten, Pattern Blocks to Place Value, Disks our collection of free Virtual Manipulatives gives educators and families access to visual and hands-on digital resources that lead to understanding. Students can use these resources in class and at home to practice math concepts, reinforce their growing math understanding, technology they love in the process.

Free Resources & Instructions for Teachers and Families

We've developed these resources for easy access and easy use:

How-To Videos

There's a short video for each of the Virtual Manipulatives in our collection so teachers can use these digital materials easily and confidently with students.
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Activities

Activities from the Didax books that teachers use most for easy download. Engaging challenges address core math operations, concepts and skills, from early numeracy all the way to introductory geometry and algebra.
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FAQ

Download this document of FAQ's to answer your Virtual Manipulative questions.
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Demonstrate key math concepts in your classroom using our new virtual manipulatives!

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Are you confused by unfamiliar-looking math problems in your child's homework? The approach to teaching math has changed in recent years. The examples below, created with the help of math specialist Heidi Cohen, can help you help your child with "new math."

A ten-frame is a set of 10 boxes with dots in some or all of the boxes. Kids can see how different combinations of numbers add up to 10. The ten-frame is especially good for showing how subtraction works.

A number bond uses lines to link a group of numbers together, showing how they are related. In the first drawing, the relationship between the numbers 3 and 10 is shown by adding the number 7 to the empty circle (3 + 7 = 10). This helps kids see how a single number can be broken down into smaller parts.

An open number line has no numbers already written in. The student can use any number as the starting place. (Here, 37 is the starting place because that is how many yards Brett walked. The 26 yards that Adam walked are then added.) The open number line lets kids add or subtract in a visual way. It is often used to help solve word problems.

Decomposing (also called "expanded form")

Decomposing is a strategy to solve math problems by breaking a number down into its digit values. For example, 37 becomes 30 and 7. Once you break the number down, you can add or subtract the individual digit values to get the answer.

Base ten is a strategy to solve addition and subtraction problems by using a table divided into hundreds, tens, and ones. You'll probably see the term "regrouping" used for this method. Each number goes into the chart according to its place value. For example, 43 would mean 4 tens and 3 ones. This helps kids see when to "borrow" and "carry" numbers from one place value to another.

Box multiplication is a method of breaking numbers down into digit values. In a table, the numbers are broken down by value and multiplied separately. After each number has been multiplied, the total values are added together. This method can be helpful for kids who have trouble with traditional multiplication using larger numbers.

An area model uses the length and width of a rectangle or square to break down a multiplication problem. Each shape is calculated and the answers are added together. It's another way to make math more visual for kids.

Like an area model, an array is an arrangement of objects that represent a number. This model is often used to help kids see the different qualities of addition and multiplication.

Bar modeling (also known as a "tape diagram")

A bar model uses bars to visually represent numbers and unknowns in a word problem. It can help kids see how quantities compare to each other. Kids can adapt a bar model to solve many kinds of problems.

About the Author

About the Author

Understood Team is made up of passionate writers and editors. Many of them have kids who learn and think differently.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Bob Cunningham, EdM serves as executive director of learning development at Understood.

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Are you confused by unfamiliar-looking math problems in your child's homework? The approach to teaching math has changed in recent years. The examples below, created with the help of math specialist Heidi Cohen, can help you help your child with "new math."

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Electronic Textbooks and beyond - GoMath etc.

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Electronic Textbooks and beyond - GoMath etc.

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GO Math! Florida Common Core ePlanner, G5