Some children have significant difficulties understanding the size or quantity of a number and the relationship of numbers to one another. They will have difficulty mastering number sense, number facts, calculation and reasoning. Specific learning difficulties in mathematics are not necessarily linked to intellectual impairment.
Use uncluttered worksheets and minimise visual information.
Clearly mark areas for answers and working out. Graph paper may help to keep the numbers ‘in line’.
Minimise reading. Literacy and numeracy problems often occur together.
Use rhythm or music to help students memorise.
Ensure students are attending before giving important information.
Incorporate frequent revision of learnt material. Working memory problems are common.
Give explicit instruction around maps, spatial elements and 3D design- areas of difficulty.
Ensure any manipulatives used are age-appropriate.
Assign small sections of work at a time to avoid information overload.
Always relate new work to previously learnt skills to show relevance.
Pre-teach skills before to reduce processing demands.
Encourage drawing as a way to solve problems.
Students may need extra time to process information presented in pictures, charts or graphs.
Have students track their own progress.
Students may need to refer to mathematical tables or calculators during assessment tasks.
Be understanding about anxiety associated with performance on numeracy tasks.
Don’t force students to answer questions in front of peers if it is distressing.
Clearly label belongings and locations for equipment. Students may be disorganised.
Challenging behaviours may be linked to poor self-efficacy and worry.
Peer assistance/ tutoring to provide ‘supervised practice’ to prevent students from learning mistakes.
Cooperative Learning strategies.
Allocate a ‘study buddy’.
Redesigned worksheets to clearly identify answer spaces and working-out areas?
Incorporated frequent revision activities and study notes?
Included opportunities to use age-appropriate manipulatives?
Issued materials prior to the lesson for student to preview?
Reduced literacy demands?