DYSCALCULIA RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

TESTING

• Tests for Dyscalculia - establishing what the pupil or student does not know in basic maths.  These tests are not normed against a national average.  They must be administered by a non-dyscalculic adult.

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

• Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools - general guide for teachers
• Methods of Teaching Maths to Pupils with Dyscalculia - teachers guide to specific ways of dealing with dyscalculia in school

BOOKS FOR USE WITH PUPILS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE DYSCALCULIA

• Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division:  Schools' Edition   - copiable resource of activities to teach the four basic functions to children
• Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages - following on from "Practical Activities" this book assumes that the student has mastered adding, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Dyscalculia activities 3: Time and timetables - book of activities for pupils and students who have difficulty telling the time, following the sequence of days, weeks, months, seasons, etc.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Maths Cards - cards for use with dyscalculic pupils and students, as part of the multi-sensory method
• Counters - for use in the activities undertaken by pupils and students in the multi-sensory approach

Order on-line - www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk  To order the books on-line as downloads please go to the First and Best Download Centre.

Tests for Dyscalculia

Many children who appear to suffer from dyscalculia can be helped very quickly indeed once their basic areas of mathematical difficulty have been identified.

These problem areas can be fundamental to maths, such as a difficulty with the concept of multiplication, or a problem with subtraction involving two numbers over 10. But they can also result from a short term memory problem, a difficulty with sequencing, a difficulty with reading or even confusion about the meaning of common mathematical terms.

Tests for Dyscalculia allows you to undertake a series of straightforward tests in the classroom which will enable you to find out exactly where the specific difficulties lie. Once this has been done, you can then turn to appropriate remedial teaching to overcome these particular problems.

Tests for Dyscalculia contains over 80 separate tests. You can choose exactly which tests to use based on initial knowledge about the child's work. Each test is wholly independent, and there is no requirement that a pupil should undertake one test before taking on any other. Likewise there is no age limit for the tests - they are mathematically specific as opposed to age specific. As a teacher you can select the concepts that you know your pupils ought to be able to handle at a particular age, and then test to check that there is indeed an understanding of those concepts.

The tests search for difficulties with written and aural perception and cover topics from a basic recognition of number, “high”, “low” and the four basic functions, up to decimals, fractions, money, estimations, shapes and area.

No special knowledge or training is required in order to use this volume. The tests come in fully photocopiable form, so that they may be used an indefinite number of times within the school.

Order code: T1631 £49.95
Available in a ringbinder.To see sample pages please click here

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty - an unexpected inability to handle one or more aspects of maths. It has for many years been overshadowed by dyslexia, and yet the inability to handle basic mathematical issues can be just as big a problem for those who suffer from it, as is dyslexia.

Although some children with dyslexia also have great difficulties learning maths, this is not always the case. Research suggests that around 25% of dyslexic children are actually above average in their ability at maths. This suggests that there are different factors at work in dyscalculia from those causing or exacerbating cases of dyslexia.

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools examines the five main causes of dyscalculia and sets out the methods of working available which can help pupils overcome their dyscalculic problems. The book contains short sections which can be photocopied to give out to other members of staff in school, to worried parents, and to governors, so that everyone can share in the awareness of what dyscalculia is, and how it can be tackled.

Above all the book shows that once we understand and accept the causes of dyscalculia we can adopt appropriate methods of teaching to overcome the problem. Research suggests that most children who gain appropriate help in school can overcome their dyscalculic difficulties and achieve an acceptable grade at GCSE, thus allowing entry into further and higher education.

Order code: T1628 £24.95
Available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom.To see samples pages please click here

Methods of Teaching Maths to Pupils with Dyscalculia

Research in recent years has shown that children with dyscalculia can be taught maths if certain specific points in their understanding of maths are addressed. If this approach can be followed by the adoption of particular methods of teaching by the teacher and methods of learning by the pupils, then these children can readily reach the average standard of the class.

What's more the techniques that are known to work well with dyscalculic pupils also work well with pupils who have an average ability at maths.

The book outlines a series of individual methods of teaching maths, which is followed by a series of methods of learning which will benefit all pupils, irrespective of their levels of mathematical achievement. It also contains information on enhancing pupil memory and pupil ability to handle sequences. The methods can be adapted and used with all age groups. The approaches can be used by special needs teachers in small group or individual sessions, and can also be used within full class lessons. 

Methods of Teaching Maths to Pupils with Dyscalculia also contains information for parents as well as information on how homework can be structured to the maximum benefit of dyscalculic pupils. It is available in photocopiable format for ease of use or on CD Rom.

Order code: T1630 £24.95
Available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom To see sample pages please click here

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division: the Schools' Edition

One in 20 children is believed to have such problems in understanding basic maths that the child can reasonably be called “dyscalculic”.

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division is the first ever book that can be used by teachers working with individuals or small groups of such children. The book provides a series of activities that will resolve the mathematical “block” that many of these children face, in a series of small group or individual lessons.

By working through these activities children who have fundamental problems in handling the most basic of mathematical concepts will learn how to handle numbers, sequences, addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. The book takes the child from the concept of “higher” and “lower” to division by numbers over 12.

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division works from the basis that virtually all children who have particular difficulties with mathematics have these problems because they have failed to grasp one or more of the fundamental principles of maths, and it is this that causes their subsequent problems. The book takes the children through these fundamentals using a newly developed multi-sensory approach alongside conventional notation of maths.

It is not anticipated that most children will need to work through the whole book; rather the volume is constructed so that the teacher can direct the pupil to work on specific topics in order to clarify issues previously misunderstood.

The school will need to provide a series of coloured counters (such as those used with games of Ludo or tiddlywinks) and for some of the later work, a set of cards. 

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division is photocopiable throughout and available on CD Rom so that, where it is deemed desirable, sections may be copied and handed over to parents so that they can work with the child at home on simple exercises. For situations where parents are particularly supportive a separate Parents Edition of the exercises is available at a reduced cost for schools that have purchased this edition.

Order code: T1654 £24.95
Available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom
To see sample pages please click here

Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages

Dyscalculic pupils have a significant problem understanding mathematical concepts. These pupils can learn their way around maths if they are taught in a specific multi-sensory manner.

Our volume Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages uses this technique to teach such pupils the concepts of number and the four basic functions of mathematics. It is now used with thousands of children across the UK.

Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages follows on from “Practical Activities” and uses the same multi-sensory techniques that have proved successful in the earlier book. As before the book comes as a photocopiable volume and requires no additional equipment or materials save for a collection of counters (also available from First and Best).

One of the huge benefits of this approach is that it not only works with children who have the genetic disorder which gives rise to dyscalculia, it also benefits those children who are failing to grasp mathematical concepts because of interrupted schooling, home problems or even a maths aversion which has developed because of early failure. Experience suggests that a short period of using multi-sensory techniques can be enough to overcome such problems and bring the pupil back to the class average.

Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages can be used with secondary school pupils either within special needs lessons or at home with co-operative parents. Each activity within the book can be completed within a maximum of ten minutes, thus allowing the teacher or parent to stop the work the moment the child shows signs of maths-aversion, frustration or tiredness.
Order code: T1719  £25.95
Available as a copiable book or on CD RomTo see sample pages please click here

Dyscalculia activities 3: Time and timetables
Time is the ultimate sequence, and children who master the concept of time usually overcome all their problems with sequencing and also find many concepts in maths much easier to handle. Indeed it is noticeable that many children who have difficulties with maths also have particular difficulties with the concept of time. 

Dyscalculia activities 3: Time and timetables contains exercises and activities that are designed to overcome such problems and ensure that children have a full ability to handle all the concepts of time – from the passing of seasons to the use of the 24 hour clock and the reading of timetables.

The book contains a range of straightforward tests which will reveal where the child’s particular problems lie. This is followed by a series of activities covering all aspects of time. These activities can be undertaken in the classroom and can be photocopied and taken home. Indeed those children who are able to do five minutes homework a day on the subject of time will find that their understanding of time develops extremely quickly.

The book is available in photocopiable format which means that the activities can be shared with other staff in your department. It is also available as a Word document on CD Rom to enable you to print out sections as required.

Order code: T1712 £25.95
Available as a copiable book or on CD Rom. To see sample pages please click here.

Maths Cards

We sell times table cards and blank cards which are suitable for use when either testing or working with dyscalculic children. Times tables covered are from 0 to 10, and 20 and they come in assorted colours. Blank cards come in assorted colours in packs of 144 and multiples thereof. 

Multiplication cards (price per pack):     Order code: MSM1 £9.99
                                                          10+ packs £8.99 per pack

Division cards:                                     Order code: MSM2 £9.99
                                                          10+packs £8.99 per pack

Blank cards:                                         Order code: MSM3 £4.99
                                                          10+packs £4.25 per pack

Counters

For use with the Practical Activities book.  Available in bags of 80 counters - 2 each of red, yellow, blue and green.Order code: Counters £2.99 (Delivery charge £1.00)