As a parent, discovering that your child struggles with dyscalculia can be both challenging and enlightening. Laura Jackson’s experience with her daughter’s journey through dyscalculia highlights the importance of parental involvement and the use of specialized tools to foster a better understanding of numbers. This article delves into the transformative power of hands-on learning and the critical role parents play in helping their children overcome the hurdles of dyscalculia.
Using Specialized Curriculum Can Significantly Improve a Child’s Understanding of Numbers
Laura Jackson’s decision to use a specialized curriculum from the UK, specifically designed for dyscalculia, marked a turning point in her daughter’s learning journey. By employing Ronit Bird’s ebooks, such as “Understanding Numbers through Dot Patterns” and “Understanding Numbers through Cuisenaire Rods,” Laura was able to address her daughter’s foundational lack of number sense. These resources provided structured and engaging ways to help her daughter grasp the concept of numbers as groups and sets, rather than just a series of individual units.
For dyscalculic kids, explicitly teaching number sense using visual and tactile methods, like dot patterns and Cuisenaire rods, can unlock foundational understanding and make numbers exciting.
Engaging Activities Can Make Learning Fun and Effective for Children with Dyscalculia
Laura’s approach to teaching her daughter involved more than just reading from textbooks. She incorporated fun activities that resonated with her daughter’s interests, such as secret codes and messages. By creating a chart and asking her daughter to draw different visuals for numbers, Laura made learning an enjoyable and interactive experience. This method not only kept her daughter engaged but also allowed her to see numbers in a new light, fostering a deeper understanding.
They don’t even have to be taught in school because we just get it. But for dyscalculics, they have to be explicitly taught this.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Hands-On Learning with Physical Objects Can Enhance a Child’s Numerical Sense
One of the key strategies Laura used was hands-on learning with physical objects. Before moving to drawing numbers, she and her daughter played with glass beads, rocks, and Cuisenaire Rods. This tactile approach helped her daughter experience numbers in a tangible way, making abstract concepts more concrete. Laura emphasized the importance of this experiential learning, noting how it helped her daughter gain a sense of numeracy that was previously lacking.
Key takeaways
- Utilize Specialized Educational Resources: Description: Parents should consider using specialized curricula designed for dyscalculia, such as Ronit Bird's ebooks like "Understanding Numbers through Dot Patterns" and "Understanding Numbers through Cuisenaire Rods." These resources can help children build a foundational sense of number, which is often lacking in children with dyscalculia.
- Encourage Hands-On Learning: Description: Incorporate physical manipulation of objects such as glass beads, rocks, and Cuisenaire Rods into learning activities. This tactile approach helps children with dyscalculia to better understand and experience numerical concepts, such as recognizing numbers as groups and sets, which is crucial for developing a sense of numeracy.
- Challenge Assumptions About Understanding: Description: Parents must be aware of and challenge their assumptions about what their child understands about numbers. Many foundational numerical concepts that others might grasp intuitively need to be explicitly taught and experienced by children with dyscalculia. This includes understanding that numbers like those in the teens contain a ten and another number, which can be a significant revelation for them.
Parents Can Use Online Tools to Assess and Support Their Child’s Number Sense
In addition to hands-on activities, parents can utilize online resources to further support their child’s learning. Tools like Number Sense can help assess a child’s understanding of numbers and provide targeted exercises to improve their skills. Similarly, a Dyscalculia Test can offer insights into specific areas where a child may need additional support. These resources empower parents to take an active role in their child’s education, ensuring they receive the tailored assistance they need.
Schools will often assume that a child has these foundational knowledge steps and most dyscalculics don’t, and that is why they struggle with their current grade level expectations.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Parents Can Overcome the Challenge of Dyscalculia by Providing Foundational Support for a Brighter Future
One of the most significant challenges highlighted in Laura’s story is the lack of foundational number sense in children with dyscalculia. This condition can lead to struggles with grade-level expectations, as schools often assume students possess certain basic knowledge. However, by using tools like Number Sense and Dyscalculia Test, parents can identify and address these gaps. By taking on the responsibility of providing this foundational support, parents can help their children build a strong numerical understanding, paving the way for a more successful academic journey and a brighter future.
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A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
