Teaching Math to Adults with Learning Disabilities

by: Andr Davey

Teaching Math to Adults with Learning Disabilities

by: Andr Davey

Teaching Math to Adults with Learning Differences

by: Andr Davey

In the past
A teacher sent the following note home with a six year old boy: He is too stupid too learn.

In the past
A teacher sent the following note home with a six year old boy: He is too stupid too learn. That boy was Thomas Edison.

In the past

Teachers said that their student was mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift in his foolish dreams.

In the past

Teachers said that their student was mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift in his foolish dreams. The student was Albert Einstein.

In the past

A learner was regularly punished in school for failure or lack of effort, sometimes failing the same class numerous times.

In the past

A learner was regularly punished in school for failure or lack of effort, sometimes failing the same class numerous times. That learner was Winston Churchill.
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Today
It is our hope that a student with LD sees this as an affirmation that they are smart; they simply learn in a different way.

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Today
It is our hope that a student with LD sees this as an affirmation that they are smart; they simply learn in a different way.

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Today
A recent (1990-2010) review of 223 academic articles showed that only 10% were specific to adults.

Further research is needed on the subject of adults

with Learning Differences, particularly on adults who exhibit a Math LD.

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Overview
Identifying Math Learning Differences

The Effect of Math Learning Differences

Teaching Strategies
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Identifying MLD
Math learning process altered by psychological factors

A variety of terminology
MLD Math Learning Disability MD Math Disability or Difficulty AD Arithmetic Disability WPD Word Problem Difficulty Dyscalculia Difficulty calculating

all characteristic of a discomfort with math.

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Identifying MLD
The struggle to grasp mathematical concepts can also be attributed to physical damage to the cerebral cortex.

Procedural

MLD Subtypes

Linguistic Visual-spatial

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Identifying MLD
Diagnosis of an LD is obtained by PsychEd Assessment from the Association of Psychologists of N.S. (www.apns.ca)

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Identifying MLD
Diagnosis of an LD is obtained by PsychEd Assessment from the Association of Psychologists of N.S. (www.apns.ca)

Cognitive Areas of Impact

(Math analysis of a PsychEd report)

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Identifying MLD
Diagnosis of an LD is obtained by PsychEd Assessment from the Association of Psychologists of N.S. (www.apns.ca)

Working memory
(able to plan & organize)

Visual Motor Integration

(able to form letters & numbers)

Cognitive Areas of Impact

(Math analysis of a PsychEd report)

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Identifying MLD
Low standardized test scores does not translate to an LD

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Identifying MLD

With academic upgrading, learners can get better results

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Identifying MLD
It is critical to recognize whether poor acquisition is due to an actual cognitive disability or inadequate instruction.

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Identifying MLD
It is critical to recognize whether poor acquisition is due to an actual cognitive disability or inadequate instruction.

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The Effect of MLD

Societal support of animosity toward mathematics
Parents & peers pass on perceptions

Further everyday inclusion of math is needed

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The Effect of MLD

Understand arithmetic as an adult with MLD

Click on links for interactive experiences

Understand multi-step problems as an adult with MLD

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The Effect of MLD

With certain learners, every time they see a word problem in math class it can feel like this:

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The Effect of MLD

or it can feel like this:

Question: If I have 8 toothpicks and 12 bananas, how many radishes will fit on the roof?

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The Effect of MLD

Question: If I have 8 toothpicks and 12 bananas, how many radishes will fit on the roof? Answer: Purple, because elephants dont wear sneakers.

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The Effect of MLD

Mathematical proficiency is required in the day to day activities of life as an adult.

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The Effect of MLD

Mathematical proficiency is required in the day to day activities of life as an adult.

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The Effect of MLD

Mathematical proficiency is required in the day to day activities of life as an adult.

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The Effect of MLD

Mathematical proficiency is required in the day to day activities of life as an adult.

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The Effect of MLD

Mathematical proficiency is required in the day to day activities of life as an adult.

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The Effect of MLD

Math instructors in Adult Learning Programs (ALP) must consider the essential skills needed in the workplace, at home, and in the community.

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The Effect of MLD

Learners can be affected by the finite nature of math

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The Effect of MLD

Finding one specific right answer can seem daunting

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The Effect of MLD

However, through supported instruction, this pressure to find a precise result can be positively transformed.

In fact, learners personal self-confidence will develop from the ability to self-evaluate their performance.
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The Effect of MLD

Learners encouraged to check their answers should view the verification process as a method of self-motivation
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I think I'm getting there..

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Teaching adults with MLD

Unsuccessful comprehension within the cumulative process makes future concepts arduous.

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Teaching adults with MLD

Unsuccessful comprehension within the cumulative process makes future concepts arduous.

A solid number sense foundation is vital to a learners progression.

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Teaching adults with MLD

Mathematical instruction must move in a direction toward math merriment ...

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Teaching adults with MLD

and away from a drill & kill rote method of memorization

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Teaching adults with MLD

A shift from traditional rote instruction is required.

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Teaching adults with MLD

How do students with LD earn grades akin to non-LD peers?

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Teaching adults with MLD

How do students with LD earn grades akin to non-LD peers? Instructional process

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Teaching adults with MLD

How do students with LD earn grades akin to non-LD peers? Instructional process
ask questions, determine students current strategy, discuss reasoning for learning a more effective strategy

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Teaching adults with MLD

How do students with LD earn grades akin to non-LD peers? Instructional process
ask questions, determine students current strategy, discuss reasoning for learning a more effective strategy co-construct strategy, explaining each step to ensure understanding

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Teaching adults with MLD

How do students with LD earn grades akin to non-LD peers? Instructional process
ask questions, determine students current strategy, discuss reasoning for learning a more effective strategy co-construct strategy, explaining each step to ensure understanding model strategy, guide learner through application, provide positive and constructive feedback

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Teaching adults with MLD

How do students with LD earn grades akin to non-LD peers? Instructional process
ask questions, determine students current strategy, discuss reasoning for learning a more effective strategy co-construct strategy, explaining each step to ensure understanding model strategy, guide learner through application, provide positive and constructive feedback student independently transfers new strategy to similar tasks
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Teaching adults with MLD

Adult education a generation ago

Current NSSAL model of adult education

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Teaching adults with MLD

Multisensory approaches

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Number Facts

Counting (suggest counting on rather than count-all) Practice often but in small quantities
(both guided and independent ~ mindful repetition)

Relate to real world with examples

(2 x 2 = 4 cars wheels :: 2 x 12 = 24 Hrs: am & pm)

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Teaching adults with MLD

Number Facts

Activities:
Sequence pennies by date Graph paper for alignment Clocks to count by 5, 15 Coins to count by 5, 10, 25 Highlight columns (ones, tens, hundreds) Mental math multiplication Match place value to base ten blocks Include strategies from your teachers toolbox

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Mental Math

Fact families Math journal Estimation station

(containers with rocks, cheerios, pennies, marbles, or marshmallows with measuring cup nearby)

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Teaching adults with MLD

Mental Math

Activities:
In-class examples (interactive & physical) Estimate distance and verify with meter stick Identify a minute passing with eyes closed Metaphors and mnemonics (pi z z = a) Intransitive pattern counting
(starting anywhere, using any sequence)

What fun activities do you use in class?

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Symbols & Language

Pre-teach new terminology (monetary terms, part

of whole, proper/improper/decimal fractions)

Use different vocabulary (six thirty, half past six) Math merriment
(link: A new angle on geometry )

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Teaching adults with MLD

Symbols & Language

Activities:
Math word wall 3 x 2 equivalent to 32, 3(2), 3[2], (3)(2) Discuss transference of skills

(after defining transfer as to move)

Ask learners what a number means to them Do you instruct with a think-aloud technique?

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Stress reducers
Visual / Spatial

(spatial positions, patterns, & similarities)

Uncluttered geometry worksheets Multi-sensory math manipulatives

(geo-boards, fraction tiles, dice, geometric shapes)

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Teaching adults with MLD

Activities:
Visual / Spatial

Make 3D shapes, relate to real life objects Accessible layouts: 300 200 100
30 3 20 10 2 1 .1 .2 .3 .01 .02 .03

Purchase from provided menu

(pick items & total amounts)

Match coin equivalencies How is your classroom visually stimulating?

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Cognitive Development

Start with basic skills and build from there Identify and correct misconceptions ASAP
(responsibility of instructor & learner)

Small group instruction

(greater opportunity to obtain guided feedback)

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Teaching adults with MLD

Cognitive Development

Activities:
Reflective practice
(improves procedural competencies)

Recognize one minute passing (eyes closed) Provide a pause during instruction
(supports clarification of knowledge)

What ways do you promote learners growth?

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Working Memory

Execution of the appropriate operations Guide procedure (provides a frame to evaluate accuracy) Build upon math facts Retrieval-based processes (moderated by confidence)

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Teaching adults with MLD

Activities:
Working Memory

Lattice method (for long multiplication) BEDMAS (10 3 +2 or 10 3 x 2) Use instructional technology (links: ATM or Debit) What are your alternative techniques?

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Rules / Procedures

Review key math words (part of, whole, times) Explain harder terms (quotient, isosceles) Model problems using think-aloud technique Keep it interesting (relate it to learners)

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Teaching adults with MLD

Rules / Procedures

Activities:
Highlight key words Use checklists to organize information Make sure answer makes sense Label work (words, symbols, monetary signs) Supplement with visual diagrams Ask your learners to create problems to solve

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Teaching adults with MLD

understanding understanding

Verified Verified

Number Facts

Mental Math

Rules / Procedures

Multisensory approaches

Symbols & Language

Working Memory

Cognitive Development

Visual / Spatial

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Teaching adults with MLD

Verified
understanding

Math is a cumulative process Track progress (identify where further focus is needed) Establish firm understanding before moving on

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Teaching adults with MLD

Verified
understanding

Activities:
Mock auctions Math Olympiads
(bid on: free time, positive feedback) (challenge acquired knowledge)

Pre-Assessments

(to compare with post assessments)

Do you have a weekly math challenge?

(reviews acquired concepts)

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Our learners can never be who they ought to be, unless we are who we ought to be
Felix Justice paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr. 2011 Atlantic Conference on Learning Disabilities

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Our learners can never be who they ought to be, unless we are who we ought to be
Felix Justice paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr. 2011 Atlantic Conference on Learning Disabilities

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Our learners can never be who they ought to be, unless we are who we ought to be
Felix Justice paraphrasing Martin Luther King Jr. 2011 Atlantic Conference on Learning Differences

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Thank you