Jeanette S.

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Strategies and Instructions for Students with Numeracy Difficulties

Summary and Reflection

There are different types of learning disabilities that we need to consider to determine why the
students having a hard time to cope up in Mathematics. Learning difficulty is an umbrella term to describe
students who are experiencing difficulty with learning because of variety of reasons. There are social and
environmental factors these are: limited early language and literacy exposure, low socio-economic status,
family history of learning disabilities, disrupted learning (for example, school refusal) and if English is
not a student’s first language or the primary language spoken at home, this may contribute to initial
difficulties while the child masters the language. Mathematics anxiety has been defined as feelings of
tension and anxiety that interfere with manipulation of numbers and the solving of mathematical
problems. We can use different instructions for students with numeracy difficulties. First, create adaptive
instruction like visual organizers and multiple opportunities to represent problems. Second, explicit
instruction still provides the best foundation for the activities to come. Third, conceptual understanding
and using concepts in Math vocabulary.

There are also different strategies that we can use to help students with numeracy difficulties.
Cooperative learning strategies, when the students work together it benefits everyone. Create meaningful
and frequent work by including games in your curriculum plans. Puzzle pieces Math instruction, try
giving each student a piece of the puzzle. Verbalize Math problems, keep the conversation open to their
questions as much as possible. Reflection time, providing time to reflect gives the brain a chance to
process the work completed. Making Math facts fun, even repetitive tasks can be fun with the right tools.