Instructional Methods for Teaching Math to Students with Learning Disabilities

Instructional Methods for Teaching Math to Students with Learning Disabilities

Introduction to Learning Disabilities

Learning Disability is a recognized category under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) 2004. Students identified as having a Learning Disability after undergoing an Initial Evaluation, are approved for the support of special education services. Under the IDEA all student, regardless of their disability, have the right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in their Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Learning Disability is a widely used, universal term that describes specific kinds of learning problems that students may have. A learning disability can cause a student to have trouble learning, retaining and using skills in reading, writing, math, and comprehension. (Sillman, Bahr, Beasman & Wilkinson, 2000)

Other terms used to describe a learning disability are include dyslexia, or a reading disability; dysgraphia, or a writing disability; and dyscalcula, a math disability. All of these are specific learning disabilities. (Sillman, Bahr, Beasman & Wilkinson, 2000)

Differences in how a student’s brain works, receives and processes information, is the cause a learning disabilities in students. Students with learning disabilities are frequently misdiagnosed as being lazy, troublesome, non-caring, or unintelligent. Students with learning disabilities, however, typically have average intelligence. The only difference is that the students with learning disabilities brains gain and process information differently, than their non disabled peers. Students diagnosed with learning disabilities can be high achieving students, and taught strategies to overcome the learning disability. With effective ...

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...y can also provide students with real world connections to using math. Most importantly, technology tends to be highly motivating to students. The more students are motivated to learn, the more likely they are to become successful in learning and maintaining their knowledge of the subject. Technology should support curricular goals.

Research Behind the Teaching Strategy

According to Kroesbergen & Van Luit (2003) “self-instruction and direct instruction seem to be adequate methods for students with special needs. Direct instruction is most effective for learning basic math facts, and self-instruction approaches are an effective way of learning problem-solving skills.” Technology is an important tool to use in education. Technology is beneficial to motivate student to practice skills. The computer cannot take the place of the educator for instruction. (Weis, 2014)