Dyslexia Affects Math Learning
Obviously, dyslexia affects how a student learns to read. But it also affects how a student learns mathematics! Testing may diagnose “dyscalculia.” Thankfully, I discovered a terrific resource for parents and teachers working with bright students who just don’t learn math in the traditional mold. Take a look at this Mind’s Eye Math on YouTube. The ingenious educator behind it is Jennifer Plosz, a Canadian maths teacher with a highly dyslexic son. I taught math to dyslexic students using her materials and the results amazed me. That’s why I’m writing this review — I want to spread the word.
How I Met Jennifer Plosz and Learned about Dyscalculia
I live in Colorado and Jennifer lives in Canada, so we met in cyberspace. It all started because I teach dyslexics to read. Jennifer used my book, Dyslexia Tool Kit, to teach her son to read. She contacted me for added explanations on some points in the book. That’s when I discovered her expertise in dyscalculia, which is just a big word for “trouble learning math.” Dyslexia and dyscalculia go together most of the time. Some researchers see both diagnoses as part of the same neural difference. Notice I said “difference” rather than “disability.” I make this point because most dyslexic people are highly intelligent. Their “disability” disappears when offered the right road to learning the material. Jennifer and I collaborated extensively about dyslexia and dyscalculia, learning from each other in one of those wonderful this-was-meant-to-be connections.
Try Multiple Methods; Use What Works
Teaching a dyslexic student reading or math requires an open mind and the ability to adapt to the student. In practical terms, it means trying lots of different methods and observing closely to determine if the joy of learning happens. The larger your bag of tools, the better your chances of success. First to help her own son, and then to help many others, Jennifer applied her visual teaching skills to the difficulties faced by some students in math. She refined her techniques using feedback from students and finally published the best of her discoveries on her website. This is not a “program” to buy and follow. This collection of techniques, so different from the standard math class approach, opens the door to a whole new way of thinking about numbers. Suddenly, the visual mind strengths of the dyslexic student benefit him or her instead of getting in the way. So, take a look at her ideas. Then try things you’ve never even dreamed of and see what happens!
Early Math Memorization Troubles Dyslexics
Dyslexia can mask giftedness in math. When this happens, teachers, parents, and the student come to doubt the student’s ability to learn math. The problem lies in the way early math is usually taught. Most early math curriculum focuses on memorizing math facts in preparation for using them later. This backfires badly for the dyslexic student who struggles mightily and often unsuccessfully to memorize anything. These students often excel far beyond their peers at big-picture, contextual thinking. See The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain
More than Manipulatives
Any decent math teacher in the early grades uses manipulatives. But Jennifer Plosz employs entirely new ways of thinking about math. These techniques might confuse and overwhelm the average student who doesn’t need or want this kind of intellectual exploration. But in my teaching experience, most dyslexic students light up and get very excited when allowed to use their gifts to learn their math. So grab some new tools and go teach!
Review by Yvonna Graham, M.Ed.
@GrahamYvonna
www.dyslexiakit.net
