THE STUDENT WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY & MATH

24/03/2015
THE STUDENT WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY
& MATH ACHIEVEMENT
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Topic
Topic
Topic
Topic
Help
#1: A broad overview of LD and Math
#2: Gap Closing and Curriculum
#3: Preparing for Explicit Instruction
#4: Accommodating with Technology’s
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24/03/2015
The Ministry of Education defines learning
disability as one of a number of
neurodevelopmental disorders that persistently
and significantly has an impact on the ability to
learn and use academic and other skills and that:
1. affects the ability to perceive or process verbal
or non-verbal information in an effective and
accurate manner in students who have assessed
intellectual abilities that are at least in the average
range;
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2. results in (a) academic underachievement that is inconsistent
with the intellectual abilities of the student (which are at least in
the average range) and/or (b) academic achievement that can be
maintained by the student only with extremely high levels of
effort and/or with additional support;
3. results in difficulties in the development and use of skills in
one or more of the following areas: reading, writing,
mathematics, and work habits and learning skills;
4. may typically be associated with difficulties in one or more
cognitive processes, such as phonological processing; memory
and attention; processing speed; perceptual-motor processing;
visual-spatial processing; executive functions (e.g., selfregulation of behaviour and emotions, planning, organizing of
thoughts and activities, prioritizing, decision making);
5. may be associated with difficulties in social
interaction (e.g., difficulty in understanding social
norms or the point of view of others); with various
other conditions or disorders, diagnosed or
undiagnosed; or with other exceptionalities;
6. is not the result of a lack of acuity in hearing
and/or vision that has not been corrected;
intellectual disabilities; socio-economic factors;
cultural differences; lack of proficiency in the
language of instruction; lack of motivation or
effort; gaps in school attendance or inadequate
opportunity to benefit from instruction.
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24/03/2015
Our students with Learning Disabilities have the
ability and desire to learn, they just need to learn the
right things, at the right time, in the right way.
EASY RIGHT?
Common Deficits of a
student with an LD
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Reading
Comprehension
Impact on Mathematics
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Executive Functions
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Letter/Symbol
confusion
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Common Deficits of a
student with an LD
Understanding what a
word problem may be
asking
Planning, organizing
and choosing and
reflecting on
strategies.
Trouble deciphering
letters that form words
and symbols that
communicate meaning
Impact on Mathematics
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Working Memory
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Auditory Processing
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Visual Processing
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Processing Speed
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Formulas, mental
computations
Accuracy and memory
of what’s heard
Tracking information
on a page (BEDMAS,
Algebraic Equations)
Getting information
from the brain to the
page before it’s gone.
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24/03/2015
Numeracy is usually a secondary concern regarding a
student’s Learning Disability. There is a primary focus on
reading/writing intervention. It doesn’t take long for
Math gaps to widen.
Today’s focus will be on the Junior/Intermediate Student.
Why might that be???
WJ III Score: (Student in Gr 7)
Math Fluency: Gr 1.5
Calculations: Gr 2.2
Applied Problems: Gr 2.5
Broad Math: Gr 1.5
Basic Math: Gr 1.5
INTERVENTION REQUIRED
Where do we turn? What’s out there? Where do we start?
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24/03/2015
Before PPM 8
Tendency to see formal
assessment data and
immediately modify
curriculum to match
the grade level
equivalents noted in
the reports.
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After PPM 8
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Gap Closing Material
Leaps & Bounds
Gap Closing Material
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FREE resource available
on Math EduGains site
Aligned with Ontario
curriculum
Grade 6 and Grade 9
focus, with
consideration for
Grades 4-10 included
Number Sense focus
(Gr 6) and Number
Sense, Algebra, and
Proportional Reasoning
focus (Gr 9)
More of an emphasis
placed on targeted
accommodations with
a strong
recommendation to
ONLY consider
modifying if all
accommodations have
been attempted and
unsuccessful.
Leaps & Bounds
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Available commercially
through Nelson’s
publishing
Aligned with Ontario
curriculum.
Available as Gr 3/4, Gr
5/6 and Gr 7/8
resource material
All strands covered
with particular focus
on Number
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24/03/2015
Provide a Road-Map for
intervention.
Where can I start when there
are so many deficits noted and
how can I provide this
intervention within the context
of an integrated classroom.
Gap Closing Material
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Colour copies available
for FREE from Queen’s
Printing Press
Available as PDF to be
used with assistive
technology
(Premier/Kurzweil)
Diagnostic Tools for
each module
Choice of open-ended
task vs guided
instruction for each
lesson.
Leaps & Bounds
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Student booklets
available as
consumables, or on CD
with PDF and Word
versions
SMART Board activities
included for some
lessons
Diagnostic tools for
each module
Choice of open-ended
vs guided instruction
for each lesson.
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24/03/2015
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Module #1:
Module #2:
Module #3:
Numbers
Module #4:
Numbers
Module #5:
Module #6:
Operations
Module #7:
Module #8:
Representing Fractions
Comparing Fractions
Representing & Renaming Whole
Comparing & Ordering Whole
Multiplying & Dividing
Relating Situations to Mathematical
Representing & Comparing Decimals
Decimal Computation
INSTRUCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY
Looking at the Gap Closing topics first (our Road Map) can
allow us to pick curriculum expectations that give us flexibility
to teach our students what they need most urgently.
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The module titled “Relating Situations to
Mathematical Operations” is essential
instruction, not only for students with LDs,
but for ALL students within a classroom.
If it’s essential to teach, let’s find a
curriculum expectation that aligns with this
module.
FOUND IT: solve multi-step (or single step) problems
arising from real-life contexts and involving whole
numbers and decimals, using a variety of tools (e.g.
graphs, calculators) and strategies (e.g. estimation,
algorithms)
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24/03/2015
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It’s a robust, broad curriculum expectation
that allows us the flexibility to teach exactly
the skills that our LD students need without
teachers feeling pressured to cover specific
and isolated pockets of grade-level
curriculum.
It is an expectation that spans two or three
years in the Number Sense strand with very
little change
These are the types expectations we want to
emphasize on an IEP (if we are modifying).
#1:
#2:
#3:
#4:
Explicit Instruction
Strategy Instruction
Visual Representation
Meaningful Practice
WHAT THE HECK IS EXPLICIT
INSTRUCTION ANYWAYS????
How is explicit instruction in math different from explicit
instruction in reading???
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24/03/2015
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The following topics could be addressed in
order to help teachers become more explicit
in their Math instruction.
◦ Pre-teaching and re-teaching vocabulary
◦ Preparing ourselves for student misconceptions and
highlighting those misconceptions with students.
◦ Using examples and non-examples to explicitly
teach real-life application of math concepts
◦ Strategy instruction
What sections will we address early on?
What sections might we re-visit?
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24/03/2015
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In each module of the Gap Closing Resource
OR Leaps & Bounds there is a section in the
front-matter titled “Possible Reasons Why a
Student Might Struggle”
Here, there are many student misconceptions
listed.
These misconceptions can help us prepare for
students who will struggle and quickly correct
the misconception with explicit instruction so
that these misconceptions don’t become
embedded in the student’s knowledge.
Our brain likes to discriminate to form
concepts
Discrimination restricts the range of
examples used to form a concept
This can be encouraged, promoted and made
explicit through the use of non-examples
This activity would be introduced later on in
instructional scope and sequence to avoid
confusion.
 Malamad, 2012
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24/03/2015
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Explicitly teaching students about when and why
to use certain strategies is just as important as
teaching students HOW to use certain strategies
Let’s discuss…..
When should we
use a calculator?
When should we
NOT use a
calculator?
Discuss.
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When should we
use manipulatives?
When should we
avoid using
manipulatives?
Discuss.
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24/03/2015
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No amount or quality of technology will ever
replace good pedagogical practice of a
teacher/interventionist.
Technology supports are varied in their uses
and practicalities [each of these highlighted
tools has their flaw(s)]
Don’t discount your student’s ability to learn
a new technology and watch you learn along
with them…..things won’t always be smooth,
but there is value in the journey.
Go easy on yourself…..promise to learn one
new thing WELL!
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24/03/2015
KEY FEATURES
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An iPad App and
computer program that
focuses on “brain
training” through
interactive
games/puzzles
Addresses weaknesses
such as: memory,
attention, problem
solving, math fluency
FEATURES THAT BENEFIT
THE LD LEARER
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Repetition
Visual Cues
Minimal reading
(except survey)
Concrete tracking of
progress
Highly engaging games
Focus on fluency
(especially in Math)
Brain Games & Brain Training - Lumosity
KEY FEATURES
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An iPad App and webbased program that
allows students to record
and share their
demonstration of a skill
via an interactive w.b.
Students can access a
teacher’s demonstration
of a skill as well for extra
clarification/practice.
FEATURES THAT BENEFIT
THE LD LEARER
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Repetition of
information
Recorded oral
responses instead of
written responses.
Rehearsal of
information prior to
presentation.
(stop/pause/delete
feature)
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24/03/2015
KEY FEATURES
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A FREE tool for all Gr 7-10
students in Ontario where they
have access to an Ontario
Certified teacher for support
with math homework.
Interactive w.b. and chat where
student and tutor work in realtime.
Recorded “Best Sessions” and
“Listen and Learns” available
24/7 where students can access
the instruction of a topic from
start to finish
A comprehensive glossary with
pictures and words.
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Repetition of information
Extra practice
Explicit instruction
Audio chat rooms that
limit the amount of text a
student has to read and
type
Comprehensive glossary
which communicates
math terms in clear,
concise manner.
Homework Help Promotional Video (2 mins)
KEY FEATURES
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FEATURES THAT BENEFIT
THE LD LEARER
Ministry supported
resource aligned with
Gap Closing material
found on EduGains site
Interactive activities that
are highly visual and
explicit.
Focus on Fractions and
Patterning & Algebra
Activities associated with
Grade levels/curriculum.
FEATURES THAT BENEFIT
THE LD LEARER
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Visual representation
of concepts
Explicit instruction
Repetition of
instructions if needed
Text is provided, but
also read-aloud.
Virtual manipulatives
Immediate feedback
Opportunities for extra
practice
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24/03/2015
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CLIPS Web Link
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