I have students with disabilities in my room who are struggling with math. What are some things that I can do that work for, or are good to use with, students with disabilities in the area of math?The follow list provides some examples from research that have been shown to benefit or help students with disabilities in the area of mathematics. Many of these items are standard-practice for standards-based (or reform-based) mathematical curricula. As a teacher, or intern, you may want to evaluate if you are using these things with your students with disabilities and/or all students. You may also want to consider if your students with disabilities are struggling in mathematics because of the math or the reading aspect of it. If they are struggling with the math aspect, consider some of the following questions. However, if they are struggling with the reading part of the mathematics curriculum, you may want to consider reading aloud the problem or lesson, have a strong reader read it to the class, or utilize partner reading where you assign the reader in the pair (i.e. select the stronger reader of the pair you select).
1.) Use manipulatives
Research has suggested that manipulatives make math more accessible for special needs students (Maccini & Gagnon, 2000).
Manipulatives can help students understand mathematical concepts and procedures, instead of just relying on rote memorization.
Manipulatives can include number lines, tiles, plastic or paper coins/bills, shapes, fraction strips, base-10 blocks, geo-boards, polystrips, counters (beans, coins, etc.).
2.) Provide frequent reviewing and repetition of mathematical concepts and skills
Research has found benefit for students with special needs benefit from the repetition of skills (Maccini & Gagnon, 2000).
3.) Use mathematical problems/content with real-life application
Research has indicated that embedding math problems within real world context improves student motivation, participation, and generalization (Goodman a& Hasselbring, 1997; Maccini & Gagnon, 2000).
4.) Use partners or small groups
The value of cooperative groups for students with special needs has been noted by researchers (Maccini & Gagnon, 2000).
For students with writing challenges, research has supported the use of partner quizzes, which can help students with disabilities access the material and demonstrate their knowledge.
5.) Utilize classroom dialogue
Research has emphasized the value of in-class discussions of strategies and multiple solutions in standards-based mathematics classrooms for students with disabilities (Woodward & Montague, 2002).
6.) Use calculators
Research has suggested that calculators benefit students with disabilities, as it can be very time-consuming to do problems by hand for students with special needs, and perhaps doing them by hand is not really these students best use of instructional time (Woodward & Montague, 2002).
Calculators are often considered a standard accommodation for students with disabilities (Maccini & Gagnon, 2000).
References
Goldman, S. R., & Hasselbring, T. S. (1997). Achieving meaningful mathematics literacy for students with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 30, 198-208.
Maccini, P., & Gagnon, J. C. (2000). Best practices for teaching mathematics to secondary students with special needs. Focus on Exceptional Children, 32(5), 1-22.
Woodward, J., & Montague, M. (2002). Meeting the challenge of mathematics for students with LD. The Journal of Special Education, 23, 89-101.
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FAQs
What does resource mean on an IEP? ›
Published: Mar. 8, 2022Updated: Mar. 17, 2022. Whenever the student's percentage of time in general education is 51% or more, they're considered a resource student, which means for a percentage of their day, they are pulled out to work in a small group setting with a credentialed special ed teacher in a separate room.
What are resource rooms in special needs education? ›A resource room is a specialized educational environment within a regular school where students with disabilities or learning differences receive additional support and specially designed instruction, typically for a portion of their school day.
What are the 3 important components that make up special education? ›That's three separate, distinct, and critical elements–special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services–and each is worthy of a book on its own.
Why adapt learning resources for learners with special needs? ›Teachers can adapt classroom resources to provide students with SEN with the support they need to succeed. This can include providing additional one-to-one support or using differentiated resources that are tailored to each student's learning needs.
What does a resource plan include? ›Resource planning is the process of determining what resources are required to deliver projects and then allocating and scheduling the work based on team capacity. Planning your resources involves: Understanding who needs to work on what project and when. Figuring out who is available to do the work.
What is a resource assessment? ›A resources assessment is the process of gathering information about the resources available to address a particular need or risk.
What are the 3 R's in special education? ›- “R-E-S-P-E-C-T… Find out what it means to me!”
- Respect Relationships: “Mom, I mean Ms. Jones…”
- “Parent-friendly schools” recognize each child's individuality and welcome and respect all families. ...
- Effective communication is:
PLAAFP stands for Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance. It is sometimes referred to as “Present Levels.” This may be the most important part of the IEP because it tells you how the school assesses your child's skills. The PLAAFP will focus on your child's needs to help direct his learning.
What are the 7 special factors that must be considered in the development of any IEP? ›- Behavior (Keep scrolling)
- Limited English proficiency.
- Blindness or visual impairment.
- Communication needs/Deafness.
- Assistive technology.
Learning resources have the power to transform a dull, uninspiring classroom into an engaging and motivating environment. Visual aids, interactive tools, and hands-on materials capture students' attention and make learning enjoyable.
How to modify a lesson plan for special needs? ›
Some things you can do to add modifications and accommodations to lesson plans include the use of different materials, resources, worksheets, extended directions, and alternate assessments.
What are the learning resources used by learners with autism? ›- Educational. Resources for. Students with. Autism Spectrum. Disorders.
- Table of Contents. Handwriting Programs.
- ❖ Callirobics. ❖ Handwriting Without Tears. ❖ The Sensible Pencil.
- Reading Programs.
Action plan resources: These are the inputs required to execute the plan, e.g., labor, time, tools, and funds. Identifying action plan resources before delving into execution helps ensure tasks are not delayed or compromised due to resource constraints.
What is the purpose of resource class? ›Resource room program is a special education program for a student with a disability registered in either a special class or general education class who is in need of specialized supplementary instruction in an individual or small group setting for a portion of the school day.
What is considered a learning resource? ›These may include text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and links. E-portfolios are both demonstrations of the user's abilities and platforms for self-expression, and, if they are online, they can be maintained dynamically over time.
What are resources in a learning plan? ›Learning resources might include any of the following: Textbooks. Software. Relevant reading materials.