Center for Teaching/Learning Mathematics Dyscalculia Readings & Resources Dyscalculia is an inability to conceptualize numbers, number relationships (arithmetic facts)
Dyscalculia is proving to be more widespread than dyslexia.
Although some dyslexics have similar problems with sequencing and organization,
the problems of the dyscalculic stem from the language, concepts, and
the procedures of mathematics.
Dyscalculia has 2 categories of origin: (1)Neurological/Cognitive, & (2) Environmental.
Neurological/Cognitive visual-perceptual deficits figure prominently
in adults and children with Dyscalculia.
Environmental factors include: an individual's mathematics learning personality,
presence or absence of prerequisite skills, adequate development of mathematical
language, and teaching methods.
When appropriate teaching methods match the student's needs, great progress is made.
The following characteristics are often displayed by Dyscalculics:
1. Difficulty grasping basic concepts of arithmetic, such as:
place value, number bonds, and fractions.
2. Difficulty with mental arithmetic and estimation.
3. Difficulty with sequences: following recipes, telling time, etc.
4. Difficulty with spatial orientation and space organization (whole-to-part and part-to-whole
relationships): left-right orientation; problems reading or retaining a multi-digit number;
reading & interpreting maps, charts, and measurements.
5. Problems interpreting codes and patterns, such as musical notation, shorthand,
and foreign languages.
6. Dislike for strategy games and toys.
Development of prerequisite skills: (sequencing, spatial orientation/space organization, Developing key concepts such as: place value, number bonds, and fractions by using concrete, The sequence for addition facts is N+1 and 1+N, N+10 and 10+N, The sequence for multiplication facts is: Table of 1, 10, 5, 2, 9, NxN, 3, 4, etc. The teaching methods must match the learning personality of a student
Diagnosis and remediation of learning problems in mathematics. Teacher training through lectures, courses, and publications. Regular workshops, seminars, and lectures on topics such as: Consultation with and training for parents to help their children cope with their anxieties Consultation services to schools and individual classroom teachers to help them evaluate their Assistance for the adult student who is returning to college and has anxiety
P.O. Box 3149 Framingham, MA 01701 Telephone: Mornings: (508) 877-7895 Fax: (508) 788-3600 
http://www.dyscalculia.org/CTLM.html
Mahesh C. Sharma, Director msharma@idea.cambridge.edu Lillian Travaglini, Assistant Director P. Manu Sharma, Assistant
