Dyscalculia Classroom Action Plan

Dyscalculia characteristics are followed by best practices for the classroom.

By Renee Newman, M.Ed.,  Founder, Dyscalculia.org.   Published Feb. 26, 2020

1.  Student is able to do worksheets, but fails tests.

Substitute authentic assessments for traditional tests and quizzes. 

The student explains and demonstrates concepts using manipulatives, illustrations, and examples, or by making something that communicates all key ideas effectively. See more at: Testing Differently

2.  Student is unable to keep up in class.

Provide instructional redundancies in multiple forms: teacher notes, videos of lectures and demonstrations, study guides, manipulatives, step-by-step examples, and instant access to great resources that provide background information, prerequisite knowledge, illustrations and demonstrations, and practice exercises.

LD students need a hyperlinked syllabus or course schedule that details content with links to excellent resources for experiencing demonstrations, interactions and practice, visualizations and animations, verbal explanations, and opportunities to create. 

3.  Student is easily overwhelmed, experiences anxiety, shuts down, and avoids.

Interrupt this cycle by maximizing engagement, scaffolding, and supports. Provide active, ample opportunities for the student to see, hear, physically experience and prove, model, explain, and creatively demonstrate concepts. 

4.  Student is unable to work independently.

Build independence by guiding the student in the best hands-on activities with deliberate instruction on the language involved. Require the student to demonstrate the concepts until they can do so competently. Have the student create something that communicates the concepts. Then, have the student teach the concepts successfully and enthusiastically to four others, discussing key vocabulary, using rich verbal explanations, and with visual demonstrations that use manipulatives or  examples. 

5.  Student lacks basic skills: number sense, place value, and math facts.

Deliberately build fluency in the language of mathematics by teaching the student using money and a language-enhanced place value chart. Practice 20 minutes per day. For guidance and supplies, see:  Remediation .