Recognising a student’s strengths and weaknesses is the first step to getting help. Following identification, parents, teachers and other educators can work together to establish strategies that will help the student learn maths more effectively. Help outside of the classroom can assist a student to achieve mastery in areas of weakness before moving on to new topics. Repeated reinforcement and specific practice can make understanding easier.

Additional strategies to support individuals with dyscalculia can include:
  • Allowing the ongoing use of manipulatives
  • Explicit instruction in effective counting and calculation techniques
  • Allow the use of calculators when mental maths is not the objective of the lesson
  • Utilise number fact charts and times table charts to assist with recall
  • Use graph paper to assist with lining up written work appropriately
  • Focus on a few maths facts at a time and ensure mastery before introducing new facts
  • Allow additional time to complete maths activities or reduce the number of questions students need to complete in class
  • Play games that reinforce the maths concept
  • Make numbers friendlier (for example, 500 - 27 can be difficult for students with dyscalculia to complete due to the requirement to work across place value.  Encourage them to minus one from each number to make the calculation easier - 499 - 26)

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