Day 7: 7-23-10

Hurray its Friday and we all are ready for the day to come to an end. The children are ready to see their parents and watch tv for the weekend. Some of students are going to the movies to see “Toy Story 3” in 3d and some are going to the beach to lay under the sun. So today we are covering math multiplications along with basic adding and subtraction.
The students have work sheets in front of them and are working out each problem without the teacher help. Mr.McCraw told me to assist James with his worksheet due to his disorder which is dyscalculia. Dyscalculia is a learning disability that occurs when a child struggles in math. Dyscalculia doesn't have a specific area of math that defines its diagnosis. Instead, dyscalculia can occur in any area of the large spectrum that is mathematics It is very individualized, affecting one child in his ability to add numbers and another child in his ability to read the numbers correctly or put them in order. The disability of dyscalculia is often as individual as the child himself.
I had James to use graphing paper to help him organized problems on regular lined paper. Also I was assisting him on different ways to learn math facts, instead of memorizing basic addition facts. Also showed him strategies on how to solve problems quickly. Strategies that help James was drawing tables, circles and the adding the circles together to get the number.
The school accommodated this type of disorder by teaching the child how to estimate. Which is a good way to start solving number problems. Teaching any new concepts by starting with the concrete and slowly moving to more abstract examples. They also show how to use manipulative when teaching new concepts. Students with math disabilities find working with his or her hands helpful in learning a new skill.

The school provide work areas that are quiet and free from distractions when its necessary. Often times, if taking a test, a child with a math disability may be allowed to take the test in the presence of a special education teacher, in a separate room in James case. More time is allowed for students with dyscalculia to work on problems and test.
James was working out his own problem but felt more secure about doing his work with someone by his side. His mother said that she doesn’t really have an issue with him at home when it comes to his homework. She makes sure that she provides her son with all her attention and make sure that the tv or radio is not on. James mother reinforce the same accommodation that the school provides at home, which I believe that those steps are going to make James successful in the long run when it comes to school and life.