Condition Description
· Dyslexia
o “Dyslexia is a processing difference experienced by people of all ages. Often characterized by difficulties in literacy, it can affect other cognitive areas such as memory, speed of processing, time management, coordination and directional aspects” (Reid & Green, 2007).
· Dyscalculia
o Developmental dyscalculia is “a condition that affects the ability to acquire arithmetical skills. Dyscalculic learners may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers, and have problems learning number facts and procedures. Even if they procedure a correct answer or use a correct method, they may do so mechanically and without confidence” (Butterworth & Yeo, 2004).
Obtaining Assistance
· Dyslexia
o Teachers can use checklists to record early signs of dyslexia
o Dyslexia Portfolio – eight short tests that assess reading, spelling, phonology and digit span
o Wechsler Intelligence Scale
· Dyscalculia
o Piagetian test of conservation of number, classification, and seriation
o Rey-Osterrieh’ Complex Figure Test – assesses attentive analytical and perceptual-organizational skills and the degree of precision.
Condition Characteristics
· Dyslexia – the following are some characteristics of dyslexia, but are not limited to
o Unusually slow to write and to copy information
o Cannot easily remember verbal instruction
o Shows little interest in reading
o Becomes embarrassed if asked to read in public
o Demonstrates a lack of confidence in own ability
o Often reverses the order of words or letters when speaking
o Confuses the order of sounds
o Weakness in working memory
o Weakness in visual memory
· Dyscalculia
o Lack the basic capacity for understanding numbers
o Depend on “immature strategies” (ex: counting on fingers to solve problems)
o Can sometimes be associated with dyslexia, attention-deficit hypertension disorder (ADHD), poor hand-eye coordination, and poor memory for non-verbal material
o Anxiety with numbers
o Lacks the “starter kit” for developing understanding of number and number operations
Accommodations
· Dyslexia
o 100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils with Dyslexia (2007) by Gavin Reid and Shannon Green
o Pre-task or pre-topic discussion
o Keep it short and visual
o Present information in small amounts with frequent opportunities for repetition and revision.
o Teach the basics
· Dysculia
o Continue developing the students’ basic understanding of numbers and number operations
o Focus on the basic content
o Use concrete materials which helps student secure an understanding but also function as foundation-building cognitive tools
o 100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils with Dyslexia (2007) by Gavin Reid and Shannon Green
o Teach at the pace of dyscalculic learners
o Provide students with lots of practice for learning and repetition
o Teach in small, progressive steps
Professional Support Services - List specific professionals and the services that they may be able to provide to assist students, families, and teachers.
· Dyslexia
o The Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils (CReSTeD) – a registered charity that produces a register of schools that offer appropriate provision for dyslexic pupils
o
· Dysculia
o The Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils (CReSTeD) – a registered charity that produces a register of schools that offer appropriate provision for dyslexic pupils
o There is no specific training for teachers who are working with dyscalculic pupils
Website & Professional Literature Reviews
· Dyscalculia Guidance (2004) by Brian Butterworth and Dorian Yeo
o This book is a great resource for teachers to provide guidance and support to pupils who have developmental dyscalculia. The book explains what dyscalculia is, guidelines for helping dyscalculics, and teaching approaches for dyscalculic learners. The book offers many strategies for working with students in areas of mathematics like addition, subtraction, counting, measurement, word problems, and more.
· “Understanding Dyscalculia for Teaching” (Education Magazine: Summer 2004) by Sheila Rao Vaidya
o This article gives a brief overview of dyscalculia. It explains what dyscalculia is, ways to test for dyscalculia, teaching mathematics as a “second language”, teaching mathematics in a sequential ordering, and a summary of the best practices for teaching students with dyscalculia. This article provides some lacking mathematical concepts to look for in students before having students tested for this learning disabilities.
· 100 Ideas for Supporting Pupils with Dyslexia (2007) by Gavin Reid and Shannon Green
o This book does not provide the background of dyslexia, but instead provides one hundred ways a teacher or a parent can work with a child with dyslexia. The book focuses on basic teaching strategies and then focuses on reading comprehension, spelling, writing, memory, and even discusses mathematics. This book would be useful for teacher looking to make small adjustments in the classroom in order to meet the needs of students with dyslexia.
· LD Online (http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/math)
o This website offers a variety of information for parents and educators. There are articles, a question-answer section, an online store, forums, and recommended links. If a teacher is looking for a basic understanding of dyscalculia, this would be an appropriate place to start. This website also has links to other learning disabilities, therefore can be useful for other areas as well.
· Understanding Dyslexia: A Guide for Teachers and Parents (2009) by Denis Lawrence
o This book gives a detailed explanation of all aspects of dyslexia. Some of the main aspects of this book is the history of dyslexia, forms of assessment, strategies and techniques to help dyslexic children, how to meet the child’s emotional needs that have dyslexia, societies views on dyslexia, and similar learning difficulties that overlap with dyslexia. This book would be appropriate for parents and teachers by providing them with the knowledge to help the child become successful.
Children’s Literature Reviews
· What Do You Know About Dyslexia (1996) by Pete Saunders and Steve Myers
o This book is part of a series that discusses social issues concerning learning difficulties. This book explores dyslexia from a personal perspective as well as a social perspective. This book has different scenarios that present ways of coping and working with children as well as children working with their peers. This book really focuses on the idea of acceptance and how to reach this outcome.
· Niagara Falls, or does it? (2003) by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
o This book is the first book in a series about an upper elementary boy who just doesn’t quite understand what is going on in the classroom. When a teacher assigns an essay about what the students did over summer break, Hank tries as many ways as possible to get out of writing the essay. He went to Niagara Falls during the summer and decides to bring Niagara Falls to the classroom instead of writing about it. This book reveals the emotional and intellectual struggles children with dyslexia and how they handle it at times.
