Teaching Math to Students with Dyslexia at Home
Math can be tricky for students with dyslexia because they see often numbers and math concepts differently. Remembering math facts and solving word problems can be especially hard, and mixing up numbers and misunderstanding math ideas can make it difficult to learn. But, teaching math to students with dyslexia doesn’t have to be hard. In this blog post, you’ll learn strategies that make math easier for students with dyslexia, and what to look for in a homeschool math curriculum that supports kids with dyslexia. With these tools, math can become less confusing and more enjoyable for everyone.
I received compensation and a CTCMath Homeschool Membership in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.
Dyslexia and Homeschool Math
Teaching math to students with dyslexia requires understanding their unique challenges and providing the right support. Dyslexia affects reading and language skills, but it can affect math skills too. Signs of dyslexia include challenges with numbers, quantities, math signs, operations, and math concepts that make math challenging for kids, and this can impact a student’s ability to complete math problems.
Students with dyslexia may mix up numbers or math signs, which can make calculations tricky. They might also get confused with operations and different math ideas, making it harder to understand and solve problems step by step. Word problems can be tough too, as they have lots of words to sort through to figure out what’s important. Remembering math facts, like times tables, can also be a challenge due to working memory weaknesses.
These challenges happen because of brains that work differently for students with dyslexia. Processing weakness means it takes them longer to understand math information. Working memory weakness makes it harder to hold onto information while doing math. And sometimes, attention weakness can make it tough to stay focused during math activities.
In addition, dyscalculia, a specific learning disability in math, is often seen with dyslexia. In fact, around 40-60% of students with dyslexia also have dyscalculia.
But here’s the good news: teaching math to students with dyslexia doesn’t have to be hard. By understanding these challenges and using the right strategies, we can make math easier and even enjoyable for them. And, choosing math programs that teach math in the way that kids with dyslexia learn can make the process easier, too.
Teaching Math to Students with Dyslexia
Use these tips to make math easier for your student with dyslexia.
Include Hands-On Learning
Teaching math to kids with dyslexia is often easier whenever you can combine different ways of learning in a multisensory approach. Dyslexic learners can benefit from hands-on activities that engage their senses and spatial reasoning skills.
Incorporate manipulatives, like blocks or counters, into your lessons. These physical objects allow your kids to touch, move, and explore math concepts in a tangible way.
Then, encourage them to create a pictorial representation or diagram to visualize the problem and solution. By appealing to their different learning styles and incorporating hands-on learning, you can provide a solid foundation for understanding math in the early grades. Remember, being a math student with dyslexia doesn’t mean they can’t succeed – it means they need different approaches that work best for their unique strengths.
Short, Structured Lessons
One of the most effective strategies for teaching math to kids with dyslexia is to use short lessons that are clear and sequential.
Start with clear and concise directions, that break down complex problems into smaller, manageable steps. Following a step-by-step plan to find the correct answer to a math problem can be one of the most difficult aspects of math for kids with dyslexia, so it’s important to keep lessons short and simple for kids that are having a hard time in this area.
This is why I love resources like CTCMath. CTCMath is a complete online math curriculum for kids in kindergarten through high school. The curriculum includes short video lessons that teach kids how to solve math problems step by step. I love what the curriculum’s founder, Pat Murray, says about short math lessons.
“Some teachers can take upwards of 15 minutes teaching even a simple concept. It’s so boring it could send a whole army to sleep. Far better, and this is the method I prefer, is to teach the concept in about 4 minutes, and get the kids to practice it for the next 11 minutes. Same 15 minutes. But this time around, the kids have actually learned something. And have a much greater chance of recalling it later on.”
Pat murray, founder of ctcmath
The lessons in the CTCMath Homeschool Membership include explicit instruction with simple, step-by-step directions, and lots of examples to illustrate math concepts. This curriculum’s short lessons are especially beneficial for students with dyslexia because they help kids focus and they accommodate memory issues commonly associated with dyslexia.
My kids love the short lessons in the CTCMath Homeschool Membership. They are always engaged with the videos all the way to the end because the simple explanations make math easy for them. I love that this boosts their confidence, too.
Lots of White Space
In your homeschool math classroom, what your math curriculum looks like can make a big difference for dyslexic children. It’s important to consider dyslexia-friendly fonts and formatting techniques to set your child up to succeed.
It is especially important to make sure there is enough spacing between lines, words, and paragraphs. Cluttered layouts can overwhelm dyslexic learners, making it harder for them to navigate the content. By providing a lot of white space, you create a visually uncluttered environment that allows the dyslexic brain to focus on math concepts without unnecessary distractions.
I love the way that CTCMath formats the curriculum to be friendly for students with a language-based learning difference. Students see just one problem presented at a time, and there is lots of white space, which avoids overwhelming dyslexic learners. By providing a clean and focused learning experience, CTCMath helps dyslexic children concentrate on the math content at hand.
I have really noticed this difference with my daughter. Sometimes, when she looks at a whole workbook page full of math programs, she gets intimidated and says it’s “too hard” without even trying. This never happens with CTCMath because she only sees one problem at a time. She can focus on the problem she’s solving, without worrying about the others.
Read more reviews of CTCMath for Homeschool here.
Use Visual Cues
Students with dyslexia will have an easier time learning math when we emphasize keywords or essential terms to make them stand out. By highlighting, underlining, or drawing arrows to the important words, dyslexic students can better focus on the critical elements of a math problem or question. This helps them identify key information and stay on track while solving the problem.
Take Your Time
Dyslexic students may need more time to fully understand math concepts, and accommodating their needs is essential for their success.
By providing additional time during assessments or assignments, dyslexic students can work at a comfortable pace, ensuring they have enough time to absorb the information thoroughly. This extended time allows them to process math concepts at their own speed, which means deeper understanding and more accuracy in their work.
I love the way that CTCMath supports students who need extra time to learn concepts. All of the lessons are available as on-demand videos, which means that kids can watch the videos over and over until they understand each concept fully.
This is perfect for my family because I don’t have to get frustrated that I’m repeating the same lesson over and over again. My kids can watch as many times as they need to.
CTCMath is a mastery math curriculum, which means that kids will learn and review a concept until they understand it deeply before moving on.
A subscription to CTCMath also comes with unlimited access to all the grade levels, so students can review and reinforce their understanding at their own pace, without any time constraints.
Focus on Word Problems
Word problems can be extra challenging for students with dyslexia because they have so much text. However, there are strategies that can make these problems more manageable and accessible for kids.
Start by helping students break down the word problem into smaller sections. By identifying and separating the key information, dyslexic students can focus on one piece at a time, which makes the problem less overwhelming.
Underlining important details within the problem can also be beneficial. This technique draws attention to crucial information and helps dyslexic students stay on track while solving the problem.
Encourage the use of diagrams or visual representations to visualize the situation described in the word problem. Dyslexic students often excel in visual thinking, and using visual aids can enhance their understanding and problem-solving abilities.
Use Multiple Learning Styles
Engaging students with dyslexia in math is easier when you use multiple different kinds of learning, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles.
Supplement written instructions with verbal explanations to provide an additional layer of comprehension. By hearing the information, dyslexic students can reinforce their understanding and grasp concepts more effectively.
Technology-based resources, like CTCMath, can be particularly beneficial. CTCMath is better than a textbook-based curriculum because students have access to instructional videos that cater to both visual and auditory learners.
Read more benefits of using CTCMath for Homeschool here.
Include Extra Review
Reinforcing mathematical concepts for dyslexic students may require more repetition and practice. By providing regular review opportunities, ample practice exercises, and gradually increasing the complexity of problems, we can build their confidence and skills in math.
CTCMath makes it easy for homeschool families to practice math every day. The curriculum is available anywhere with an internet connection, which makes learning homeschool math online with CTCMath easy.
As a busy homeschool parent, I love that my kids can use CTCMath without any planning or preparation from me. When it’s time for math, all I need to do is log in to the website so they can complete the next lesson.
I also love that my kids can complete the lessons independently. The app is easy enough to navigate that my kids could both find they way around when they were in kindergarten, before they were reading independently. I love seeing my kids’ confidence grow as they complete lessons on their own, and I love the freedom to be able to work one-on-one with a sibling while each of my kids has their turn with CTCMath.
Learn more about how CTCMath works here!
CTCMath: Homeschool Math for Students with Dyslexia
Teaching math to students with dyslexia requires understanding and implementing strategies that address their specific challenges. Each student with dyslexia is unique, so it’s important to customize your approach to their individual strengths and challenges. By creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, you can help dyslexic students thrive in mathematics.
If you are looking for a homeschool math curriculum that works well for teaching math to dyslexic students, I highly recommend CTCMath. I love that CTCMath offers a comprehensive math curriculum that caters to different learning styles. With simple step-by-step instructions, plenty of white space on the screen, and videos that provide lots of opportunities for review, this curriculum provides an engaging and accessible learning experience.
Right now, CTCMath is offering a free trial of the curriculum so you can see how it works for your child for yourself.
Get started with a free trial of CTCMath today!
