Math:
Math is an important skill for students to know and is something they will use in everyday life. There are math manipulatives that can assist special needs students in developing certain math skills. Also, many special needs students can
benefit from and be engaged by the use of computers
in the Math classroom. They can provide
them with the external motivation needed to complete a Math task. The term educational
application refers to the use of software programs and interactive web
based activities. A teacher can select
educational applications and programs that students can use that target the
skill they are working on. Also, the
program selected can be formatted in a way that can fit that particular
student’s learning style. The
educational applications chosen must include certain features that will make it
accessible to all students in the classroom.
These features include:
It is also important to address the areas of attaining fluency and automaticity, achieving visual-spatial information, understanding specific math concepts (number sense, time measurement, and money), and solving word problems for students with special needs. Educational applications and technology can help these needs to be addressed and practiced by the student on the classroom.
- Simplified screen instructions
- Consistent placement of menus and control features
- Graphics along with text to support nonreaders and early readers
- Audio output (spoken instructions, auditory feedback…etc)
- Accessibility by a variety of methods
- Ability to set pace and level of difficulty
- Appropriate and ambiguous feedback
- Easy error correction
It is also important to address the areas of attaining fluency and automaticity, achieving visual-spatial information, understanding specific math concepts (number sense, time measurement, and money), and solving word problems for students with special needs. Educational applications and technology can help these needs to be addressed and practiced by the student on the classroom.
Low tech tools:
Math Number Line: Students with special needs can use a math line to assist them with their math skills. It can be used by students to develop and strength their number sense. Also, it is a helpful tool to assist them with their math problems in addition and subtraction. Number lines are used also to help students learn how to skip count by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s and so on. It is also useful because it provides special needs students a visual of what the numbers look like and how they are formed.
This following website can be used to print number lines in areas of math such as:
Also, it contains blank number lines so the teacher can customize it for the student.
http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/oth_number_lines.htm
This following website can be used to print number lines in areas of math such as:
- early addition and subtraction problems
- skip counting
- integers
- decimals
- measurement
- money
- fractions
Also, it contains blank number lines so the teacher can customize it for the student.
http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/oth_number_lines.htm
Counting Manipulatives: These are objects that students can use to help them with their counting skills. Students can count the number of a given object physically to increase their number sense. This helps those special needs students that are really struggling with math skills such as counting. These students can use these colorful objects to provide them with a concrete picture of what the number you are asking them to count really looks like. Counting manipulatives also include place value blocks which can help students understand all about the concept of place value. Also, students can use play money to help them learn how to count change and bills.
Counting manipulatives include things such as:
Counting manipulatives include things such as:
- unifix/linking cubes
- plastic coins and paper money
- double sided counters
- color teddy counters
- place value blocks
- math links
- fraction, decimal and percent circles
- geometric foam shapes/tangrams
Mid Tech Tools:
Talking Calculator- This device serves more to special needs students than just helping them with their math calculations. It actually has a built in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol or operation key. This can assist special needs students by having them relate the word being spoken to them by the calculator to the appropriate number, symbol or operation key. Essentially, by hearing these math terms spoken out to them they can start to make a connection between the word and the operation. This device also reads the problem that the student did along with the answer. A talking calculator can also be beneficial to those students who are visually impaired.
Coin-u-lator- This device is a calculator used to count money and teach coin values. However, instead of having number keys it has keys on it with coin buttons and a dollar bill button. The buttons include pictures of the actual coins and a dollar bill. Special needs students can use this device to help them learn how to count money. Also, it displays the coin values and the answer to the problem the student is doing on the screen. In addition, students can add or subtract coin and bill values they are struggling to learn in the classroom. It provides these students with both a visual and auditory way of learning.
The Coin-u-lator has features that include:
The Coin-u-lator has features that include:
- a switch to change from addition or subtraction
- 2 games (money matching game and a coin counting game)
- unique and fun sounds
- a mute button to turn the sounds off
- color coded buttons
High Tech Tools:
MathPad: MathPad is a talking arithmetic worksheet program that students with special needs can use to help them with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This program shows the math problem to the student in the appropriate format. Therefore, it lines up math problems automatically and prompts students to know when they need to regroup. This can make it less stressful for special needs students because it is hard enough for them to solve a math problem without it being lined up the wrong way. The program can have students find a solution using minimal keystrokes and movement.
MathPad is useful because:
MathPad is useful because:
- it comes with 12 sample problems specific to level of difficulty
- teachers can customize the problems to fit the student’s needs
- it allows students to be more independent and work through the problems through the program
- teachers can customize features such as the color, text and auditory feedback
- it is accessible through IntelliKeys, switches, a keyboard or mouse
FASTT Math Next Generation: FASTT Math is a math intervention program that helps students develops math fact fluency and automaticity skills. It helps those special needs students who are having difficulty keeping up with their math skills and who are lower level. FASTT MATH creates an individualized learning progression for each student in order to see if they are learning the given math skills. Also, it assesses students on their skills and helps to provide them with programs to help them work on the skills they scored lower in. Therefore, it targets the specific areas the student needs help in and works towards them progressing their skills and being able to apply them correctly.
FASTT Math Next Generation:
The following is a YouTube video on FASTT Math Generation:
FASTT Math Next Generation:
- has 18 new and engaging math games
- includes an initial math fact fluency assessment that assesses the students skills in 10 minutes
- provides individualized lessons and independent practice of the skill
- shows instantly the progress of the student
- includes teacher reports to display student progress on the skills
- has both visual and auditory learning
The following is a YouTube video on FASTT Math Generation:
Resources:
Counting Manipulatives: Lakeshore. "Mathematics
Manipulatives". Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://products.lakeshorelearning.com/nav/subcat/mathematics_manipulatives/cat/mathematics/0?gclid=CNLqoZSRh7YCFcme4AodVAkAUg
Dell, A.G., Newton, D.A., & Petroff, J.G. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Helping with Math. “Printable Number Lines for Math”. Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/oth_number_lines.htm
IntelliTools. "MathPad". Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://www.intellitools.com/mathpad.html
PCI Education. "Talking Calculator". Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://www.pcieducation.com/store/item.aspx?DepartmentId=42&CategoryId=15&TypeId=11&ItemId=42113&#bottomTabs
PCI Education. (n.d.). “Coin-u-lator”. Retrieved April 15, 2013. From http://www.pcieducation.com/coin-u-lator.aspx#bottomTabs.
Scholastic Inc. (2013). “Fastt Math Next Generation”. Retrieved April 15, 2013. From http://teacher.scholastic.com/math-fact-fluency/fastt-math-next-generation/
TSynderProd. (2010 March 31). “FASTT Math Intervention Model”. Retrieved April 15, 2013. From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqrvXoAZZkQ&list=PLD321B45438B32EF5
Dell, A.G., Newton, D.A., & Petroff, J.G. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Helping with Math. “Printable Number Lines for Math”. Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/oth_number_lines.htm
IntelliTools. "MathPad". Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://www.intellitools.com/mathpad.html
PCI Education. "Talking Calculator". Retrieved April 16, 2013 from http://www.pcieducation.com/store/item.aspx?DepartmentId=42&CategoryId=15&TypeId=11&ItemId=42113&#bottomTabs
PCI Education. (n.d.). “Coin-u-lator”. Retrieved April 15, 2013. From http://www.pcieducation.com/coin-u-lator.aspx#bottomTabs.
Scholastic Inc. (2013). “Fastt Math Next Generation”. Retrieved April 15, 2013. From http://teacher.scholastic.com/math-fact-fluency/fastt-math-next-generation/
TSynderProd. (2010 March 31). “FASTT Math Intervention Model”. Retrieved April 15, 2013. From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqrvXoAZZkQ&list=PLD321B45438B32EF5