Welcome,
students!
Gayatri Bihari
Pedagogy of mathematics
6th semester

Diagnosis of
difficulties in
learning
mathematics and
remedies for it

What we studied before?
Why we study mathematics
How we learn math
General difficulties students face
and what teachers can do in general.

Table of contents
02
04
01
03
Specific learning
difficulties
especially in math
What can be the
Specific remedies
Enrichment
programs
In math learning
How to diagnose
those students
having difficulties

Learning
disability, learning
disorder, or learning
difficulty (British English)
is a condition in the brain
that causes difficulties
comprehending or
processing information
and can be caused by
several different factors

LETS understand the difference
Learning
Difficulty
Learning
Disability
They are not the same
>Learning disabilities are
diagnosable
>Children with learning
disabilities are eligible for
special education
>Learning difficulties can be
confusing as they have some
slightly similar symptoms
but not as severe as the
symptoms of learning
disabilities

Symptoms of learning disabilities
in math
*memorization and organization
of numbers
*operation signs, and number
“facts”
*counting problems or difficulty
telling time

Types
Dyslexia
Dysphasia
Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
Dyspraxia

Dyslexia
impairment to interpret spatial
relationships
inability to integrate visual and auditory
information

Dyspraxia problems with fine motor tasks such as:
getting dressed, combing hair, using pens or
pencils etc.

Daniel Radcliffe
Most notable for
his role as Harry
Potter
has lived with a
mild case of
dyspraxia
For his entire life
till now

Dysphasia It is impairment in communication. Fully or
partially disabled to understand, speak, read,
write or do mathematical calculations

Dysgraphia severe writing difficulties .
inability to write

Dyscalculia severe difficulty in making simple
mathematical calculations

GIFTED CHILDREN & LEARNING
Gifted children can have symptoms for
LD’s
Gifted children have :
>uncommon learning styles
>Mistaken symptoms for learning
disabilities
>Learning disorders or difficulties but
not LD’s
>Some problems with instruction styles
& techniques

• Meeting with parents/guardians.
• Individualized education programs
General education classroom (GE)
• GE with indirect assistance
• GE with direct assistance
• GE with part resource room
• GE with part time special day class
Full time special day class at local
school Full time special day class at
special school
• Residential school

• Provide supervised practice to prevent students from practicing
misconceptions and "misrules."
• Help students to visualize math problems by drawing.
• Use visual and auditory examples.
• Use real-life situations that make problems functional and applicable to
everyday life.
• Do math problems on graph paper to keep the numbers in line.
• Use uncluttered worksheets to avoid too much visual information.
• Practice with age-appropriate games as motivational materials.
• Have students track their progress.
• Challenge critical thinking about real problems with problem solving.
• Use manipulatives and technology such as tape recorders or
calculators.
Role of teachers

Enrichment
programs
in
mathemati
cs learning

What enriching is not
Giving more of the same
work
Setting overly difficult
tasks
Offering less support

Enrichment
means
deepening the
learning of
your high
achievers
without
creating extra
work for them
Fast finishers and budding geniuses
need challenging enrichment activities

Program components
range
from academic lessons in
the core content areas
to enrichment activities
Enrichment programs

Goal
To discover and encourage students who
have the capacity for original and creative
thinking, readiness to attack unfamiliar and
non-routine problems exhibiting a general
mathematical ability appropriate to their
level.
Students from Schools, Junior Colleges of
all boards, Degree Colleges and
Technological Institutions in India and also
Schools affiliated to the CBSE abroad are
eligible to take this test.

IMO or the International Mathematics
Olympiad is a mathematics-based
competition conducted each year by the
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF).