General Math Strategies
Clients may need support in developing their math accuracy. This could be done through specific math strategies or through general learning/teaching strategies. Although students may have a strong understating of quantitative relationships, due to weaknesses in certain costive processes such as working memory or attention, they may make callers errors at times.
General Math Strategies To Improve Accuracy & Performance
- Emphasizing learning strategies for quick calculation and estimation.
- Recommending the use of a calculator when exact answers are required for accurate problem-solving is required.
- Encourage the client to summarize the question before trying to solve it to ensure he has not missed important information.
- Encourage the use of visual images and manipulatives to help in problem-solving.
- Try tot increase and build simple computation skills. There are various workbooks available on the web, such as Mental Math Mental Computation – Nova Scotia Education
- You could suggest that the client focuses at home, on real-world math to understand the part-whole relationship. This can include money, time, and measurement in at-home tasks like baking, shopping, home repairs, and scheduling activities.
- Use direct instruction to teach mathematics concepts by writing examples of multi-step mathematics problems on the board and making note of what is required to complete the problems. Number the steps in the order they are to be completed.
- Keep sample math problems visible. Keep a step-by-step model of a problem on the board for students to refer to. It may also be helpful for the client to have a model at their desk for reference.
- Photocopy pages for your client so she/he does not have to take notes or rewrite math problems. Enlargements of original copies give students extra room to show work and write answers. This enables them to use their cognitive energy for completing the problems instead of copying them.
- Allow the client to have access to calculators to explore mathematical ideas and experiences, to develop and reinforce skills, to support problem-solving activities, and to perform calculations and manipulations.
- Shorten homework assignments in math. For example, assign every second, third, or fourth mathematics problem that still covers the skills required for mastering major mathematics concepts
- Have the client verbalize successive steps in mathematical operations prior to doing them. This verbalization should clarify exactly what the client will need to do to solve the problem.
- The client’s teacher can also ask them what the “plan” is, in order to correct misunderstandings early on.
- Have your client summarize the question before trying to solve to ensure he has not missed important information. It may be helpful to keep a step-by-step model of a problem on the board or at your client’s workstation for him/her to refer to.
- The client’s teacher can also ask them what the “plan” is, in order to correct misunderstandings early on.
- Concrete materials are likely to improve your client’s performance in math, as they give students a hands-on or visual model to work with and can help increase understanding of underlying concepts.
- Provide visual supports to support the acquisition of math facts (e.g., pictures, diagrams).