Dyscalculia and You!

A simple book on Dyscalculia,
Written and Illustrated by Chloe Lim



1 An Introduction to Dyscalculia
5 Math Strategies and Activities
10 Recommended Equipment and

Further Reading

12 General Teaching Advice
13 Bibliography

Introduction

This book is for parents and kids who want to gain a better
understanding of what Dyscalculia is and how to better manage it
in an easy-to-understand format. Inside you’ll find a range of
math-related activities, recommended teaching
equipment, and strategies for both
parents and kids.

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that impacts how the brain
processes math. In kids, they may find it difficult to understand basic
mathematical concepts and to perform math-related tasks – from
calculating and memorizing to understanding abstract concepts.

Dyscalculia can present itself in many different ways, no two
children face the exact same challenges. Lexical, spatial, verbal
tend to be the main three areas of difficulty.

The Three Main Difficulties

Lexical Spatial Verbal





Lexical challenges may Spatial challenges affect Verbal math challenges

cause trouble in reading mathematical problem involve difficulty with

and comprehending solving due to difficulties talking about math

mathematical symbols and when handling the 2- concepts or relationships.

numbers, expressions and dimensional or spatial Reading and writing

equations. They may arrangement of numbers, numbers being fine, but

understand concepts when especially when there are being unable to talk about

spoken, but have trouble multi-digits. them, remember their

writing or understanding names, or recognise them

them. when spoken by others.

Common Misconceptions

What Dyscalculia isn't

Dyslexia (reading) and dyscalculia (math) are often mixed up. A child can have a
specific learning disability in reading, writing, and math, but on the other hand,
could just have a challenge in one academic area. Also, there are some children
with learning disabilities who also have attentional (ADD) challenges. It's
important to ensure that the academic challenge is not just due to attentional
challenges.

Dyscalculia is not just being "bad at math". It's more about understanding number
sense, which is so important in doing everyday tasks like grocery shopping,
cooking, scheduling, and budgeting.

Strategies

Kinesthetic

Some children learn better kinesthetically, in which case, using
physical movements can help solidify math facts in a child's mind,
such as counting out math facts while tossing a ball or jumping on a
trampoline. Math-related board
games are also a great strategy.

Strategies

Auditorily

Others may learn better auditorily, and if so, using music as a
learning tool can be a great help when it comes to memorizing
basic math facts. Other strategies can involve mnemonics, rhythmic
patterns, or reading math facts and/or problems out loud.

Strategies

Visually

Finally, for visual learners, it may help them to draw out patterns,
identify sequences, and use manipulatives while also orally saying
facts.

Activities

Complements Number Search

From The Dyscalculia Toolkit: Supporting Learning Difficulties in Maths

This game helps kids practice basic complements to 10 facts.

Using the grid below, the aim of the game is to circle any and all neighboring or
diagonally adjacent pairs of numbers that add up to 10.

Activities

Steer the Number

From The Dyscalculia Toolkit: Supporting Learning Difficulties in Maths

This game teaches kids place value and how to
break down addition.

Each person is given 10 numbers between 1-99. The
goal of the game is to create one of the numbers
given to them Base 10 rods on the place-value grid
below, when done so, they gain a point.

The rules are as follows: during each person's turn,
they may choose to change either the left side of
the grid - adding or subtracting as many 10s as they
want - or the right side of the grid - adding or
subtracting as many 1s as they want, but not both.
The game starts with a randomly generated
starting number between 1-99.

Recommended Teaching Equipment

Numicon
Base-10 Rods
100s Charts
Place Value Mats

Further Reading

Dyscalculia Toolkit, Linda Silbert, PhD and Alvin J.
Silbert, EdD
The Dyscalculia Toolkit: Supporting Learning
Difficulties in Maths, Ronit Bird
https://www.ddfocus.co.uk/

General Teaching Advice

This book is not a catch-all for strategies. I encourage you to do
further research so that you can provide a variety of strategies that
will empower your child to take responsibility for their own learning,
while also providing a safe atmosphere where they never ever feel
that they aren't intelligent.

Bird, Ronit. The Dyscalculia Toolkit: Supporting Learning Difficulties in Maths. Corwin, 2021.

British Dyslexia Association. “Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties.” British Dyslexia Association,
www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/neurodiversity-and-co-occurring-differences/dyscalculia-and-maths-
difficulties#:~:text=Dyscalculia%20is%20a%20specific%20and,across%20all%20ages%20and%20abilities.

Frye, Devon. “What Is Dyscalculia?” ADDitude, ADDitude, 14 Dec. 2021, www.additudemag.com/what-is-dyscalculia-
overview-and-symptom-breakdown/.

Kessler, Eve. “Dyscalculia: An Overview.” Smart Kids, Smart Kids, 2021, www.smartkidswithld.org/first-steps/what-are-
learning-disabilities/dyscalculia-an-overview/.

Lim, Chloe, and Bonnie Calanchini. “Questions.” 2 Jan. 2022.
Miller, Kelli. “Dyscalculia: Symptoms & Treatment of the Math Learning Disability.” WebMD, WebMD, 26 Oct. 2021,
www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/dyscalculia-facts#1.

Morin, Amanda. “7 Common Myths about Dyscalculia.” Understood, Understood, 22 Oct. 2020,
www.understood.org/articles/en/7-common-myths-about-dyscalculia.

Team, Understood. “What Is Dyscalculia?” Understood, Understood, 15 Oct. 2021, www.understood.org/articles/en/what-is-
dyscalculia.