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Q:
My child struggles with writing, and math, and has trouble
remembering symbols. Because he reverses symbols, I am wondering
if he has dyslexia, but he can read. Is it possible that he
has dyslexia and can you recommend a curriculum?
Answer:
It
actually sounds like your son has a disability that is a modified
form of dyslexia. Since he is reading now and primarily struggles
with Math, he probably has the "sister" disability of dyscalculia
(see http://www.dyscalculiainfo.org/
and http://www.dyscalculia.org/#Dyscalculia
for more info).
I homeschool my child as well and have had significant results
via Math-U-See and Cuisenaire Rods. My child has gone from
having difficulty remembering any facts, to being a realitive
Math whiz on grade level (not advanced). We are now working
more where I'd expect in relation to overall intellectual
ability (which is also above average ;-). We also started
out in public school, but realized that was going to get us
nowhere!
Our neuropsychologist recommended using a 'self-regulating'
memory system for memorizing math facts, which worked very
well for our guy along with Math-U-See and Cuisenaire Rods.
Basically, you put each math fact on a flash card.. and put
the fact on one side of the card, and the answer on the other
side (for example, 9x5 on one side and 45 on the other side).
Your child then drills himself daily. He reads the problem
out loud.. "Nine times five is ____." If he can fluently say,
"Nine times five is forty-five", he flips the card over to
verify he is correct and puts the card in an "I know it" pile.
If he hesitates trying to recall the answer.. He turns the
card over, reads the answer out loud, then puts it back in
his hand at the back of the deck.
You begin with one set of math facts.. By starting with a
few cards, the cards will cycle through fast enough that the
child will eventually be able to remember some of what he
JUST read.. then as he eliminates cards, the re-review comes
up more rapidly and he may be able to remember. Eventually
he'll have one card in his hand and can read the problem,
then see the answer, then flip it over and read the problem
and hopefully answer it because there will be virtually NO
delay.
After all facts in one set are mastered, you ADD another set.
We did our facts in this order x0, x1, x10, x11, x2, x5, x3,
x4, x6, x7, x8, x9, x12. After we had about five sets of facts,
I'd pull out the earliest set and have my child keep about
5 sets going.
This system has worked extremely well for our child who also
has short-term memory deficits. By letting the child do the
cards himself.. HE can 1) take responsibility for his own
learning 2) regulate how much time he gives himself to think
of the answer and 3) review if he doesn't know the answer
-- Plus, as time goes on, your child will develop his own
internal means of figuring out how to remember things which
is the BIG key to long-term success.
Hope
that helps!
Sandy
http://www.LearningAbledKids.com/
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