Dyscalculia
Last updated
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability in math that affects number sense, learning math facts and accurate, fluent calculation.
Topic: Disability categories and conditions
In plain terms
Students with dyscalculia may have trouble judging quantities, understanding place value, remembering facts or following the steps of a procedure. They might count on fingers long after peers stop, or struggle to tell which of two numbers is larger. It is not caused by poor teaching or low effort. Under IDEA, students usually qualify under specific learning disability in math calculation or problem solving.
How it shows up in an IEP
Goals target number sense, fact fluency, computation or problem solving, using explicit instruction, concrete-representational-abstract sequences and frequent probes. Accommodations such as a facts chart or calculator support grade-level work.
Example
A fourth grader solves single-digit addition by counting on fingers. A goal targets 30 correct digits per minute on mixed facts, taught with number lines and strategy practice.
Related terms
- Specific learning disabilityA specific learning disability is a disorder in a basic learning process that affects listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling or math.
- Number senseNumber sense is an intuitive understanding of numbers, their sizes, their relationships and how they change when combined.
- Math fact fluencyMath fact fluency is the ability to recall basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts quickly and accurately.
- CRA (concrete-representational-abstract)CRA is a teaching sequence that moves from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers and symbols, so students understand math before working abstractly.
- Place valuePlace value is the idea that a digit's value depends on its position in a number, such as ones, tens or hundreds.
On IEP Atlas
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