As a parent, you’re always on the lookout for effective math strategies to help your neurodivergent child thrive. Fear not, for we’ve got your back! In this post, we’ll share five practical strategies to make math more accessible and enjoyable for kids with thinking and learning differences. We’ll cover everything from using visuals to incorporating technology, so you can confidently support your child’s mathematical journey with the help of tools like Goally.
Table of Contents
1. Embrace Visual Aids
Firstly, let’s talk about the power of visuals. Neurodivergent kids often benefit from seeing concepts represented visually. Here are some ideas to incorporate visual aids into your math lessons:
- Use manipulatives like counting blocks, fraction tiles, or geometric shapes
- Draw diagrams or number lines to illustrate concepts
- Create colorful flashcards for math facts and formulas
Read more: How to Help Kids With ADHD Learn Math
Remember, the key is to make abstract concepts more concrete and easier to grasp. By using visual aids, you can help your child better understand math concepts and reduce frustration. Moreover, you can also explore Goally’s learning tablet, which offers a variety of visual tools to support your child’s learning journey.
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Goally’s Kid’s Tablet has one of the largest libraries of skill-building videos (like “How to Share” and “What To Do When You’re Lost”) in the Goal Mine app.👇
2. Break It Down with Chunking
Secondly, chunking is a game-changer. This technique involves breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. Here’s how you can apply chunking to math:
- Divide multi-step problems into individual steps
- Encourage your child to solve one step at a time
- Use checklists or visual organizers to track progress
By tackling problems piece by piece, your child can build confidence and reduce overwhelm. Furthermore, you can use Goally’s apps to help your child stay organized and focused while working through multi-step problems.
3. Make Math Multisensory
Thirdly, engage all the senses! Multisensory learning can be particularly helpful for neurodivergent kids. To create a multisensory math experience, consider the following:
- Use hands-on activities, like measuring ingredients for a recipe or sorting objects by size
- Incorporate auditory elements, such as counting aloud or listening to math songs
- Explore tactile materials, like playdough or sand, to create shapes and numbers
Read more: Customizable Free Printable Chore Charts
The more senses you engage, the more memorable and enjoyable math becomes. In addition, Goally’s learning tablet offers a variety of multisensory activities that can help your child better understand and enjoy math.
4. Encourage Real-World Connections
Fourthly, help your child see the relevance of math in everyday life. Real-world connections can make math more meaningful and engaging. Here are some ideas:
- Discuss how math is in various professions, like architecture or finance
- Point out math in daily activities, like calculating discounts or estimating travel time
- Create word problems based on your child’s interests, like sports or video games
By showing the practical applications of math, you can boost motivation and understanding. Plus, Goally’s apps can help your child practice real-world math skills in a fun and interactive way.
5. Harness the Power of Technology
Lastly, don’t underestimate the potential of technology. There are countless apps and online resources designed to support kids with thinking and learning differences. Here are some ways to incorporate technology into your math strategies:
- Explore educational apps that offer adaptive learning and progress tracking
- Use online tutorials or videos to reinforce concepts
- Play math games that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Technology can offer a fun and interactive way to practice and master math skills. Goally’s learning tablet and apps are specifically designed to support neurodivergent kids, making them an excellent resource for your child’s math journey.
Goally | Apps To Support Child Development
Looking for fun ways to help your child learn life skills? Try Goally! The Goally tablet comes with award-winning learning apps and video classes to help kids develop the skills they need to become independent with FUN & evidence-based practices.
Our apps teach executive function, language, emotional regulation, finger dexterity skills, and more.
As your child develops new skills, you can increase the difficulty level of the tasks in the app to challenge and motivate them even further. This helps your child grow and progress at their own pace, while also keeping them engaged and excited about their development.
Empower Your Child with Math Strategies That Work
To sum up, these five math strategies can make a world of difference for your neurodivergent child. By embracing visual aids, chunking, multisensory learning, real-world connections, and technology, you can create a supportive and engaging learning environment. Remember, every child is unique, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find the strategies that work best for your child. Together, with the help of tools like Goally, you can conquer the world of math and unlock your child’s full potential.
This post was originally published on 05/17/2023. It was updated on 08/09/2023.
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