Mathematics at KS3 and dyslexia

The National Curriculum for mathematics is statutory in all maintained, mainstream schools up to and including key stage 4. An appropriate version of the curriculum is used in maintained special schools. Key Stage 3 covers years 7-9 (children aged from 12-14 years).

At KS3 there are demands of remembering strategies. The child will need to work creativity with different methods, and on open-ended tasks for which there is no right answer.  They will use a variety of strategies within one task.

You can:

• Support the pupil’s recall of strategies and help them understand when to use them. Help them with sequencing tasks and answering questions with more than one part
• Use hand-outs with a brief summary of the key concepts, in clear and simple language – include model answers in hand-outs
• Teach memory skills such as mind-mapping, webs and mnemonics
• Use colour-coding for different processes
• Review key skills before building on them
• Allow time for the pupil to take notes (keep this to a minimum) and help them write down homework tasks or better still, give out a clear hand-out
• Use tinted paper for hand-outs. Ensure that the interactive whiteboard is not too glaring – try a pastel-coloured projected background
• Have key vocabulary on a list that the pupil can refer to – get the pupil to illustrate or colour code it in a way that will help them to remember the meanings
• Use concrete examples to help the pupil develop concepts for example working with fractions supported by using divided up shapes; providing a story about why a maths problem would be helpful,  for example buying jeans marked as 20% off the given price, so what is the actual price they would need to pay?
• Avoid making the pupil think up answers in front of the class
• Be aware that the pupil will struggle with reading charts and graphs, particularly from an interactive whiteboard. Give them a print-out so they can use a ruler to look along the lines
• By this key stage many dyslexic children will have developed effective coping strategies and will appear to be doing well. Be sensitive to the fact that they will find it harder to cope with new concepts or written material

Now you might like to look at:

• Mathematics and dyslexia and key stage 2