Why Singapore Math is a Great Curriculum for Children with Dyslexia

The Singapore Math curriculum provides a highly visual and methodical approach to thinking about math and solving word problems and using games to teach children math.

One reason many will turn to the Singapore math method is that it’s a great curriculum for teaching children with dyslexia. Learn more about dyslexia and Singapore math and why it may be a good solution for your child or students.

Dyslexia in Detail

The truth is that having dyslexia can make it hard to learn math. It’s essentially a learning difference that causes trouble with making sense of numbers and math concepts. Math problems typically lack context and use complex grammar and words that are challenging for a person with dyslexia. The majority of dyslexic children have strong visual and spatial reasoning skills, therefore, they tend to understand math concepts taught through manipulative or visual cues. Since math for children with dyslexia can be more challenging you may want to try using Singapore math for teaching.

What is Singapore Math

The Singapore math curriculum is based on the learning concepts proposed by Jerome Bruner, the renowned American psychologist. It focuses on understanding the concepts of mathematics rather than the content. The pictorial and abstract form of learning comes only after the concrete form, which helps a child analyze a problem better.

You can think of it as concrete, pictorial, and then abstract. You may consider rolling dice and having the child count them versus turning to complete addition problems in a textbook, for example. You can also use colored pencils, blocks, or anything else to teach the concepts of addition and subtraction in a more visual sense.

Tips for Helping Dyslexic Children with Math

Some tips will help you teach a dyslexic student math and ensure success and less frustration. For instance, use the Singapore math approach as a way to include visual strategies for teaching and demonstrating how to solve math problems. Avoid just having them work problems out of a textbook and instead explain how specific math concepts apply to everyday life. The curriculum will also help you use multisensory game play to motivate and increase retention. It’s also wise to avoid busywork or having them review over and over again.

Next Steps

For all these reasons you may want to start to teach a child with dyslexia math using the Singapore math method. MyMathVideos© provides you with a certified math instructor trained in Singapore Math® to fit the needs of any curriculum you choose and children can watch math videos online. Each Singapore Math® video is taught as if your students have a live teacher. It’s not only a method of teaching math, but a strategy to apply that will help students think more like a mathematician.

Conclusion

Singapore math is a way to begin to learn math in a whole new light and will help children with dyslexia do so successfully. It’s a strategy they can fall back on if they get stuck and will help to build more self-confidence in solving math problems over time.