Innovative Practices in
Developmental Mathematics
(IPDM)
Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities
(LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College?
April 15, 2016
Salvatore Sommella, Adjunct Lecturer
ssommella@lagcc.cuny.edu
Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with
Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Objective/Aims
• Review Research regarding Learning Disabilities (LD)
• Survey of LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) Math096
• Examine Strategies to:
• Improve Problems solving capabilities
• Improve chances of passing CUNY Algebra final test
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with
Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• I would like to thank and acknowledge the following individuals who
motivated me to examine LD and Math Education
•
•
•
•
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LaGuardia Community College - MEC
Qi-jiian Gau, (Jan) - IT Inst. Research and Analysis
Mr. Jhony Nelson, Office of Students with Disabilities
Dr. Barbara Lawrence – Mathematical Methods Professor, Pace University
Dr. Peter McDermott – Professor of Education, Pace University
La Guardia Community College
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Learning Disabilities (LD) Types
• Dyscalculia
• Deficient in number-handling
region intraparietal sulcus (5% of
school population). As common as
• Dyslexia
• Attention deficit syndrome
• Nonverbal Learning Disability
(NLD)
• Right Hemisphere Disability
• May affect
• Comprehension of abstract
information
• Acquisition of fundamental
mathematics concepts (numeration,
place value, and estimation (Bos &
Vaughn)
• Similar but not the same as
• High Functioning Autism (HFA)
• Asperger’s Syndrome
La Guardia Community College
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Learning Disabilities (LD) Types
• Asperger Syndrome (AS)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Developmental disorder identified
by Hans Asperger in 1940’s
• Characteristics
• Physical Disability
• Attention deficit
• Inability to apply high-order thinking
and reasoning
• Remarkable memory of facts
• Interpret language in a very literal
manner
La Guardia Community College
• Learner cognitively impaired
• Shows signs of poor planning and
problem-solving ability
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Learning Disability (LD) Facts/Observations
• Myth – Okay to be rotten in Math.
• Adult math illiteracy handicaps both daily living and vocational prospects
• Mathematical knowledge, reasoning, and skills are as important as reading
ability
• Many LD students have trouble
• Memorizing basic number facts
• Inconsistent in calculating – paying attention to operational sign, borrowing and carrying
and sequencing the steps in complex operations
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Learning Disability (LD) Facts/Observations (cont’d)
• Many LD students have trouble
• Memorizing basic number facts
• Inconsistent in calculating – paying attention to operational sign, borrowing and carrying
and sequencing the steps in complex operations
• LD students are hampered by language aspects of mathematics resulting in
• Confusion in technology
• Difficultly in following verbal explanations
• Weak verbal skills for monitoring complex calculations
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Some Characteristics of Learning Disabled (LD) Students
• Learned Helplessness – Expect to Fail: Lack of Confidence
• Passive Learners – cannot connect what they know with what they are
learning
• Memory Problems – remember basic operation facts & problem solving
• Attention Problems – “miss” important pieces of information
• Cognitive/Metacognitive Thinking Deficits – ability to monitor their learning
• Low Level of Academic Achievement – not enough time to master skills
• Math Anxiety – difficulty creates anxiety-ridden students
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• The Good News – Michelle Goldstein, Professional Staff Congress CUNY, April 2016 NYSUT
• “Students come to class anxious to overcome ill-equipped backgrounds and
forge ahead with remarkable unbridled determination.”
• “I am inspired when a student who struggled with a math concept suddenly
understands it.”
• “Many demonstrate a passionate commitment for self-sufficiency.”
• “Community College students should be held up as true examples of the
American Dream.”
• “Community propels the student into the next chapter.”
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Self-Regulation – the ability to regulate one’s cognitive activities
• Research points to fact the students with LD are poor self-regulators who
benefit from strategy instruction that incorporates self-regulation training
(Graham & Harris, 2013; Wong, Harris, Graham & Butler, 2003)
• Swanson’s study (Swanson, 1999; Swanson & Sachs-Lee,2000) revealed that
direct instruction and strategy instruction were the two most effective.
• Kroesbergen & van Luit (2003) found
• Self-regulation most effective for mathematics learning
• Direct instruction more effective for basic skill acquistion
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Suggested Instructional Strategies
• Very clear, direct instruction with constant checking for understanding
• Direct, literal questioning rather than open-ended questioning
• Avoid overuse of complex language that requires deeper interpretation (e.g.
metaphors, idioms)
• Use visual cues as much as possible
• Set goals and work toward them
• Provide opportunities for guided practice in solving problems prior to
independent practice
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Suggested Instructional Strategies
• Write a journal of reflections denoting what worked and didn’t for a particular
lesson.
• Make Math Fun!
• Teach students how to use Cornell Notes
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Ideas for Discussion
• Day 1 – create index card of student info along with expectations, strengths &
weaknesses and background to obtain data
• Administer Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Test to obtain additional data
• Use online student learning system (ex. EducoSoft) to group students for
differentiated instruction (DI). Create specialized test and analyze data
• Try to have 1 class every week or 2 devoted to problem solving without
electronic devices.
• Actively teach Polya’s problem-solving processes and strategies
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Ideas for Discussion (cont’d)
• Incorporate various content literacies into curriculum (Edmondo, Animoto)
• Create verbal formative assessments to enable students to demonstrate
learning without formal testing
• Build confidence by creating small successes in math for LD students
• Teach students skills to succeed in the 21st Century (critical teaching,
writing,..)
• Investigate how to align objectives with English Department “Writing Across
the Curriculum”
La Guardia Community College
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning
Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at
LaGuardia Community College?
• Ideas for Discussion (cont’d)
• Encourage students to take advantage of all resources available (API/SGA
tutoring)
• Work closely with OSD to identify students in class who might be OSD
candidates.
• Further research in trying to identify LD students who have Dyscalculia, NLD
and other identified LDs
• Graphic Organizers/Mind Maps
• Using Graphic Calculators/Maple as tool to enhance learning
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Mind Map
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References used to create presentation
The following material was used to create the Power Point slides.
Donaldson, J.B., & Zager, D. (2010). Mathematics interventions for students with high functioning autism/Asperger’s syndrome. Teaching
Exceptional Children, 42(6), 40-46.
Montague, M. (2008). Self-Regulation strategies to improve mathematical problem solving for students with learning disability. Learning
Disability Quarterly, 31(1), 37-44.
Pólya, G. (n.d.). How to solve it: A new aspect of mathematical method.
Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics 2nd Edition. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Problem-SolvingSchool-Mathematics/dp/1882144104
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Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with
Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes
at
LaGuardia Community College?
Thank You
Salvatore Sommella