Class and Lecturer Information
COURSE NAME:
Mathematics Methodology on Special Education
COURSE CODE:
SP404
NUMBER OF CREDITS:
3
NUMBER OF HOURS:
45 HRS
PREREQUISITES:
Diploma Courses in Mathematics (Special Education)
READING RESOURCES: Gurganus S.P (2007). Math Instruction for
Students with Learning Problems.
Pearson: NY
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will provide research-based content related to the mathematics
direction students with learning difficulties along with research-validated best
practices with teaching students with disabilities who exhibit these problems. The
course allow practical application of skills and strategies needed for remedial support
for those who have difficulties in certain key areas of mathematics.
Lecturer’s Name:
Department:
College Name:
Date:
1
Instructional Processes
1. Lecture
2. Demonstration
3. Discussion
4. Video Presentations
5. Online Modules
6. Practical Application
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course students should:
1. Have a strong knowledge base in each of the basic skills in mathematics.
2. Have a broad and working knowledge of research-based learning strategies and
their relationship to the learning of individual students in the areas of
mathematics.
3. Organize and promote positive settings for student success in mathematics.
4. Use a variety of assessment techniques to determine instructional content,
instructional procedures, and documentation of student learning and progress
in mathematics.
5. Use explicitly research-validated instructional strategies in mathematics to
facilitate learning in the content area.
6. Use systematic, explicit, multi-sensory methods to teach mathematics.
7.
Summary of Content
Unit 1: Foundations of Mathematics Learning
Unit 2: Specific Mathematics Disabilities
Unit 3: Assessment and Instruction
Unit 4: Introduction to the content strands
Lecturer’s Name:
Department:
College Name:
Date:
2
Unit 1: Foundations of Mathematics Learning (4 Hrs)
Content
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Precursors of Mathematics Learning
Brain Development
Importance of Informal Mathematics Knowledge
Signs of Learning Problems in Young Children
Math Readiness and Cognitive ability
Early Math skills
Theories about Learning Applied to Mathematics
- Behaviourist Theories
- Cognitive Theories
- Socio-Cultural Theories
- Interrelated Theories
- Constructivism
Reading Chapter 2 (text)
Unit 2: Specific Mathematics Disabilities (Dyscalculia) (3 hrs)
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Types
Characteristics of students with mathematics learning problems
Causes
Teaching/Instructional strategies, Metacognitive Strategies, Explicit
Teacher Modelling, Multi-sensory approach, Concrete-Semi-ConcreteAbstract, Authentic
 Contexts, Using manipulative (Types), Mnemonics,
Reading Chapter 2 (text) and
LDOnline: Math Learnong Disabilities, http://www.ldonline.org/article/5896
Lecturer’s Name:
Department:
College Name:
Date:
3
LDonline (2008) Dyscalculia A quick lookhttp://www.ldonline.org/article/
Dyscalculia%A_A Quick Look
Unit 3: Assessment and Instruction (8 hrs)
Content
Purposes of assessment
Types of assessment and assessment strategies e.g.
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Curriculum and Based Assessment
Performance Tasks
Portfolios
Dynamic Assessment
Error Analysis
Task Analysis
Survey Test/Pre-test
Performance Tasks
Diagnostic Interview
Checklist
Charting
Think aloud techniques
Rubrics
Unit 3a
Planning and Delivery Instruction
 Types of Mathematics Lesson plans
 Unit planning
Effective Instructional Techniques
Lecturer’s Name:
Department:
College Name:
Date
4
Developing a student-centred Mathematics curriculum
Reading: Chapter 3 (text)
Unit 4: Introduction to the Content Strands (10 hrs)
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Content
Number Sense
Place Value
Decimal Fractions
Counting
Addition of Whole Numbers
Division
Subtraction of Whole Numbers
Problem-Solving
Multiplication
Rational Numbers
Time and Money
- General areas of difficulties and why students struggle with these
areas
- Strategies to correct these areas of difficulties
- Suggested lesson plan structure
- Error patterns: Diagnosis, Prescription and Remediation
Lecturer’s Name:
Department:
College Name:
Date:
5
Unit 6: Curricular for Special Needs students (4 hrs)
CONTENT
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Differentiated Instruction
Dyscalculia
Manipulative verses Teaching Aide
Remediation
Touch Math
DISTAR
Table 1
Topic: Schedule and Reading Assignments
Dates
Topic
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
“How The Brain Learns Mathematics 4th edition
Week 4
Reading
Assignments
Chapter 2 of text
Chapter 2 of text
Chapter 2 cont’d,
www.ldonline.org
David A. Anthony
Sousa
Chapter 3
www.ldonline.org
/article.5896
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Assignments
1.
2.
3.
4.
Research paper (Theories about learning applied to mathematics)
Micro-Teaching Episodes
Final Test
Due Dates:
Lecturer’s Name:
Department:
College Name:
Date:
6