SSCD CORE ACADEMY
2012
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
“Now that it has become commonplace
to teach academics to students with
Down syndrome , we are beginning to
learn more about how Down syndrome
affects learning.”
• Problems with short-term and working memory
• Fine motor delays in their hands and problems
with eye-hand coordination
• Difficulty processing information given orally
• Insufficient experiences using math
• Takes longer to process through the stages of
development
• So many experiences with frustration that some
become no longer willing to try
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Characteristics of Individuals with
Down Syndrome that Pose a
Challenge to Math
• Eager to please
• Learn very well through their visual senses
• Able to communicate in other ways than speech
• Go through the same developmental stages
• Enjoy interacting with their peers and often
model peer behavior
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Characteristic Strengths of
Individuals with Downs Syndrome
• Emphasize visual learning
• Use hands-on activities
• Provide structured learning with some flexibility
• Make learning relevant to the real world
• Focus the student’s attention
• Provide non-distracting written work
• Give simple, clear instructions
• Minimize fine motor demands
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Teaching Strategies That Work for
Individuals with Down Syndrome
• Expect and encourage appropriate behavior
• Ensure early success in the lesson
• Consider the use of peer tutors
• Facilitate short and long term memory
• Use the calculator early and frequently
• Make your interactions enjoyable
• Use the computer
• Break down the task into small steps
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Strategies (Continued)
“Every time you introduce something new,
you should be thinking about how you
could help the student to do an activity that
will help this new idea be understood.”
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Wisdom
Positive Behavior Supports
• Threat of lower grades is
not an effective
motivator
• Punishment and ignoring
inappropriate behavior is
not an effective
motivator
• Children not able to
connect their behavior
with the consequence
Positive Response
• Praise!
• Calmly point out what
behavior was
inappropriate
• Consistent followthrough on classroom
rules is essential
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Negative Response
To ensure early success in the math lesson:
“Success is very important at every level of
teaching for students with Down syndrome.
The steps in teaching should be very small,
and each one should be praised for effort, if
not correctness.”
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Wisdom
•Facilitate short and long-term memory storage by
using
•Musical associations (familiar songs)
•Rhythmic associations with concepts
•Chanting
•Concrete visualizations
•Creative practice
•Mnemonics
(Samples of each on page 29)
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Short and Long-Term Memory
“It is important to weave the skills you are
teaching math into other parts of the
academic day and into real life activities.”
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Wisdom
• Before each major learning activity, use a
relatively easy activity related to the new
skill, for the student to complete at the
beginning of the lesson
• The student should be able to do the skill
• Do not hesitate to change the step to
something you know the student can do
well
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Success Steps
• Study from the United Kingdom states:
• The use of peer tutors for students 6th
grade and up reported that peer
instruction worked better than teacher
assistance
• In upper grade students are struggling
for independence. Being helped by a
friend is perceived better than a teacher
aide
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Peer Tutors
“Use of a calculator, along with a traditional
math instructor, improved the average
student’s ability to do pencil and paper
calculations and to problem solve.”
(Henbree and Dessuet 1986)
“Use less paper and pencil, especially with
numbers having more than two digits, and
use more technology.”
(The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics)
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Use of the Calculator
• Early and frequent use of the calculator can be a real asset to
children who have difficulty with short term memory and rote
learning
• Tests show that children with Down syndrome have short digit
span memories
• They are visual and tactile learners who derive meaning from
seeing the numeral and from touching them on the calculator
• Using the calculator capitalizes on their sensory strengths
• They do not do math ‘in their heads”
• Fundamental skills need to be “overlearned” so that they
come automatically and the student only has to think about
how to apply thme
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Use of the Calculator
The Informal Assessment
given for diagnostic
purposes , is very useful if
you are not sure what the
students math skills are.
There are no age norms
or grade levels
There are Pre-Post
Checklists
Scoring is simple and
explicit
Teaching Math
to People with Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Informal Assessment
Activities and Games
Obedience
Math
Game
Bingo
Earn and Pay
Board
Time
Stick
Bingo
Manipulatives
Calculator
Antics
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Top This
Game
Prenumber Concepts
Number Sense
Recognition of Numerals
More Counting Skills
Place Value
Writing Numerals
Ordering & Comparing Numbers
Whole Number Addition
Whole Number Subtraction
Time
Measurement
Shapes and Patterns
Money
Standards-based Mathematical Learning
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Drive By Concepts
Resource
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
• Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome and Other
Hands-On Learners, Basic Survival Skills , Deanna Horstmeier,
Ph.D., Woodbine House (2004).
Utah State Office of Education
Education Specialist
Sensory and Significant Disabilities
State NIMAS Coordinator
801.538.7576
christine.timothy@schools.utah.gov
Teaching Math to People with
Down Syndrome
by DeAnna Horstmeier, Ph.D.
Christine Timothy