It’s a common misconception that dyslexia is a disorder where sufferers struggle to read.
Math
ST Math for Special Education
It’s a common misconception that dyslexia is a disorder where sufferers struggle to read.
It can also limit a child’s cognitive development, impacting their ability to comprehend mathematics. This is something that the not-for-profit charity MIND – and Matthew Peterson, Ph.D. – have not only understood but have also channeled vast amounts of funds.
Thanks to this funding, they have developed the perfect program to help 1.7 million students overcome this obstacle. ST Math has been constructed the same way the human brain works, so it can dig deep to help dyslexic students understand mathematical concepts using previously unexplored methods. At Classful.com, our experts have created this blog post to share ST Math’s benefits for dyslexic students in public schools in America.
Education resources
Why is mathematics a struggle for dyslexic students?
Before we get into how exactly ST Math can help children receiving special education in public schools across America, it’s probably a good idea to explain the difficulties some dyslexic students face when trying to understand math.
When learning mathematics, we’ll inevitably come across various technical terms. For adults – let alone students – these terms can be quite wordy and therefore are rather difficult to grasp, let alone apply and remember for future use. The sheer volume of words and symbols that go into explaining a mathematical concept often goes unacknowledged, and it’s this that dyslexic students struggle with.
How does ST Math help tackle these issues?
MIND has developed ST Math from many years of research focusing on how the brain works. This means that the learning experiences available on the platform can be tailored to meet the needs of a student’s current level.
ST Math is an interactive experience. It uses virtual and visual manipulatives, allowing students to engage with and drag elements around the screen to understand better what they’re learning about. This level of visual interactivity speaks to the brain of a dyslexic child in a manner that words cannot. By controlling the manipulative, the student is put in the driving seat and can explore and understand how to deploy various mathematical rules.
This is what makes ST Math unique, as it places less emphasis on the need for words, terms, and symbols. The program and games available teach students how to problem-solve a difficult mathematical concept without clouding and confusing their minds.
It’s common for some dyslexic or special needs students to become anxious around things they don’t understand but feel like they should because students in their grade do. ST Math works to help remove this anxiety so that students can work at their own pace, away from the gaze of their peers. The platform is self-paced, meaning the learning experience is truly personalized according to a student’s specific needs.
For example, levels can be repeated and then re-repeated as many times as necessary to ensure the student understands the mathematical process in play. Moreover, the program actively understands where the student has gone wrong while undertaking a specific activity. Rather than sending the student back to the beginning to try again, the platform gives many opportunities for specific, detailed feedback. The aim of this is to help the student not just understand where they’ve gone wrong but also how, providing ways this can be rectified for the future.
Can I trial ST Math without purchasing access to the whole platform?
ST Math understands teachers and parents may be unsure about committing to the ST Math program straight away, so you can try the platform for free by sampling some of the games. This will give you a clear insight into what the program is all about – and no sign-up is required! Select your student’s grade level for an appropriate set of games – although it must be noted that K-5 is currently unavailable. Just follow this link to see what ST Math is all about.
