Does your child throw a fit when it comes to math homework? Do they often lose track of time and confuse their left and right? Do they have trouble remembering math facts and have frequent stomach aches before school? You might be wondering…How can I help my child with dyscalculia?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, your child might have a math learning disability called dyscalculia.

We are taking you on a dyscalculia-guided journey to help you navigate the ins and outs of this disability. Tune into our web series to find out about how you can accommodate and advocate for your dyscalculic child.

Table of Contents

I’m betting that you’ve heard of the learning disability: dyslexia. I’m also willing to bet that most of you have heard very little about a math learning disability called dyscalculia.

How to pronounce dyscalculia?

So, how do you go about pronouncing this long, weird word? Here’s a short video to demonstrate the right way to say dyscalculia.

Duhs·kal·kyoo·lee·uh with the emphasis on the kyoo.

Now that we know how to say it…

What is dyscalculia?

A gross oversimplification or short answer is to think of it kind of like dyslexia–but instead of mixing up letters, this brain wiring leads someone to mix up numbers.

The long answer is that it affects much more than just mixing up numbers. It’s an inherent difference in how the brain works. People with dyscalculia struggle with telling time, tying their shoes, reading a map, directional confusion (like mixing up your left and right), and so much more.

It can be easy to forget that we live in a world that is quite literally surrounded and built by numbers. Something that many of us take for granted, a person with dyscalculia must work around to find solutions. Think about money.

How much extra effort would they need to put in to be successful?

The brain of someone with dyscalculia is wired differently than someone without this difference.
So, doesn’t it make sense that you would have to change your approach to teaching a student with dyscalculia?

How we’ve taught math historically doesn’t quite work for students with dyscalculia.

So, what does work?

The education system makes it difficult to receive extra help unless your child meets their required “failing enough” standards. For most parents, this isn’t good enough. You don’t want your child falling behind several grade levels before any action is taken.

In ‘Unlocking Dyscalculia: A Web Series’ we talk to experts in the field and connect parents to valuable resources to get them the help that they need.

Did you know that research for dyscalculia is about 30 years behind that of dyslexia?

How can I help my child with dyscalculia? Climb the Mount

It will take the combined efforts of the student, the parent, the educator, the diagnostician, and the researcher to give children the tools they need to climb this mountain.

Until recently, there hasn’t been a lot of focus or research on dyscalculia. So many people have had to stumble through life wondering, what’s wrong with me?

Community is everything and we want to start a discussion surrounding what it’s like living with dyscalculia and what changes you can make to life easier. You don’t have to struggle alone.

We have the proper boots and hiking gear that can get you to the top of your mountain!

In this web series, we will be talking to experts in the field to give you the best resources to help you and your loved ones thrive!

What will we cover in this web series?

We meet with Laura Jackson–a mom and author of ‘Discovering Dyscalculia’ to talk about the process of getting a diagnosis and ways to help parents who have just started this journey.

We’ll be talking to Dylan Lynn who is a statistician with dyscalculia and going over what it’s like living with this brain-wiring difference, how to advocate for yourself, and ways for parents to support their child with this math learning disability.

We meet with researcher and COMPS creator Dr. Yan Ping Xin to discuss why word problems are so tricky for students with dyscalculia and so much more!

The answer to solving your question, “How can I help my child with dyscalculia?” can be found in this web series. There are oodles of useful information packed into this 16-episode series on Unlocking Dyscalculia and we are ecstatic to see you with us on this journey!

Let’s gear up! Together, we’ll get you and your child to the top of the mountain!

MFM Authors