In this month’s newsletter:
- School Supports that Stick Summit
- Butterworth's 2nd Edition of Dyscalculia: From Science to Education
- An Update on Driving with Dyscalculia
- Parents: What Do You Need Help With?
- Vote for Students
- Do You Like a Great Podcast?
- Thank You Note from a Reader
School Supports that Stick Summit
Parents, I’ll be speaking at Reframe Parenting’s, School Supports that Stick Summit October 27-30. My talk, Beyond “Bad at Math”: Math Learning Disabilities Explained, helps parents consider a possible cause of math struggles. At this FREE summit, there will be many other speakers, coaches, and professionals covering a variety of topics on establishing school supports for your student this season. Watch your inbox next week for a sign-up email.
Butterworth's 2nd Edition of Dyscalculia is Available
“This is the most comprehensive book on dyscalculia. Butterworth’s extraordinary work sheds light and understanding on this little-known disability in a way that no other work has done.” (yours truly) My back cover quote sums up Butterworth’s book that provides a unique combination of the science, educational strategies, and personal stories of dyscalculia. I will be interviewing Brian on this second edition very soon, so watch my blog and newsletter for that conversation. Until then, get a copy of this book at your favorite local bookstore retailer.
An Update on Driving with Dyscalculia
Many of you have been following our family’s experience exploring how dyscalculia impacts driving and navigating the road.
People are usually surprised to hear how much dyscalculia impacts driving. But when you think about how dyscalculia impacts the ability to understand quantity, amounts, measurements, directional sense, as well as perform tasks such as quick estimation and calculation, it makes so much sense that it would also impact driving.
A recent challenge is changing lanes. This requires being able to correctly translate the flip-flop left-ride images in the mirrors, estimate distance through a mirror, and recognize and calculate the speed at which both cars are moving, to determine if there is enough space and time to change lanes.
It’s also been especially interesting for our family lately as now my youngest is learning to drive as well. Her experience has been so much easier than that of my older dyscalculic daughter, highlighting the real difference dyscalculia makes.
If you have a student who is getting ready for driver’s ed, and you’d like some help navigating this, reach out to me for a consult call to talk about how to understand what the difficulties are, what to communicate with instructors, and how you can be a supportive parent in the passenger seat.
I want to write more on this topic soon, but until then, you can also check out this blog on driving with dyscalculia.
Parents: What Do You Need Help With?
A consult call is simply a safe place to talk about your personal situation and challenges with dyscalculia. I provide a listening ear, guidance, and support to help make your process easier and less stressful. Here are six examples of ways I can help you:
Confirm the Cause of Math Struggles: Through my targeted questions, your observations, and dyscalculia screening checklist, we can determine if the challenges are likely due to dyscalculia, dyslexia, or another reason. I can also review prior evaluation reports and give insights into what may have been overlooked, since many psychologists are still unfamiliar with dyscalculia.
Start Evaluation Process: If you want to pursue a school evaluation, I can help you use the correct language and help provide evidence for need, which is critical for public school evaluations. For private evaluations, I can guide you on what to ask for, where to find an evaluator, the process, and insurance considerations.
Write Teacher Emails: If you know the cause of your child’s math difficulties, together we can draft email communications with detailed information on how the learning disability impacts math learning and other subjects such as science, history, etc. I can provide you with info sheets to share with teachers as well.
Choose the Right Math Intervention Options: Students struggling in math due to dyscalculia or dyslexia need specific math interventions and teaching methods. I can help you become knowledgeable about the specific teaching strategies and materials needed so you can more confidently choose the right math intervention program, teacher, or tutor. We can also discuss options for specific math intervention at school, privately, at home, or online.
Choose 504 Accommodations for Dyscalculia: The accommodations suggested by schools for a math learning disability often lack a real understanding of dyscalculia. Together we can choose the best accommodation options for your unique child, as well as how to ensure their implementation in the classroom. This can also be a collaborative call with you and your student.
Get Support for Yourself: Maybe you don’t know what you need. You feel too overwhelmed. Talking through your feelings and experiences of raising a child with a confusing learning disability in a safe place with someone who understands can be immensely helpful. Getting support for ourselves is usually the best support we parents can give to our children.
More information at: https://discoveringdyscalculia.com/consulting
Vote for Students
The U.S. is facing massive cuts to education in funding, resources, training, and student supports. The president’s cuts in education have created gaping holes in the educational system. It’s been devastating to go backwards in the little progress we’ve been working so hard to make in education.
One thing we can do to change the tide is to make our voices heard. Besides signing petitions, we can also give voice to the personal impact these cuts are having on our personal lives.
The political situation has trickled down in a very real way as our daughter's school lost both the science and math teacher positions, teachers who mainly supported students with learning disabilities. This removal of a major learning disability support has been a stressful loss we are still trying to navigate.
Sharing your personal stories of impact with family, friends, and your congress members makes a difference in how people vote. Please check your upcoming ballot and vote for leadership and measures that care for the most vulnerable in our communities, that invest in education and research, and support all our students.
Do You Like a Great Podcast?
At this busy stage of my life, podcasts and audio books are my favorite way to learn and engage my mind. I listen on long walks or while prepping dinner. Listening to a great podcast makes most things more enjoyable.
That is why this guide is available in podcast format! I've specifically designed this for busy parents and teachers who want to learn more about how to teach math and support students with dyscalculia.
Normally this content would be covered in about 8 live Zoom consult calls. But this new format makes the learning accessible on your phone, and affordable!
This is a paid, no-ads, private podcast feed, with one-year access. Your payment for this resource enables me to keep doing the work of growing dyscalculia awareness, education, and supports.
Subscribe at: https://discoveringdyscalculia.com/mathguide
Thank You Note From a Reader
Today I received this note from a reader in Europe: "I have just started to read your book and I wanted to thank you as I am beginning to see a little bit of hope." Have you read this book yet? It's a great dyscalculia resource for parents, teachers, family members, adults, and students. If reading isn't your thing, you can also listen to the Introduction and Chapter One on this podcast.
Stay tuned for next month's newsletter! To learn about other ways to engage, please check out my website, Discovering Dyscalculia.com
Your dyscalculia specialist and guide,
Laura Jackson
Discovering Dyscalculia website
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