Teaching math to students with nonverval learning disorder

Does this child use sign language? How do you communicate with this child? My 10 year old has very low verbal. I would have chart with numbers on it. I would use counters or M&M’s anything would do to cover the numbers. I would say : Hillary, Please put one M&M on the number one. Or 3 M&M’s on the number 3. If she did not know what 3 was I would count out 3 m&m’s out for her and put them one the number 3. Then I would use sign language and hold up 3. Just remember the sign language 3 is different than holding up the normal three fingers. After the math lesson I would give her the M&M’s to eat. But if you don’t want to give out candy you could use a lot of things just around the house or go to a teacher education store and get something that would make a impression. It works great also with adding and subtracting. Hope this helps…

My son did great with the cuisenaire rods suggested by UK mom on this board. I got the snap on kind.

The site is www.etacuisenaire.com

They only cost a couple of dollars and they come with with a little pamphlet that gives you ideas on how to present math concepts using them.

Nonverbal L.D. is not a problem with speech or language. Quite the opposite. It’s a learning disability that affects one’s ability to learn and process nonverbal information, such as social skills, motor skills, and visual-perceptual skills. Math is one area that is quite often affected by nonverbal L.D. Verbal and language skills, on the other hand, tend to be quite advanced.

Here’s the URL to an online brochure you can read for more information: http://www.geocities.com/zorrothefox2000/nldbrochure.html

Yours truly,
Kathy G.

Anita wrote:
>
> Does this child use sign language? How do you communicate
> with this child? My 10 year old has very low verbal. I would
> have chart with numbers on it. I would use counters or M&M’s
> anything would do to cover the numbers. I would say :
> Hillary, Please put one M&M on the number one. Or 3 M&M’s on
> the number 3. If she did not know what 3 was I would count
> out 3 m&m’s out for her and put them one the number 3. Then I
> would use sign language and hold up 3. Just remember the sign
> language 3 is different than holding up the normal three
> fingers. After the math lesson I would give her the M&M’s to
> eat. But if you don’t want to give out candy you could use a
> lot of things just around the house or go to a teacher
> education store and get something that would make a
> impression. It works great also with adding and subtracting.
> Hope this helps…

Thank you Kathy for sharing that with me.

My daughter is eight years old and in third grade; she has Non Verbal Learning Disability. Like many kids with this diagnosis she is quite gifted in reading and writing, but struggles with Math, as well as anything involving spatial and/or motor skills (especially gross motor). I am looking forward to reading all the responses you get, as I am looking for this kind of information also.

What I can tell you is that the best way to teach a child with NLD is by using their verbal skills, because this is how they learn effectively. “Showing” her how to work a problem won’t work - a detailed, step-by-step verbal explanation will. My daughter also needs to be taught math concepts slowly, with lots of repetition. I have learned the hard way not to assume she “gets” it, because she was able to work a similar problem. People with NLD have trouble generalizing. Even if she worked the last problem correctly, and it was the same concept, I will still have to walk her through the next problem. Again - much repetition is needed before she starts doing it on her own.

Also, manipulatives are very helpful (though many kids with NLD have fine motor problems, so make sure they are not tricky to operate). I book marked the site that has those rods that were recommended. Thanks!

Hope this helps a bit.

I would love learn more about non verbal disorder. What type of testing did your children have to get to this idea. I have an LD son that it sounds so much like. It would be helpful if I could tell the school team what types of tests to use on him. His former resouce teacher wasn’t sure how to help.
Could a gifted writer that cannot get the ideas on paper in his writing but can get the ideas down by computer have NVD?