I am working with a young lady who is 19 years of age and does not have math skills to get into a college developmental math class. She was home schooled, has very few social skills, is in her third semester of college with a 2.325 GPA. I need to know if anyone knows what I should be working on with her to help her get in the developmental math classes. My background is elementary special ed until I had “misunderstanding” with the vice-principal. Now, I work with a college program that provides support to students who are first generation college students, from low-income families, or the student has some type of disability. I don’t even know where to start with Crystal to prepare her for developmental math. I really will appreciate any help that comes my way!
Star
Re: no math skills for college
Hi
I read your questions about the 19 yr old student you are workig with. I also have the same problems. And I was a first generation college student from a poverty stricken family. The first time I went to school, they had a loophole in the requirements. In order to graduate a student had to take 12 hr of math and/or science. I managed to take all low level science classes and obtained a BA in psych. After 12 yrs of working in social services I decided to return to school for a masters and a doctorate. Now I must pass math. It’s horrible. I cannot keep a checkbook, credit cards, see spatial things, understand math concepts, etc. I am currently trying to find a psychologist who will help me retrain my brain. No luck so far. They want to diagnose ADD and personality adjustment disorders. The truth is I have nonverbal learning disorder. I found it by accident online. I have done alot of research in the journals and am completely convinced that this is my problem. But no one will listen.
Perhaps you can look up nonverbal learning disorder online and recognize the young lady you are working with.
I have found some things that help me: using unifix cubes, fraction bars, drawing the concept on my leg or arm. Drawing it in sand. Standing while learning helps too. But when the tears come, it’s best to stop and do something that I am familiar with, such as one of my other classes or just getting outside. But that is also a sticky situation. becasue the desire is to avoid math and this stategy can become a problem.
Good luck
Tracie
Daughter with Visual spacial Disability
:roll: My 13 year old has the same problem Tracy. My goal is to get her thru enought math to be a social worker. She has a visual spacial disability. This is also non verbal, however she learns by hearing. She is auditory. I just recently found a talking calculator. Geometry shapes she cannot see…i had the school OT work with her on that and map reading. Her disability encompasses all but math is the most frustrating for her.
We are beginning at the basics with math tables, they also make computerized math worksheets…that have been recommended for my daughter…..good luck
from a mom….
Mama Coop[/b]
Star.
The first thing is to figure out where she is. What does she know? And where do her skills start breaking down. I am guessing pretty low as the college developmental class isn’t normally even dealing with algebra.
I would also talk to the teacher in that class and see what is needed.
As an adult the most important math skills are the practical. I have a math disability, though not so severe. I flunked the math test required by my school 4 times. They finally decided that I didn’t need to pass the test. I ended up taking the class that they required for people who did not have hs algebra. However, the stuff I really needed was balancing a check book and budgeting, stuff I did learn much later than I needed it! She should also be competent with a calculator and know if she is getting a nonsensical answer. I don’t know fi that is in the course, but that’s what she needs in life.
—des