÷ symbol looks like a sweet. If you have sweets you should always share them - especially with Mum or Dad! (I find if you talk about sweets and chocolates, children are far more interested in the problem). Story - “If you have 28 sweets and you have to divide them with your 4 friends. How many sweets do you get?”
Take away sign (-) looks like a knife. “If you have 10 pieces of chocolate and you cut off (take away) 5 pieces of chocolate. How many pieces of chocolate do you have?”
SUMMARY -
+ = pharmacy (add medicine to make better)
X = kiss (we multiply when we kiss!)
÷ = sweets (it’s nice to share your sweets)
- = knife (when we chop things we take away)
PROBLEM : Addition can be a real struggle. Dyscalculia children or those with math learning disabilities often don’t realise that 4 + 7 is the same as 7 + 4. As for 4 + 24 - 24 = that’s near impossible!
Solution - Look at sites that use visuals instead of numbers eg www.tablefables.net. Problem solved.
PROBLEM : Children with math learning disabilities often put numbers in the wrong columns and confused decimal point placement. It’s a minefield out there!
Solution : Graphic paper can be a great solution or getting them to draw out boxes (see example) so they can put their workings out in them.
PROBLEM : Children with math learning disability often write numbers the wrong way round eg 5 and 2. Will often write 9 as a P. It’s an easy mistake to make if you are small!
SOLUTION : look at sites that use images rather than numbers eg www.tablefable.net. 5 is a snake and always looks the same way and 2 is a swan and always looks the same. No more confusion.