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Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

Unit 6:
Common Learning
Difficulties in
Mathematics at
Primary Level
Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

Unit 6: Common Learning Difficulties in


Mathematics at Primary Level

CONTENTS
6.1 Introduction ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
6.2 Warm-Up Activity������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
6.3 Learning Difficulties (LD) in Mathematics or Mathematical Learning Difficulties (MLD) ��������������������������������������������������� 3
6.3.1 Characteristics of students having learning difficulties ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3
6.3.2 Causes of learning difficulties in mathematics at primary level ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3
6.3.3 Nature of learning difficulties in mathematics at primary level ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3
6.3.4 Why children have learning difficulties?����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
6.3.5 Baroody’s 3-step model ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
6.3.5.1 Activity ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4
6.3.6 What is procedural fluency? ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
Required Reading(s)������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
6.4 End of unit summary ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
6.5 End-of-Unit Exercises 6
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

References ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6

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Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

UNIT 6: Common Learning Difficulties in Mathematics at Primary LevelLearning Objectives

6.0 Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the nature of learning difficulties in mathematics at primary level.

6.1 Introduction
Mathematics is considered to be a difficult subject by many. Certain topics are considered to be more difficult than others and some pupils experience difficulty in certain
topics across grades. And very often learning difficulty and learning disability are used interchangeably. However, there are differences between them. Learning disability is a
condition that emerges during the development of the child and affects the learning, communication and processing of information. This can result in learning difficulties. On
the other hand, children having leaning difficulties may not have learning disabilities. According to Dumont (1984 cited in Steenbrugge, 2010), there two types of difficulties
in mathematics. Learning disability is situated in a child’s own cognitive development and on the other hand, learning difficulty is situated outside the child. Many pupils are
increasingly experiencing learning difficulties in mathematics in developing countries and Mauritius is no exception. In 2015, 2500 students scored less than 10 marks in
the National Assessment at Form 3 level even if questions totaling around 27 marks were pitched at primary mathematics level. This result indicates that those students
did not master the concepts taught during their primary schooling. Various causes can be attributed to students’ learning difficulties in mathematics. This unit focuses on
the nature, causes and the application of Baroody’s 3 step model for mastery of basic mathematical concepts.

6.2 Warm-Up Activity


What are the differences between an error, mistake, misunderstanding and misconception?

Why do you think students have learning difficulties in mathematics in the primary?

From your experience as a mathematics educator, what are the topics/concepts are difficult for children?

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Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

6.3 Learning Difficulties (LD) in Mathematics or Mathematical Learning Difficulties (MLD)


The video gives an overview of the learning difficulties encountered by students at primary level.

Video : URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gowoewsITVo

6.3.1 Characteristics of students having learning difficulties

According to NCTM (2007), the following are students’ characteristics who have learning difficulties:

Slow and inaccurate retrieval of number facts

Problems in mental representations of mathematical concepts

Lack number sense

Poor working memory

6.3.2 Causes of learning difficulties in mathematics at primary level

For Carnine, Jitendra and Silbert, (1993, p.3) ‘individuals who exhibit learning difficulties may not be intellectually impaired, rather, their learning problems may be the result of
an inadequate design of instruction in curricular materials’.
There is a wide range of learning difficulties in mathematics in the primary. Mundia (2005) found causes of problems in learning mathematics.

6.3.3 Nature of learning difficulties in mathematics at primary level

According to Kelanang and Zakaria (2012), most children experiencing LD show weaknesses in retaining and applying number facts. However, the converse is not true that is
every child having difficulties in arithmetic will not have problems remembering number facts (Dowker, 2005).

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Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

6.3.4 Why children have learning difficulties?

Article: Why Children Have Difficulties


Mastering the Basic Number Combinations and How to Help Them

URL: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/dd26/0bdf77064f703916ffdbeff4b3b61bf74aef.pdf

6.3.5 Baroody’s 3-step model

Baroody developed a 3-step model to identify learning difficulties in counting. The three steps are detailed below.

Step 1: Counting strategies—using object counting (e.g., with blocks, fingers, marks) or verbal counting to determine an answer

Step 2: Reasoning strategies—using known information (e.g., known facts and relationships) to logically determine (deduce) the answer of an unknown combination

Step 3: Mastery—efficient (fast and accurate) production of answers

According to Kilpatrick et al (2001), in their book ‘Adding it up: Helping children learn Mathematics’, the National Research Council (NRC), concluded that developing computational
fluency is an essential aspect of mathematical proficiency.

6.3.5.1 Activity

Read the article by A. Baroody and make a summary of not more than 400 words.

Why Children Have Difficulties Mastering the Basic Number Combinations and How to Help Them by Arthur J. Baroody
URL: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/dd26/0bdf77064f703916ffdbeff4b3b61bf74aef.pdf

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Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

6.3.6 What is procedural fluency?

Procedural fluency is more than memorizing facts and procedures. According to NCTM (2014), it is more than understanding and using one procedure for a given situation.
Procedural fluency is firstly recognizing relationships and using strategies (Kling and Bay-Williams, 2015). CCSSM (2010) define fluency as the skill in carrying out procedures flexibly,
accurately, efficiently and appropriately. For NCTM (ibid), procedural fluency builds on conceptual understanding, strategic thinking and problem solving.
However, when there is only instrumental understanding where students acquire speed in carrying out procedures by memorization and drill of procedures without actually
understanding their meaning /reasoning behind. In such situations, students become demotivated and disengage from mathematics.

Examples:
1. What is the meaning of average?

What does it mean to flexibly and accurately applying a strategy?

Required Reading(s)
1. Kilpatrick, J.; Swafford, and Findell, B. (2001) Adding It Up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics. Ed Mathematics Learning Study Committee, National Research Council.
National Academy press, Washington.

2. Baroody, A. J. (2006) Why Children have Difficulties Mastering the Basic Number Combinations and How to Help Them. Teaching Children Mathematics, 13, pp. 22-32.

3. Mundia, L. (2012) The Assessment of Math Learning Difficulties in a Primary Grade-4 Child with High Support Needs: Mixed Methods Approach. International Electronic Journal
of Elementary Education, 2012, 4(2), pp. 347-366.

6.4 End of unit summary


In this unit, the difference between learning disability and learning difficulty is explained together with the causes of learning difficulties. The nature of LD and Baroody’s 3-Step
Model are discussed. The distinction between procedure and procedural fluency is also discussed.

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Unit 6 Learning Difficulties and Remedial Actions in Primary Mathematics
BEd Primary Year 1, Semester 1

6.5 End-of-Unit Exercises


Study CPE and PSAC reports for the past five years and discuss about the nature of difficulties of primary pupils in mathematics and why do you think they encounter those
difficulties?

References
1. Baroody, A. J. (2006) Why Children have Difficulties Mastering the Basic Number Combinations and How to Help Them. Teaching Children Mathematics, 13, pp. 22-32.

2. Carnine, D., Jitendra, A., & Silbert, J. (1997) A descriptive analysis of mathematics curricular materials from a pedagogical perspective. Remedial and Special Education, 18,
pp. 66-81.

3. Dowker, A. (2005) Early identification and intervention for students with mathematics difficulties. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(4) pp. 324-332

4. Kelanang, J. G. and Zakaria, E. (2012) Mathematics Diffidulties among Primary School Students. Advances in Natural and sciences, 6(7).

5. Kilpatrick, J., Swafford, and Findell, B. (2001) Adding It Up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics. Ed Mathematics Learning Study Committee, National Research Council. National
Academy
press, Washington.
6. Kling, G. and Bay-Williams, J. (2015) Three steps to Mastering multiplication Facts. Teaching Children Mathematics, 21(9).

7. Mundia, L. (2012) The Assessment of Math Learning Difficulties in a Primary Grade-4 Child with High Support Needs: Mixed Methods Approach. International Electronic Journal
of Elementary Education, 2012, 4(2), pp. 347-366.

8. Van Steenbrugge, H., Valcke, M., Desoete, A. (2010) Mathematics learning difficulties in primary education: Teachers’ professional knowledge and the use of commercially
available learning packages. Educational Studies, 36 (1).

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