Innovative Practices in Developmental Mathematics (IPDM)

1. Innovative Practices in Developmental Mathematics (IPDM) Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? April 15, 2016 Salvatore Sommella, Adjunct Lecturer ssommella@lagcc.cuny.edu

2. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Objective/Aims • Review Research regarding Learning Disabilities (LD) • Survey of LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) Math096 • Examine Strategies to: • Improve Problems solving capabilities • Improve chances of passing CUNY Algebra final test La Guardia Community College

3. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • I would like to thank and acknowledge the following individuals who motivated me to examine LD and Math Education • LaGuardia Community College - MEC • Qi-jiian Gau, (Jan) - IT Inst. Research and Analysis • Mr. Jhony Nelson, Office of Students with Disabilities • Dr. Barbara Lawrence – Mathematical Methods Professor, Pace University • Dr. Peter McDermott – Professor of Education, Pace University La Guardia Community College

4. Learning Disabilities (LD) Types • Dyscalculia • Deficient in number-handling region intraparietal sulcus (5% of school population). As common as • Dyslexia • Attention deficit syndrome • Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) • Right Hemisphere Disability • May affect • Comprehension of abstract information • Acquisition of fundamental mathematics concepts (numeration, place value, and estimation (Bos & Vaughn) • Similar but not the same as • High Functioning Autism (HFA) • Asperger’s Syndrome La Guardia Community College

5. Learning Disabilities (LD) Types • Asperger Syndrome (AS) • Developmental disorder identified by Hans Asperger in 1940’s • Characteristics • Attention deficit • Inability to apply high-order thinking and reasoning • Remarkable memory of facts • Interpret language in a very literal manner • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Physical Disability • Learner cognitively impaired • Shows signs of poor planning and problem-solving ability La Guardia Community College

6. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Learning Disability (LD) Facts/Observations • Myth – Okay to be rotten in Math. • Adult math illiteracy handicaps both daily living and vocational prospects • Mathematical knowledge, reasoning, and skills are as important as reading ability • Many LD students have trouble • Memorizing basic number facts • Inconsistent in calculating – paying attention to operational sign, borrowing and carrying and sequencing the steps in complex operations La Guardia Community College

7. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Learning Disability (LD) Facts/Observations (cont’d) • Many LD students have trouble • Memorizing basic number facts • Inconsistent in calculating – paying attention to operational sign, borrowing and carrying and sequencing the steps in complex operations • LD students are hampered by language aspects of mathematics resulting in • Confusion in technology • Difficultly in following verbal explanations • Weak verbal skills for monitoring complex calculations La Guardia Community College

8. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Some Characteristics of Learning Disabled (LD) Students • Learned Helplessness – Expect to Fail: Lack of Confidence • Passive Learners – cannot connect what they know with what they are learning • Memory Problems – remember basic operation facts & problem solving • Attention Problems – “miss” important pieces of information • Cognitive/Metacognitive Thinking Deficits – ability to monitor their learning • Low Level of Academic Achievement – not enough time to master skills • Math Anxiety – difficulty creates anxiety-ridden students La Guardia Community College

9. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • The Good News – Michelle Goldstein, Professional Staff Congress CUNY, April 2016 NYSUT • “Students come to class anxious to overcome ill-equipped backgrounds and forge ahead with remarkable unbridled determination.” • “I am inspired when a student who struggled with a math concept suddenly understands it.” • “Many demonstrate a passionate commitment for self-sufficiency.” • “Community College students should be held up as true examples of the American Dream.” • “Community propels the student into the next chapter.” La Guardia Community College

10. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Self-Regulation – the ability to regulate one’s cognitive activities • Research points to fact the students with LD are poor self-regulators who benefit from strategy instruction that incorporates self-regulation training (Graham & Harris, 2013; Wong, Harris, Graham & Butler, 2003) • Swanson’s study (Swanson, 1999; Swanson & Sachs-Lee,2000) revealed that direct instruction and strategy instruction were the two most effective. • Kroesbergen & van Luit (2003) found • Self-regulation most effective for mathematics learning • Direct instruction more effective for basic skill acquistion La Guardia Community College

11. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Suggested Instructional Strategies • Very clear, direct instruction with constant checking for understanding • Direct, literal questioning rather than open-ended questioning • Avoid overuse of complex language that requires deeper interpretation (e.g. metaphors, idioms) • Use visual cues as much as possible • Set goals and work toward them • Provide opportunities for guided practice in solving problems prior to independent practice La Guardia Community College

12. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Suggested Instructional Strategies • Write a journal of reflections denoting what worked and didn’t for a particular lesson. • Make Math Fun! • Teach students how to use Cornell Notes La Guardia Community College

13. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Ideas for Discussion • Day 1 – create index card of student info along with expectations, strengths & weaknesses and background to obtain data • Administer Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Test to obtain additional data • Use online student learning system (ex. EducoSoft) to group students for differentiated instruction (DI). Create specialized test and analyze data • Try to have 1 class every week or 2 devoted to problem solving without electronic devices. • Actively teach Polya’s problem-solving processes and strategies La Guardia Community College

14. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Ideas for Discussion (cont’d) • Incorporate various content literacies into curriculum (Edmondo, Animoto) • Create verbal formative assessments to enable students to demonstrate learning without formal testing • Build confidence by creating small successes in math for LD students • Teach students skills to succeed in the 21st Century (critical teaching, writing,..) • Investigate how to align objectives with English Department “Writing Across the Curriculum” La Guardia Community College

15. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? • Ideas for Discussion (cont’d) • Encourage students to take advantage of all resources available (API/SGA tutoring) • Work closely with OSD to identify students in class who might be OSD candidates. • Further research in trying to identify LD students who have Dyscalculia, NLD and other identified LDs • Graphic Organizers/Mind Maps • Using Graphic Calculators/Maple as tool to enhance learning La Guardia Community College

16. Mind Map La Guardia Community College

17. References used to create presentation The following material was used to create the Power Point slides. Donaldson, J.B., & Zager, D. (2010). Mathematics interventions for students with high functioning autism/Asperger’s syndrome. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(6), 40-46. Montague, M. (2008). Self-Regulation strategies to improve mathematical problem solving for students with learning disability. Learning Disability Quarterly, 31(1), 37-44. Pólya, G. (n.d.). How to solve it: A new aspect of mathematical method. Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics 2nd Edition. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Problem-Solving- School-Mathematics/dp/1882144104 La Guardia Community College

18. Do Self-Regulation Strategies Work Better for Students with Learning Disabilities (LD) taking Remedial Mathematics Classes at LaGuardia Community College? Thank You Salvatore Sommella