Re: Algebra and Dyslexia -- Dyslexia College Advice Line and Discussion Forum

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Subject: Re: Algebra and Dyslexia

Author:
Michael Walter (happy)

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Date Posted: 12:38:47 10/20/08 Mon
In reply to: Becky Kelley 's message, "Algebra and Dyslexia" on 11:29:22 12/10/07 Mon

What I've done with a student I was tutoring in Algebra is to utilize space and volumn to then render the understanding down to the elements of Algebra. I used a plumb Bob for my Y-axis. The student needs to hold it and allow it to stop swinging. They need to experience the "verticle". I used a 36" bubble level for the x-axis, which the student had to hold to find level. Putting these together I have the student creat a right Triangle. Then, I used 1 in. schedule 40 PVC pipe to make a cubic yard. I had the student mark off the interval in inch increments with a majic marker. I did this on all three axis (X,Y,Z). I told him I was going to be dropping off the z axis, but I wanted him to see that I could use the third axis if I wanted to. Still working with the third axis, I took some split shot sinkers from some fishing equipment and suspended them in the cube. So, now I had a point in space and the student knows where it came from. Then I had the student perform the same operation on each axis value. For example: adding five. Then we suspended that point with in the cube. This gave us a slopewhich was diagonal. I informed him that this was the difference between Pac Man and modern video games. I wanted my student to relate the math to something that was revelant to him. I explained the operation that I administered was called my function. I could do any of the four operations. For example y=mx+b. But that if I changed what I did to the first number created a different function. I explained the difference between algebra and arithmatic was the use of variables. As long as I used the same function on a variable I was creating a pattern. Previously had shown patterns utilizing Cuaisaire rods. So we ended up with the student understanding that graphing was an easier and only abrievated for of working with stuff that my student could understand as easily as anyone else. If they got tired they could build a model. If they left themselves enough time before a test, (which was their responsibility as a study skill) they would still be studying. I hope this helps. I've tried to connect what the rest of us take for granted on paper to space and a way for the person to experience math and get what they want by using it.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: Algebra and Dyslexia	Joan Azarva	09:41:53 10/31/08 Fri