The old-fashioned multiplication list is BY FAR the best tool for students with dyscalculia, 3rd grade through 8th grade. When people have dyscalculia, the parietal lobe loses math information over time. Fluency is the wrong goal for these students because their memory works against them. Numeracy issues get in the way of the rest of the work we need them to do. It's an inflated external barrier to math success, and we can remove that barrier.
When we're teaching the algorithm of multiplying or dividing, finding multiples or factors, or teaching area and volume, our students need to focus on the new vocabulary and the steps and procedures included in the lesson. Many times, higher level math concepts are easier for people with dyscalculia. They keep up with the lesson, try their best, and fail. Just because of the numeracy piece that is key to their learning disability. There's nothing more frustrating than remembering the steps, doing the work, and getting the answer wrong because your neurodivergence worked against you.
And teachers, guess what? This amazing tool works just as well for all of your students, struggling or otherwise. The list is better than the chart because the list supports accuracy. It helps students with visual-spatial issues. It helps all students increase fluency. It has so many uses! Least Common Multiple, Greatest Common Factor, and simplifying fractions will be so much easier for your students.
Whether it's multiplying longer sets of digits, multiplying decimals, dividing numbers, finding LCM, GCF, simplifying fractions, or more, the multiplication list does it all. It's a great tool for supporting the parietal lobe wiring issues that many people with dyscalculia struggle to overcome.
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