Barriers to learning for children with Down Syndrome

1
Barriers to learning for children with Down
Syndrome

• Poor sequencing skills
• Poor auditory memory
• Slow mental processing
• Difficulties with expressive language
• Poor motor skills
• Possibility of negative attitude through history
  of failure, expecting maths to be difficult

• Specific medical conditions
• Working memory capacity
• Difficulty in seeing the relevance
• Independent thinking and reasoning skills
• Teaching methods

2
Typical profile associated with Down Syndrome
(Robin Chapman, Robert Hodapp and others.)

• Weaknesses
• Hearing and vision
• Number
• Speech and language
• Verbal short term memory
• Learning from listening difficult

• Strengths
• Social understanding, empathy and social skills
• Self help and daily living skills
• Visual short term memory
• Visual learning a strength
• Aim for these strengths in your teaching!

3
Maths is difficult for all learners
4
What makes Numicon different from all other
programmes?

• Numicons imagery uses patterns to represent each
  numeral
• Visual relationships of number
• Multisensory allowing a wide range of children to
  access the understanding and practice of
  mathematics
• Sequential, small steps, supportive with
  photographs
• Problem solving and mental arithmetic
• Children are motivated by the imagery and develop
  positive attitudes to maths