;
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
4
Amato, Hong, & Rosenblum (2013) recommend that among many
instructional tools, the abacus and Nemeth code should be introduced in the
primary grades. Survey participants were also in agreement that students with
visual impairments should begin learning math computations early (e.g., as
early as their same-grade peers, or at the kindergarten level).
Hands-on materials. Concrete and functional materials should be used
to teach early mathematics. Hands-on materials, or manipulatives,
build a
conceptual understanding of numerous mathematics skills. Concrete
manipulatives not only support the student with visual impairments, but also
assist students without visual impairments in understanding mathematical
concepts. American Printing House
for the Blind has math builder units
available that can be used within the general education classroom to aid
students with visual impairments understand difficult concepts and build
number sense. The math builder units include: matching, sorting, and
patterning skills; measurement and estimation; geometry; fractions, mixed
numbers, and decimals; and data, collection, graphing, and probability-
statistics.
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