Autistic people differ greatly from each other in their strengths and weaknesses. No two autistics are exactly alike, so it is not possible to make generalizations when talking about this disorder. However, autistic individuals tend to be very good with numbers. They are usually able to repeat and order them, perhaps due to the very structure of the numerical order. That said, autistic children learn things very differently from each other, which is why guiding them in learning becomes a challenge for a parent and teacher. To teach an autistic child math efficiently and effectively, read the steps below.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Accepting the Challenge of Teaching an Autistic Child
Step 1. Be prepared for very challenging communication dynamics
Communicating with an autistic child can be very difficult, especially if they have a severe form of this disorder. Even if he is mildly autistic, the child may be unable to express what he has understood or what he has not understood. He may not be able to tell you that he did not understand, or he may not fully listen to your explanation. If he doesn't understand, he can't even ask the right questions.
- If the child is partially verbal or non-verbal, give him time to communicate with an alternate system. This could be typing, sign language, or something else.
- If the child cannot use an alternate language system, teaching him basic communication should take priority over math.
Step 2. Know that autism can inhibit language skills
Language is used to communicate the ideas underlying mathematics. Language skills, in case of autism, are often impaired, so learning mathematical concepts is difficult. If language is impaired, any learning can be very difficult.
Many concepts can be explained through visual examples, but they are usually accompanied by verbal instructions. This is where the difficulties begin. When teaching an autistic child, try to use visual cues as much as possible
Step 3. Understand that the autistic child may be completely disinterested in what you are trying to teach them
Autistic children have very narrow interests. He may not be interested in math, appearing listless and unfocused. To grab his attention and encourage learning, you need to make the lesson interactive and fun.
Step 4. Prepare for deficient motor skills
Math is often associated with pen and paper: fine motor skills are often impaired, which can make learning math even more difficult. Learning numbers by writing them correctly on a sheet of notebook can then become an insurmountable obstacle.
In these cases, technology can help you: it may be easier for the child to press a button and touch a screen rather than physically grasping a pen
Part 2 of 3: Overcoming the Difficulties
Step 1. Incorporate the child's interests into your lessons
Work out math problems from his interests. If, for example, the child loves horses, he uses his toy horses to show the process and the solution of the problems.
If possible, look for a math textbook that uses pictures of horses. This way you can draw his attention even more to the work at hand
Step 2. Praise him often and mark his progress
Although autistic children sometimes seem aloof and apathetic, they are actually eager to learn. Give him constant reassurance: doing this is essential, while learning, to keep him motivated.
Praise and reassurances also make him happy: he will learn to consider the lesson a positive activity and, rather than fear it, will recognize it as an opportunity to receive positive attention
Step 3. Avoid asking him questions that need to be answered with a "yes" or "no"
Use multiple choice questions instead. In relation to language, if the child or student has poor language skills, do not use questions that are answered with "yes" or "no". The language barrier can create confusion and interfere with the learning of mathematical concepts. Multiple choice questions facilitate, at least in part, overcoming the language barrier.
Step 4. Have the child repeat your actions
When the child gets used to replicating your gestures, he learns successfully. For example, if you want to teach him subtraction, take four cubes and he too will take four; take one off and he too will take it off; then show him that after you steal one, you are left with three cubes.
Basically, you are training the child to mirror himself in you. Gradually he will realize the purpose of your actions and will learn to draw conclusions from his actions even when you are not there to guide him
Step 5. Keep in mind what the child's skill levels are when planning lessons
You have to be aware of its abilities and start from those to better modulate your learning program. The child may not be at the same cognitive level as his peers (i.e. he may be further ahead or further behind), so you have to start with what he actually knows and can do. Some areas of mathematics may be easier for him to learn than for others; this means that your approach to certain math topics must take into account a higher starting level than the others.
- The fact that the child is "behind" in development in terms of speaking does not necessarily mean that he is "behind" in terms of learning math.
- Sometimes, disinterest indicates that the job is not difficult enough. If this is the case, try giving him a more challenging homework or workbook and see if he interacts.
Step 6. Give only one instruction at a time, rather than presenting the instructions all at once
Do not give multiple instructions at the same time. Autistic children have a hard time remembering sequences. If the child is able to read, present the instructions in written form. If the child cannot follow the first set of instructions, do not confuse him by trying others.
- Try narrating the steps one at a time as the child completes them. For example, "First, add 2 on both sides. Then divide them both by 5. Here is your answer, x = 7."
- Imagine you are learning a foreign language. He needs more time to process the information you give him, so give him short, dry instructions. The easier they are to remember, the better it is for him.
Step 7. Experiment with colors to help your child learn more easily
If the child has difficulty processing colors, try using a black font on colored sheets (to reduce the contrast).
You can start with light blue or light brown. They are neutral colors that the eye gets used to easily
Step 8. Use games to facilitate understanding of math concepts
Games have always been used as a light method for learning math: many have been designed to improve children's math skills. The level of difficulty of the construction games varies according to the age of the student.
- The fact that the games are full of colors helps to grab the attention of the child. Today's children look for colorful stimuli and work more willingly with this type of educational games: they learn without even realizing that they are carrying out an educational activity.
- For example, games like Candy Crush Saga help develop segmentation logic, and at a higher level, a game like 2048 develops all kinds of math concepts and skills.
Part 3 of 3: Creating a Good Learning Environment
Step 1. Keep the environment quiet, with as few distractions as possible
This makes the environment more pleasant, especially with a very sensitive child. Try sitting near a wall or corner to minimize the origin of sensory stimuli.
Step 2. Teach your child your lessons in an environment that is familiar to him
The environment shouldn't be too complicated and the objects present should be familiar to him. In the first place, he will forget that he is there to learn mathematics (a subject that perhaps is not congenial to him): moreover, if the environment around him is familiar, he will learn mathematical concepts in a more natural way because he will associate them with objects that surround him every day.
For example, if you want to teach them addition and subtraction, you can use a scale. The middle step will correspond to zero, the fifth step at the top will correspond to +5 and the fifth step at the bottom will correspond to -5. Have your pupil stand on step zero and ask him to add +2: the child will go up two steps; then ask him to subtract -3: the child will then go down three steps
Step 3. Teach each child individually, ie in a ratio of 1: 1
Autistic children learn best within an individualized teacher-student relationship. The individualized relationship fosters his self-esteem and trust. You can focus specifically on his needs. Plus, if it's just you and him in the room, he'll have less reason to be distracted.
The 1: 1 ratio is easier for you too. Focusing on just one child is already difficult: having to teach multiple autistic children at the same time would decrease your effectiveness
Step 4. Eliminate any distracting factors from the environment
Remove any objects that may distract the baby. Visual distractions are very common and can interfere with the learning process. Don't keep too many things on the table. Sometimes even a trivial pen can make him lose focus.
Organize and keep all the child's teaching material organized and organized. All educational resources must be kept in the same place, safe. This way he will know where to look for them to review the lesson. Develop each topic clearly, clearly distinguishing and highlighting each specific example. In doing so, each concept is kept distinct from the others
Step 5. Finger fiddling can help autistic children focus and stay calm
Try giving him an object to handle in one hand as he works, such as a stress ball, a woven thing, a bag of balls, or whatever he prefers. If he is very agitated, have him sit on a medicine balloon so that he can jump on it while applying.
- To make it a more fun experience, try introducing him to different options of these stress relievers and have him choose one before starting the class.
- This fiddling with them may seem unusual to you (for example, hopping or moving back and forth). Even if so, think of it as having a very important function. Only intervene if it's not hygienic (putting things in your mouth) or harmful (hitting yourself) and in this case suggest an alternative way to do it (chew gum or maybe hit a pillow).
- If this fiddling becomes excessive (to the point that it doesn't work), it means that the child is stressed or not getting enough exercise.
Step 6. Make sure the child knows how to communicate their basic needs
Otherwise, he may not be able to tell you when something is wrong and you will just wonder why he is not concentrating as he usually does. He should know how to say:
- "I need a break" (fiddling for 5 minutes might help him calm down if he's too agitated)
- "I'm hungry / thirsty"
- "I need to go to the toilet"
- "_ it annoys me"
- "I do not understand"
- The child also needs to know that you will fulfill his or her requests. Pay attention when trying to communicate their needs to you.
Step 7. Equip the learning environment with all materials and objects that can help you in your math lessons
Mathematics is a discipline that is best learned by carrying out many practical activities: this applies to both autistic and able-bodied children.
- One of the classic objects used to teach elementary addition and subtraction to children is the abacus. Using concrete objects, when he has to make a calculation the child always creates a mental image within himself and if he cannot do the addition in his mind, he can always rethink the abacus, move the balls here and there and find the result to be written on the sheet.
- For example, a pizza cut into eight slices can be used to teach the basics of fractions. A whole pizza equals 8/8 but if we remove two slices the fraction becomes 6/8, which means that two slices are missing. In the end of course, if he answered correctly, he can eat pizza as a reward. The child will always remember the pizza when he faces the fractions and when faced with a problem to be solved he will extract imaginary slices from an imaginary box.
Advice
- Your questions must always be unique and direct, because autistic children struggle to understand irony and sarcasm.
- Praise positive results rather than pointing out his mistakes.
- Make sure the child is not being bullied by other children.
- Make sure the baby is never alone, under any circumstances.
