Structural Arithmetic and Children with Learning Disabilities

Although teachers are aware of children with learning disabilities, this does not help them cope with their inadequacies. Reported are personal experiences in teaching teachers how to teach mathematics with the Stern Structural Arithmetic materials invented by C. Stern. Structural Arithmetic materials enable children to make their own discoveries by comparing blocks & fitting them into devices. The accompanying workbooks kindergarten through grade 3, present the work in small sequential steps: each concept is discovered by the children & represents an achievement they can be proud of, ie, they not only understand the rules but value them as their own discoveries. Also described is a series of picture formats, each containing a sequency of twenty sketches. Each sketch tells the teacher at a glance how to use the materials in games & the language to be elicited. Thus teachers are enabled to teach successfully from the very first steps. Modified AA