Bridging the Gap:

Inclusive Math Instruction for ALL

Techniques for Accessibility that Impact ALL Learners

Presented by:

Jeannette “JJ” Isaacson, M.Ed., TSVI (she/they)

NWRESD Vision Team and BVIS Statewide TOSA for Math

jisaacson@nwresd.k12.or.us 503-348-6117

Presentation Learning Targets

Enhancing Accessibility for ALL Learners:

• Prime Objective: Challenge traditional views of math instruction by encouraging educators to think creatively and "outside the box" to embrace innovative, inclusive approaches that can transform the learning experience for all students, fostering a more dynamic and supportive classroom environment where both learners and educators thrive.
• Illustrate and practice the practical tips and best practices designed for visually impaired students that can be universally applied to benefit a diverse range of learners, including those with different learning styles and abilities.

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Introduction: I Need to gain your trust…

JJ Isaacson, M.Ed., TSVI

30+ yrs in education

(Really my whole life…child of teacher parents!)

Alternative Ed/SPED

Comm. College and University - Math Instructor

NFB Teacher of Tomorrow

WA School for the Blind - Math Instructor

NWRESD Itinerant TSVI

TOSA TSVI BVIS Math Specialist for Oregon

NWRESD Equity Collaborator

(For fun: 224k views YouTube video.)

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BVI Math Project Mindmap

BVI Math Resources Site

Let’s make Numeracy ≧ Literacy!

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And life…

Why? (Pssst… I don’t have a blind student in my class…)

Yes.. you do… many… and most likely all of them at any given time.

• Back row (many other areas of classroom as well)
• Neurodivergence (parallels CVI) - diagnosed and undiagnosed
• Readiness to learn

No official research, however anecdotal experiences personally and with many teachers I have collaborated with from elementary through high school… these techniques work!

Favorite Practices

• The Basics
• Specific Descriptive Language
• Abacus
• CVI Strategies
• Tactiles
• Sonification

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The Basics

• Font size, contrast, slide presentations, mouse size and color
• Clean board, fresh markers (contrast!) and size
• Be aware of glare
• Reduce clutter - in room, on walls, on slides, handouts
• All those posters around the room? Where are they? Think about visual distance, sight lines, priorities, size, clutter, etc.

Move about your room… ask can my learners see this?

Specific Descriptive Language (Game Changer!)

IMHO, most impactful for ALL students…

What exactly are you writing on the board? Or what is on the slide?

Vague language vs. specific language

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Specific/Descriptive Language (cont.)

• Technology does this and the math teacher needs to do it as well.
• It doesn’t need to be “perfect” MathSpeak; but needs to be specific and descriptive.
• This will help ALL your students.
• The students in the back row are also visually impaired.
• This will help with classroom management.
• Slower is faster…
• Students will pick up on this and start using this language; this develops their math vocabulary and understanding and the impact on ALL students and their participation.
• Have ALL students learning and practicing it!

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Pause and Practice - Specific/Descriptive Language

Demo of Descriptive Language (JJ’s demo sent to Khan Academy to advise use of descriptive language in video productions.)

(Start video at 3:00)

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Resources:

What is MathSpeak?

MathSpeak and MathSpeak Rules

Quick MathSpeak™ Tutorial

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Specific/Descriptive Language (cont.)

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More Demonstrations

• Basic computation
• GEMDAS
• Solve for X
• Geometry

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Practice Time!

*Insert background image blackboard/whiteboard

Let’s practice:

1. Reader reads equation/expression (grab a text, worksheet, create an equation/expression relevant to your practice)
2. Writer writes what they hear
3. Reader and writer compare
4. Reflect: What did you do well? What could be improved?
5. Switch!

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Abacus!

Why??!!?? Because I say so (lol)… and so does the RESEARCH.

• Understanding Place Value and Regrouping
• Math strategy: decomposition (breaking numbers down into their component parts) Students think about how certain numbers have complements or partners and how math actually works.
• Reduces demands of short-term memory
• Spatial Awareness
• Creativity in Problem-Solving
• Improved Concentration and Focus
• Boosting Confidence
• Fun and Engaging! Hand-on and interactive way to learn math!

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Abacus! (cont.)

Student Using

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Abacus! (cont.)

• Challenge yourself and your students:
• Start each class/math time with 5-10 minutes of Abacus
• Look at it as doing a warm-up before training in the gym or for a sport
• You can learn right along with your students and demonstrate the process of learning something new and building neural connections/pathways!

Resources:

Abacus Video Tutorials - link to document with links for videos to learn the Cramner Abacus for numeracy concepts for each grade level.

AND many more on YouTube!

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CVI Strategies

What is CVI?

Basic strategies:

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• Reduce the Clutter
• Color
• Spacing/Masking
• Isolating
• 3D Models
• Multi-sensory
• Meaningful
• Fun!

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CVI and Math (Some Considerations and Ideas for Support)

Tactile Math

Touch sense is another window into the math brain.

• Manipulatives (fancy and found!)
• Models
• Wikki Stix/Monkey String
• Drawing on silicone placemat (paper with ballpoint pen) or drawing on metal window screen material glued to clipboard

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Sonification

Check this out:

Sonic Pathways to Math and Science

Wrap up…

Re-visit objectives: (did we accomplish them?)

Enhancing Accessibility for ALL Learners:

• Prime Objective: Challenge traditional views of math instruction by encouraging educators to think creatively and "outside the box" to embrace innovative, inclusive approaches that can transform the learning experience for all students, fostering a more dynamic and supportive classroom environment where both learners and educators thrive.
• Illustrate and practice the practical tips and best practices designed for visually impaired students can be universally applied to benefit a diverse range of learners, including those with different learning styles and abilities.

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Resources/Contact Information

Jeannette “JJ” Isaacson, M.Ed., TSVI (she/they)

NWRESD Vision Team and BVIS Statewide TOSA for Math

jisaacson@nwresd.k12.or.us 503-348-6117

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BVI Math Resources Site

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Making Numeracy ≧ literacy!

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