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What is numeracy?
If you have good numeracy skills you will be able to take part more easily in everyday life, and get on in the workplace and in your school or college. If you have good numeracy skills you can:
- Decide what needs to be measured or calculated;
- Watch, and write down information in the right way;
- Make estimates and check calculations;
- Use maths in everyday situations. For example, you can plan a journey and work out how long it will take, what time you need to leave, what time you expect to arrive, and how much it will cost you.
What is involved in numeracy?
- Understanding mathematical information:
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- You know how the number system works, and you understand what we mean by whole numbers, decimals, fractions and percentages;
- You know how to use money; you know how to tell the time and understand things like temperature, distance, area and volume;
- You can use maths language like ‘share’, ‘minus’ and ‘subtract’.
- You should be able to calculate and use numbers:
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- Adding up and taking away; multiplying and dividing;
- Algebra; equations and patterns.
- You should be able to use maths for day-to-day problems in your home, college or work life; for example, planning a journey, splitting a restaurant bill or cooking.
How does dyslexia affect numeracy?
Everyone who has dyslexia is unique. Remember that the difficulties you have will not necessarily be the same as someone else’s. The things that help them may not suit you as well.
If you have dyslexia it means that you are likely to have some difficulty with the underlying skills needed for calculating and using numbers and using maths in a practical context:
- You might find it difficult to memorise your multiplication tables;
- You may have problems remembering the order in which things should be done;
- You might find it hard to be well organised;
- You may make lots of mistakes when you read maths symbols, for example you might mistake 5 and 3,or a 6 and 9;
- You might have problems copying quickly and accurately;
- Your handwriting might be messy and difficult to read.
Self help
You should:
- Just 'have a go' at solving a problem - don't be scared. Make a conscious effort to
try lots of different ways to solve a problem until you get somewhere with it. It’s important to think about how you learn and understand because you will be able to apply this knowledge in other similar situations later.
- Use all the information and resources you have. Use your notes from your classes. Talk with your friends who are trying the same problem, or who already know how to solve it;
- Take advantage of tutorial time with your tutor;
- Have a pencil and paper handy when you study. When you are working through your notes or using a book, it is a very good idea to have a pencil and paper handy so that you can write down your own thoughts and working out as you go along. This will turn the maths into part of your own thinking;
- Use a calculator to check your results;
- Play games that involve practising some maths skills such as darts (scoring) or card games like bridge or poker.
Click on
‘disclosure’ for more information about how and when you should tell someone about your disability.
Click on
‘personal organisation’ for more information about how to manage your time and resources.
What can my tutors do to help me?
Your tutors should:
- Recognise that you understand maths concepts but that you struggle with the
calculation processes or mathematical language.
- Teach you the whole concept (the big picture) first before teaching the step by step approach;
- Show you how to interpret the language of maths;
- Teach you your ‘finger tables’ (how to use your fingers for the multiplication tables)
- Know that you learn best with use of colour, humour, stories and images,
- Teach you how to use keyboard shortcuts;
- Show you how to customise your desk top and change the background colour, font etc;
- Make sure that you understand all the basic rules and that they repeat the ‘rules’ even when they have been taught before;
Break the teaching session up into chunks with pauses for ‘taking it in’ and time for questions;- Give you lots of feedback to help you to understand and to develop your skills;
- Help you to organise your time;
- Allow you to use a laptop and technology such as Dragon Naturally Speaking (speech recognition software) for class and home work;
- Use accessible print.
If you aren’t getting the help recommended here, print off a copy of these pages and use them as a starting point to have a chat with your tutor about what can be done to make sure you are able to get the most from their teaching.
Click on
‘confidentiality’ for information about how your tutor should treat your personal information.
- BBC: Factsheets, worksheets, quizzes and games to help improve your skills
- Dyslexia Checklist (So you think you may be dyslexic?)
- Could it be dyslexia? (video)
- Best resources for Achievement and Intervention re Neurodiversity in Higher Education (BRAIN.HE)
- Signs and symptoms of dyslexia
- Fingerjig Typing Game - test your typing
- Guide to choosing Dyslexia Friendly Books for Kids
- Dyslexia at College
- The British Dyslexia Association
- Dyslexia Action
Assistive Technology
- Getting organised – some strategies for students
- Manage your time with MS Outlook
- Streamline your office tasks
- MS office 2007 has a range of planning tools available; right click on the Office button, select ‘new’, select ‘templates; select ‘planners’
- Smart pen
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