How to Teach Math to Kids With Autism
Teaching children with autism often requires doing things differently. With math, it is logical to start with the basics. These are important because math builds upon itself, and initial knowledge is needed to progress. However, since it is sometimes difficult to know what a student with autism truly understands, it is important to provide opportunities for them to show that they can put the basics to use. Doing so will help avoid focusing on materials that the child already understands and allow you to move on.
Instructions
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Teaching Math
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Start with the basics. This means teaching the student to recognize numbers. In order to do this, you should start with something simple, such as matching two identical numbers. After that, work on them recognizing the number receptively by asking them to touch each one. Depending on the fine motor skills of the student, writing the numbers might be another thing to work on. However, this is not required in order to progress. Other objects related to math can be taught the same way, including money and fractions.
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Teach them what numbers represent. A simple way to do this is to use manipulatives such as beads or other objects that are small. Then ask the student to put the appropriate amount of the object with each number. Touch math is another way to give visual meaning to numbers. Some schools have adapted this as how they teach all students math.
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Use visual cues to show how the numbers can be manipulated. This can be done using the same objects. For example, by using manipulatives to represent one and two, you can show how when you put them together you get three.
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Practice. A big part of learning math for a child with autism is to repeat often. This is especially important with the basics, because everything is built upon them understanding that the number represents a specific amount.
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Tips & Warnings
Children with autism benefit the most by learning in real life experiences. Finding opportunities for this will not only strengthen the knowledge but also allow them to put the information to functional use, which will allow them to become more independent. Some examples of this are following a recipe, paying for items in the store and collecting needed materials for a project.
Sometimes kids with autism will not be able to verbalize or show you physically what they truly know. Giving them opportunities to put their knowledge to work in real life experiences might give you a glimpse of how they understand what you are trying to teach them. In many cases, it will be more important for a child with autism to use the information functionally then it will be for them to pass a test.
