Numeracy Difficulties

Numeracy difficulties can impact peoples’ ability to live productive and successful lives, therefore, it is important for teachers to assist students’ acquisition of conceptual understandings to attain numerical proficiency. Developing children’s numeracy capabilities teachers need to consider various factors, including recognising and adapting content to student competencies, cognition and developmental levels, delivery of effective and explicit instruction, supporting mathematical language and vocabulary and sequential planning based on a quality curriculum. Teachers also need to be mindful of their own understanding and perceptions of mathematics and numeracy and how this influences and affects their teaching. Other considerations include the cultural backgrounds of students, the prevalence of dyscalculia and effective use of data collected from formal and informal assessments.

Numeracy, mathematics and teaching considerations
All children, …show more content…
Students can exhibit anxiety towards mathematics and numeracy for various reasons that can potentially inhibit learning, conceptual thinking and ability levels. The language of mathematics can represent numerous challenges to students with a learning difficulty, disability or those with English as an Additional Language (EAL). Hannell (2013) details how anxiety and frustration can occur due to the unique and distinct nature of mathematical language: terms that are rarely used, common words used in a different context and multiple words to explain one process. Williams (2013) suggests maths is the only subject within the curriculum that has a phobia associated with it. Subsequently, Williams (2013) suggests recommendations to reduce anxiety that involve teachers building relationships with their students and fostering a safe, supportive learning environment with a focus on developing conceptual understanding rather than learning by rote and procedural