A special training series on Math education for dyscalculia

for parents, math teachers, math tutors, educational therapists, and evaluating psychologists

grow your dyscalculia knowledge

This series is for parents, math teachers, math tutors, educational therapists, and evaluating psychologists. This training provides dyscalculia professional development for teachers, guidance and knowledge for parents, and valuable information for psychologists making recommendations in evaluation reports for dyscalculia.

your dyscalculia questions answered

This special series answers the most commonly asked questions about dyscalculia. Questions such as:

• What curriculum is available for dyscalculia?

• What books are best for dyscalculia curriculum and lesson planning?

• What are the best teaching strategies for a math learning disability?

• Where do we begin instruction for dyscalculia?

• What multi-sensory math tools do we need?

• What is the role of accommodations for dyscalculia support?

• What math accommodations are best for dyscalculia?

• How frequent and how long should math intervention or math tutoring be?

easily accessible training

This special series includes 16 articles with images, links, and downloadable pdfs. Audio readings of all the articles is also available via private podcast on your phone (about 2.5 hours of listening time total).

what influences my writing perspective?

In the area of university research, I’ve been most influenced by the work of Brian Butterworth, Emeritus Professor of cognitive neuropsychology at the University College London, along with his work compiling other researchers around the world exploring dyscalculia. His books, Dyscalculia Guidance, (co-authored with the late dyscalculia specialist Dorian Yeo), and his more recent book, Dyscalculia: From Science to Education, provide a wealth of information on what we know so far on dyscalculia and its impact on numeracy education. 

In the area of real-life experience of dyscalculia educators, I have been most influenced by the work of:

• Jane Emerson and Dorian Yeo, authors and co-founders of the Emerson House

• Ronit Bird, educator and author of several books on teaching for dyscalculia

• Eva Grauberg, educator and author on early math intervention and development

• Cat Eadle and Rob Jennings, educators and co-founders of the Dyscalculia Network

• Steve Chinn, author of several books on math for dyslexia and dyscalculia.

To add to the first-hand experience, I share from my own experience. In addition to much reading and personal study, my growing understanding of dyscalculia is also formed by observing and working closely with dyscalculic individuals myself.

• The first, being my own daughter. We spent three years exploring math together at home, following the teaching methods by those same UK dyscalculia experts. It was the most eye-opening experience into her unique dyscalculic mind. I learned so much sitting with her each day to explore numbers and quantity together.

  Being a mother of a dyscalculic student continues to provide me a front row seat to observe my daughter’s experience as a dyscalculic individual. I am constantly observing her learning experiences, and how she thinks about quantity and numbers in everyday life. I also get to observe long-term, what strategies have made the most positive impact and are ones she still utilizes today, and which ones have waned in helpfulness over the years. This is something most tutors and teachers don’t get to experience when they only work with students for a season.

• The second is my work 1:1 teaching a student in-person a few times a week for 2.5 years. Much of this student’s experience mirrored that of my daughter’s, except I was more trained and prepared for the work second time around.

• Thirdly, I am informed by my ongoing experience of leading parents and tutors in ongoing small groups and 1:1 coaching, as they work with their own dyscalculic students. Each time we meet parents and tutors report back on what went well, what was a struggle, and then we adapt the next lessons accordingly. I get to observe how their student is developing number-sense through their own work at home.

Finally, I’m continuing to learn from dyscalculia experts around the world, and hearing similar stories of positive experiences with these same teaching strategies for dyscalculia. I have the pleasure of continuing to learn from and personally collaborate with U.K. and U.S. dyscalculia specialists such as:

• Brian Butterworth, author, professor emeritus, and dyscalculia researcher at the University College London

• Jane Emerson, author and co-founder of the Emerson House, a learning center in London.

• Paula Bishop-Liebler at the Emerson House Charlottesville U.S.

• Cat Eadle and Robert Jennings at the Dyscalculia Network UK.

• Dr. Schreuder at Dyscalculia Services

• Becky Lord at Lord Math

• Paula Bishop-Liebler of the Emerson House Charlottesville

• The team at Made for Math

September 2026 - This series is being updated on my website

More details on dyscalculia math education series

Teaching Strategies for Dyscalculic Learners: We will explore and answer these questions: Who are the dyscalculia specialists, researchers, and educators to follow? How do we find specific teaching strategies that are successful for dyscalculic students? Is any math instruction better than none when it comes to dyscalculia math education? These strategies provide a valuable framework for understanding what is needed to help dyscalculic learners in their math learning.

Teaching Strategy #1: Begin with the Foundations: We will explore the most effective teaching strategy for dyscalculia. I include specific examples of how to incorporate them, and how to implement classroom, tutoring sessions, or in the homeschooling experience.

Teaching Strategy 2: Focus on Teaching for Understanding: We will explore another effective teaching strategy for dyscalculia. I include specific examples of how to incorporate them, and how to implement classroom, tutoring sessions, or in the homeschooling experience.

Teaching Strategy 3: Reduce Memory Work: We will explore another effective teaching strategy for dyscalculia. I include specific examples of how to incorporate them, and how to implement classroom, tutoring sessions, or in the homeschooling experience.

Teaching Strategies 4-6: Multi-Sensory, Language, Awareness: We will explore three more effective teaching strategies for dyscalculia. I include specific examples of how to incorporate them, and how to implement classroom, tutoring sessions, or in the homeschooling experience.

How to Begin Building Number-Sense: We’ll answer the question “Where do we begin a student’s math instruction?” Knowing where to being is a block for many teachers and parents. I discuss assessments, foundational numeracy considerations, and grade level expectations. I detail the methodology and strategy and work of dot patterns.

Which Dot Patterns Are Best? I’ll explain the difference between various dyscalculia experts methods for teaching dot patterns.

How to Create Visuals for Larger Numbers: We’ll continue the visuals conversation by discussing how to create visuals for larger numbers.

Recommended Books for Math Lessons: I will walk you through specific recommendations for dyscalculia math instruction books. These are specific books to use for your curriculum, lesson plans, and activities. For each book I share its strengths, limitations, how I recommend using it, and the subjects each covers. This episode will save you money so you know exactly what books to buy and how to use them effectively.

Books & Websites for Games, Activities, and Worksheets: I’ve included books and websites to use for further games, activities, and worksheets I recommend to go with the books in the previous section.

Top 10 Multisensory Math Tools for Dyscalculia": I’ll cover my favorite multisensory tools for working with dyscalculic students. There are so many great options for multisensory math tools available and it can feel overwhelming to know which to choose. This episode keeps it simple for you and explains why each item supports math learning and number-sense.

Planning Frequency and Timing for Math Lessons: I’ll provide guidance on planning the timing and frequency for math tutoring lessons or a math intervention program for dyscalculia. I cover frequency of lessons, amount of time for lessons, and how to use the time. I also share my thoughts on the question everyone is wondering, “How long will this dyscalculia math tutoring or intervention take?”

Accommodations Are Not Enough: Choosing and implementing accommodations requires an understanding of the purpose of accommodations.

Accommodation for Tool for TIME: We will also dig into my top six accommodations for dyscalculia, beginning with tools for TIME. These accommodations are the ones that have stood the test of time and have been helpful to us every year. They are ones I recommend for all dyscalculic learners.

Top 6 Accommodations for Dyscalculia: I’ll help you choose the best accommodations for dyscalculia. These accommodations are the ones that have stood the test of time and have been helpful to us every year. They are ones I recommend for all dyscalculic learners.

September 2026, I am updating the Guide and making it available on my website. Sign up to be notified as soon as it’s available.