Enable by motivation

Many children with additional learning needs have issues with memory - remembering, learning by rote - and this poses a massive challenge when it comes to maths.  The curriculum relies heavily on the use of short, long and working memory.  But if we know memory is challenge for a child we need to find an alternative way.  That is what Maths For Life does - it finds a way to teach the essential maths skills needed for life that works for all children.

I got told several years ago that ‘children with Down syndrome can’t remember more than 2 packets of information’… when it came to numbers.  Two numbers.  That is so limiting when it comes to maths.  But I believed that if a child is motivated then it is possible to remember more.  So I decided to experiment with Lance… stand down social services… only numbers involved.  

I set Lance’s iPad to a six digit code.  If he wanted to access his iPad he was going to have to remember it.  I felt that was a strong enough motivation!  We had already been working on the concept of ‘holding a number in your head’… so this was just an extension of this.  Moving from short term, via working into long term memory recall.

With support, and many locked iPads, we got there in 6 weeks.  Not only could Lance remember the code, key it in himself using muscle memory, he could also tell me the code when he was too lazy to key it in.  Ironically his fine motor skills, fumbling fingers double tapping, caused more locks than lack of memory.  

Fast forward a year, and with the easing of lockdown, Lance is back attending regular medical appointments.  Two weeks ago when we went to the eye clinic, the receptionist asked me for his name on arrival, I deferred to him and he proudly said “Lance Pollard”.  Then she asked to check his date of birth.  Again I turned to Lance, “Lance, can you tell her your iPad code?”  He looked a bit puzzled (as did the receptionist) but he told her the six digit code.  Four digits in the receptionist twigged and a massive smile went across her face.  When Lance finished, she said, “Yes, that is your date of birth.  Thank you!”

I have since explained to Lance that his date of birth is the day that he was born and it has the same numbers as his iPad code… what a coincidence!

Yesterday, our third appointment since this revelation, Lance made the connection and proudly told the dentist his date of birth. 

Maths For Life… enabling by motivating.  What’s in it for them?