Monday, 25 January 2010

• My Dyscalculia Discovery

  I had never heard of dyscalculia until two days ago at a reading center for dyslexia that my boys are attending and it was a word that would give me the answer to a lifelong problem, and change the way I look at myself forever. The first thing I need to answer is just what is dyscalculia? “Dyscalculia or math disability is a specific learning disability involving innate difficulty in learning or comprehending mathematics. It is akin to dyslexia and can include confusion about math symbols”.

  I have been struggling with math since I was in grade school back at Windermere elementary back in the late 70’s. During that time there was no such thing as special education at least not that I able to see. I was never a good student in school I would often get D’s and F’s with the rare C thrown, but numbers were always my arch nemesis. I still remember to this day the way that they taught English as a second language to the Spanish speaking students was to place them in a cubby in the corner of the room and have them listen to these punch cards with a picture on it that said the word in Spanish and then again in English as it was pulled through the machine. Teaching has come a long way since then thank G-d.  
  

  In 5th and 6th grade I had Mr. Nagel for math, so he was familiar with my math skills when I started the 6th grade, that was the year we were suppose to learn pre-algebra before we moved on to junior high. So, here I am in 6th grade and the teacher is writing all these signs and fractions and lines and formulas on the board and I am staring that it like it is written in ancient sand-script. I would raise my hand and try to ask questions, but I just could never seem to get it. Mr. nagel did all he could but he had to keep going or I would have been holding the rest of the class back. I do not even know my times tables in 6th grade, because I just could not memorize them no matter how hard I tried (I still do not know my times tables to this day). Can you guess what Mr. Nagel’s idea was to help me learn my times tables? He would keep in in from recess and any other recreational activity that the school put on and would spend all that time forcing me to write and repeat the tables over and over while telling me if I ever want to go outside again I better learn these tables. I am sure his heart was in the right place, but his presentation was lacking. Needless to say I ended up quitting school after the 6th grade. I did, however, go back and get my GED when I was 23.

  So, what does this have to do with dyscalculia you may be asking yourself? Well I honestly think I have this condition. It makes sense and explains everything I have been through during my life. The inability to balance a checkbook, track a bank account, create and stick to a budget, even shopping can be a real chore. I have learned to get by by hiding it and compensating in other ways, but I am in a horrible spot right now that I can not seem to find a way out of.

  I am in my third year of college as a psychology/social work major and I have to take algebra II, and statistics. I had to take remedial math last year and was only able to pass it because I explained to the professor that I had a real problem doing math on paper, but that I seemed to be able to do it better on the board. I just choke up when you put a paper in front of me with numbers on it. Anyway, he agreed to allow me to take my tests after class and on the board and I was able to finish the class with a low C but I was very happy to take it. I have managed to put off taking algebra II but I am now forced to take it to continue on in the program and I am scared. I have bought math for dummy books, seen tutors, checked out math programs on the internet and nothing seems to work for me. I feel so bad because I have never gotten below a B in college, and I cannot do simple elementary school math.

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  Have you ever had difficulty with Math?
  

  
  

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