Special Education teachers have adapted, created and used many instructional tools and strategies to help make the curriculum accessible to the diverse needs of their students.  Some suggestions and samples follow.

Tools for Mathematics Vocabulary Building

• Vocabulary ring
  .jpg
  
  
• Frayer Model template and samples
  .pdf
  
  
• Card template for word wall
  .pdf | .doc
  
  
• Sample student-generated cards for word wall
  .pdf

Foldables

Foldables, created by Dinah Zike, are student-made organizers that act as study tools to help students arrange math content information in an easily accessible format.

• Sample foldable
  .pdf

Individual Student Reference folders

Teachers can create individual reference folders for their students with pages containing important mathematical tools and ideas. This reduces copying time and enables students to have a key resource available to them at all times. Included in the folders can be

1. Glossaries: Vocabulary found in Everyday Mathematics lessons can be turned into additional learning experiences for children.

2. Algorithms and Operations Strategies: The following tools are from Grade 1 and Grade 2 Math Masters books.

3. Problem-Solving Strategies:

4. Graphic Organizers

• Situation Diagram: Parts-and-Total
  .pdf Copyright © 2004 McGraw-Hill, Max Bell et al.
  
• Situation Diagram: Start-Change-End
  .pdf Copyright © 2004 McGraw-Hill, Max Bell et al.
  
• Situation Diagram: Quantity-Quantity Difference
  .pdf Copyright © 2004 McGraw-Hill, Max Bell et al.
  
• Situation Diagram: Array Multiplication
  .pdf Copyright © 2004 McGraw-Hill, Max Bell et al.

Give students mini-sticky notes on which to write numbers to be placed on the diagrams. Students find the missing parts.

Language and Literacy Needs

Teachers can promote understanding of mathematical concepts by utilizing strategies that also support language and literacy growth/development, such as: